From CANA Archdeacon Julian Dobbs

A New Year's Call To Prayer On this first Sunday of 2011, we stand united with our suffering brothers and sisters in Alexandria, Egypt and in Nigeria. EGYPT: So far, at least 21 people have been killed and 70 hurt in a terrorist attack, which happened during a New Year's Eve service at the al-Qiddissin Coptic Church — a few years ago CANA’s Archdeacon Julian Dobbs had the privilege of praying in this very church and speaking with some converts to Christianity. On New Year’s Day, Archdeacon Dobbs was in communication with his Egyptian contact who works with the convert community in Alexandria, Egypt and who reports that many of the Christians who have been severely injured are not expected to survive. The corpses of the dead were so badly disfigured that the remains were prepared for communal burial. Information has been received that the police officers guarding the church's gate moved to a safe corner 30 minutes before the explosion. NIGERIA: On New Year’s Eve a bomb exploded in the capital city of Abuja. Reports on fatalities vary greatly, with the highest estimate at 30 lives lost. No one has claimed responsibility for this latest attack. Muslim attacks on Christians on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Nigeria left 86 dead. CANA’s Bishop Martyn Minns leaves today for Nigeria for a week-long meeting of the Church of Nigeria’s House of Bishops. PRAYER: During the prayers of the people in your Sunday services today and/or next week, you are invited to pray for the grace and power of the Triune God to comfort the bereaved families, to heal the injured, and to enlighten the Muslims of Egypt and Nigeria to the redeeming love of our Lord Jesus Christ: Almighty God, in these days of terrorism and persecution, strengthen the Christian communities in Egypt and Nigeria with your grace and comfort. May your Holy Spirit comfort the bereaved and heal the injured. And grant that the gospel message of love, forgiveness, and redemption would be proclaimed through word and deed. All this we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. » AP wire report on Egypt: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110102/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_egypt_church_attack » AP wire report on Nigeria, New Year’s Eve: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110101/ap_on_re_af/af_nigeria_barracks_explosion » Reuter's wire report on Nigeria, Christmas weekend: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BP0PD20101228 Pope Benedict XVI and US President Barack Obama are among the world leaders who have condemned the recent terrorism in Egypt and Nigeria.