May 18, 2012
Prayer Vigil to Support
Australia National Conference
Welcome
We gather as community to offer our prayerful support of Community of Christ members in Australia who are preparing for National Conference this weekend. As we unite in prayer, we seek God’s spirit of guidance and peace for all who assemble and engage in discerning God’s will.
Congregation Hymn: “Let Us Pray for One Another” HS 312
OR “This Is My Song” HS 315
Prayer for Forgiveness by Barbara Howard
Creator God, with love you have designed everything in the universe, from the smallest organism to the tallest mountain. We stand in your love even in this moment. So, we bring to you our brokenness that separates us from you and all your creation.
We confess that we often contrive our self-created world with pre-conceived notions of your desires. We cherish our own ideas, sometimes claiming our thoughts to be your thoughts. We forget your call to value the worth of every person, including those who do not share our values.
Forgive us and open our hearts, we pray.
When we are most aware of you, we see that your love is boundless. Forgive us when we limit the presence of your Spirit with our strongly held opinions about others who see your world from another perspective and whose views differ from our own. Let us sense the presence of your loving spirit, alive in others. Stir in us the power and grace of your compassion.
Forgive us and open our hearts, we pray.
As we move into the future, may we sense your grace—your unconditional love for all. May we also learn to rejoice in the gifts of those who differ from us, who do not share our ideas and desires. God, let nothing separate us from you and from one another and the marvelous works of love to which you call us.
Forgive us and open our hearts, we pray. Amen.
Congregation Response: “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord” HS 94
OR “O Lord, Hear My Prayer” Taizé Community
Prayer for Wisdom, Trust, and Conference Logistics by Wendy Ballard
God of Grace and Glory, of this time and all times, of this people and all people,
What prayer can we pray Lord, that you haven’t already heard?
What can we really say to you, in the limitations of our words?
We need you every hour! We need you every hour!
Holy God, we call on you to be our strength!
We need your guidance!
Your wisdom! And your peace!
Lord, hear our prayer that we may never cease to answer the call to be prophetic,
listening to your voice and responding as you would lead us.
May we listen to one another.
May we love and share until your Spirit breathes upon us, and whispers, “Peace, be still.”
As journeys are confided, and sacred stories told,
May we leave past agendas behind, to be a people united.
For you are our oneness God, and we are changed.
It is you who knows our stories, and you who calls our name.
Lord, many months of planning go into this event.
Many will use the gifts you gave, to serve and praise you.
May each give their best.
May the technology and logistics work successfully.
Bless the ones who lead us.
Bless the ones who feed us.
Bless the ones who come to cast a vote,
Bless the different points of view.
Bless the singing, the sacraments, and the business of the day.
May we live Christ’s mission in the Great Southland.
Lord, hear us as we pray!
Amen
Congregation Response: “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord” HS 94
OR “O Lord, Hear My Prayer” Taizé Community
Prayer for People to Find Peace in the Outcome by Bruce Crockett
O God, we are filled with gratitude for the abundant blessings we have received, both known and unknown. These blessings have given us peace, affirmation, healing, empowerment, and insight. We are thankful for your son Jesus, the embodiment of your shalom who invites all people to come and receive divine peace in the midst of difficult questions and struggles. Some of us, Lord, may find ourselves struggling because we find some issues unsettling, even disturbing. But in the midst of the difficult discussions on topics that are pressing the church and raising fears in places, Jesus invites us to experience divine peace. Lord, we cannot “will” this peace to reside within us and we cannot demand or manipulate divine peace to come. In order to receive, we need to surrender. It is a matter of grace. Jesus is our shepherd who leads us into green pastures and beside still waters and restores our souls. Lord, help us to hear the shepherd’s voice, to surrender and receive the peace of Jesus Christ in our lives as we strive to understand the bigger picture of shalom, Zion the beautiful, the peaceful reign of Christ. Help us to see and understand, O Lord. Prepare us for new insight. Make us diligent in our spiritual preparation, our study, our meditation, and our reflection. Help us prepare to hear your Spirit through self-examination and discussions with others. O Lord, hear our prayers for the church, for each person, and for ourselves. Jesus said to his disciples, Peace I leave you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, nor let them be afraid. Let it be so.In Christ we pray. Amen.
Congregation Response: “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord” HS 94
OR “O Lord