Friday, December 3, 2010

6--PRAYERS FROM THE CHURCH

This collection of prayers is intended for those who wish to offer written prayers for friends, family, or church members as an expression of their love and faith. The short prayers are for times of both celebration and need and easily can be adapted to suit the particular situation of the recipient. Please feel free to copy and paste them into your computer to make your personalized cards, or they may be handwritten on invitation-size card notes.

The prayers are written from a Christian perspective, but may be adapted to suit the religious perspective of any God-seeker or spiritual traveller. All Scripture quotes are from the New International Version,, 2006 Zondervan

There are 21 short prayers for church shephards and care givers in this section to give you a starting place to send your own prayers to friends, neighbors, and those whom you feel led to pray for in your congregations and religious societies. Please feel free to copy them and adapt them as you see fit.

THE PRAYERS ARE NUMBERED AND INDICATED IN PARENTHESES ( )


PRAYERS FROM THE CHURCH (343-364)

For Faith (343)

For Guidance (344-345)

For Attendance at Spiritual Retreats (346-347)

For Return from Spiritual Retreats (348-50)

For Thanks for the Kindness of Others (351-352)

For Baptism (353)

For Ordination or Commissioning (354)

For Shepherds of the Church (355-356)

When Church Professionals Leave (357-358)

For Recognition of a Church Teacher (359)

For Recognition of a School Teacher (360)

For Church Visitors (361)

For New Church Members (362)

For a New Church (363)

For the Closing of a Church (364)


PRAYERS FROM THE CHURCH (343-364)

For Faith (343)

Faithful God,
In your good will, you give to some the ability to see your unseen presence at work in our lives and in the world. Charge us anew to use this precious gift on behalf of those who cannot see you and do not believe. Your beloved child, _____, is seeking (revitalization of) your gift of faith. Fan the embers of her faith and help her to leap where she cannot see, to flourish in love, and to abound in hope. In Christ we pray. (343)

For Guidance (344-345)

Precious Lord,
We rejoice that your promise is to be with us no matter the way we take. So what have we to fear? We ask the blessing of your guidance now for our friend, _____, as she struggles with the options that lay before her. Abide with her as she seeks clarity and open the doors according to your good will and mercy. And help her find the still waters of your grace and peace along the way. In Christ we pray. (344)

O Mighty Jesus,
You are the Carpenter of our life together, teaching us what it means to be a people chosen to be merciful, a people called to be loving as we seek justice and peace. Chisel our hearts until they resemble your own. Hammer our wills until they fit the blueprint of Heaven. Clothe us in humility, self-discipline, and hospitality of heart. We pray especially for our sister, _____, who earnestly seeks to follow in your ways of love and grace now and forevermore; through Christ we make our plea. (345)

For Attendance at Spiritual Retreats (346-347)

O Fountain of Life,
How we thank you for your gift of grace and for your providential care! We thank you today for _____, for her tender heart and kind ways. We are grateful for her wit and wisdom, and for her grace-softened spirit that seeks your guidance and will for her life. Bless her this weekend in a special way, as you kindle the fires of her faith. And stir her to deeper trust, wider compassion, and higher hopes through Jesus our Lord. In Him we pray. (346)

God of the Journey,
We rejoice that you cause us to blossom and flourish as you woo us toward a life of hope and peace. We pray your deep blessings upon _____ in a special way at this time of retreat from the everyday. Teach her what she must learn, strengthen her faith, deepen her love, and widen her compassion. And give her the wisdom and courage she needs to continue to follow the path of Jesus all her days. In Christ’s we pray. (347)

Upon Return from a Spiritual Retreat (348-350)

Great God of All Life,
Your touch upon us is the kiss of new life. We pray for _____, your beloved child who rejoices in the touch of your Spirit’s kiss upon her at the retreat. Instill the renewed fervor she has experienced into the marrow of her days and help her to continue to pursue your ways of love and peace. Let the joy of your salvation mark the path of her journey and the peace of Christ light her way. In Him we pray. (348)
Gracious God,
How we thank you as you shape and reshape us, making us fit for your Great Cause of reconciling the world through love! Bless your beloved child, _____, who rejoices at your regeneration of her faith at the retreat. We pray that the dazzling grace she experienced there will take root deep within her very being that the song of her life may be praise and the story of her life may be grace. In Christ we pray. (349)

O Source of All Goodness,
How refreshing is the worship and friendship of your people, gathered in retreat from everyday cares! As your beloved child, _____, re-enters the everyday, let your Spirit continue to touch her in profound and life-changing ways. Fill her with the love of Christ that she might be a radiant beacon of hope to those around her each day. And may her joy in Christ overflow in praise and thanksgiving to you all her days. In Him we pray. (350)

For Thanks for the Kindness of Others (351-352)

God of Dazzling Grace,
How clearly we see your Spirit blowing upon and through those saints sent to bless and encourage the family of faith! It is with much gratitude we pray now for _____, a saint who has blessed and encouraged us. We thank you for her servant leadership and for the goodwill she spreads among us as she joyfully shares her faith. Bless her as she has blessed us, we pray in the love, hope, and joy of Jesus. (351)

Light of All Goodness,
We thank you for our dear friend, _____, whose life reflects the rainbow intensity your Spirit’s touch. For the red of her passion, for the green of her hospitality of heart, for the yellow of her joy, we give you thanks. For the orange of her creativity, for the violet of her vitality, and for the blue of the settled peace within her, we bless your name. Continue now to bless and keep her now and always. In Christ we pray. (352)

For Baptism (353)

God of Covenant Love,
You give us life and your saving grace all along our way. Through the waters of baptism, you seal us to Jesus, and with the kiss of your Holy Spirit upon, us you anoint us into the family of faith. As (little) ______ has now received the sacramental grace of waters and anointing, we ask your deep blessings upon her. Help her to flourish in love, abound in hope, and rejoice in your abiding presence always. In Christ we pray. (353)

For Ordination or Commissioning (354)

Eternal God,
You call us to use our gifts and skills for Heaven’s sake and the sake of this world you love with such passion. Your child, _____, has heard your call to the office (ministry) of _____ and she seeks your blessing at this special time. Make your truth be known through her words, songs, prayers, and joyful service to the Christ’s Church. And let wisdom and humility be the hallmarks of her ministry as she seeks to follow Jesus on your paths of kindness, justice, and peace. In Christ we pray. (354)

For Shepherds of the Church (355-356)

Most Gracious God,
For those who are yoked to our Lord Jesus in His work and witness, the promise is rest for their souls. From the unfathomable depths of your grace, we ask you to bless and sustain your servant leader, _____ as she follows her call with integrity, humility, and courage. Grant your Spirit’s breath upon all that she says and does, to the end that your Reign is proclaimed and your good will is done. And may she find rest for her soul each day. In Christ we pray. (355)

God of Grace,
We are grateful for our call to dwell under your canopy of grace through ministry with and for others. May your Holy Spirit abide with your servant, _____, as she seeks to shepherd and tend your people. Let your goodness fill her heart to overflowing, that it may spill out upon those whom she leads. Grant her patience in the times of unknowing, wisdom in the fray, and light for her journey. May joy be her companion and hope the song she sings. In Christ we pray. (356)

For When Church Professionals Leave (357-358)

Holy God,
We give you our thanks for the ministry of your child, _____, as she leaves her ministry with _______ Church. We are grateful for the love, faith, time, and energy that she has invested in your people as a servant leader. And we thank you for all of the lives touched by your Spirit and the hopes restored in her time here. Bless her now as she continues to seek your good will and guidance. And let the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus flow out upon her abundantly always. In Christ we pray. (357)

Precious Lord,
We are grateful that you are working your good will out through the life and ministry of your servant, _____. We ask that she will continue to reflect the light of Jesus in everything that she says and does all her days. Continue to bless and guide her during this time of transition and lead her into a future where she may flourish. And may your Spirit fill her with your peace, now and always. In Christ we pray. (358)

For Recognition of a Church School Teacher (359)

Holy God,
We bless you for all your servants who help us learn how to rejoice in your works and to trust your love. We are especially grateful today for _____, a teacher of great faith and love, and we delight as she brings wisdom through her teaching, happiness through her hugs (and cookies!), and well-being through her quiet spirit. Bless her with all she may need to continue to proclaim the good news of Jesus in both word and deed. And grant her your peace. In Christ we pray. (359)

Recognition of a School Teacher (360)

Giver of our Vocation,
We thank you today for the call you have given to _____, who has been Christ’s faithful disciple as a public school teacher, dedicating these past _____ years to the welfare of her students. Continue to be with her as she labors in love to help bring the light of learning to those in her care each school year. Give her the wisdom, perseverance, and fortitude that she needs each day. And bless her with the light and peace of Christ now and always. In Him we pray. (360)

For Church Visitors (361)

God of Grace,
We are grateful that you bind us together as brothers and sisters in Christ. We thank you that even strangers are friends in the faith. We are grateful that _____ joined us in our worship on Sunday, and pray she may find a home here. Open doors of blessing for her and pour out your Holy Spirit as you steady her in the steps of faith, hope, and love each day. And we ask that if this is not the spiritual home she seeks, you will guide her onward to that church family you have prepared for her. In Jesus we pray. (361)

For New Church Members (362)

Gracious God,
We are so grateful to you for leading _____, ( _____, and _____) into the arms of our church family, and for the blessings that come from her presence with us. Let your face shine upon her as she begins this new phase of her journey with us. Deepen the roots of her faith and stretch out her courage to meet all the storms of life with child-like confidence in your care. Pour out your grace as together we seek to be your loving children following in the path of our Lord Jesus. In Him we pray. (362)

For a New Church (363)

O Light of All Life,
We offer our utmost thanks and praise for the Spirit’s call that has beckoned the people who now commit to be the charter congregation of ____ Church in _____. We are grateful they are dedicated to serving our Lord Jesus and this world for whom He died. Let your Spirit blow in a mighty way upon those at its birthing. Grant that they may be a beacon of love and a harbor of hope to all those around them. O, prosper the work of their hands and hearts for generations to come. In Christ we pray. (363)

For the Closing of a Church (364)

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die. . .a time to search and a time to give up. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a, 6a

God of the Ages,
In each generation, you plant your Word, reaping fields of goodness and new life, and plucking up that which you have planted. We pray for the members and friends of ______ Church whose time has come to lay fallow and at rest. We thank you for the generations that have found your goodness and new life through its worship and teaching and services of compassion. And we ask you blessing upon those who now shut its doors and leave the future in your good and faithful keeping. In Christ we pray. (364)


NEXT POST: LETTERS FROM THE CHURCH

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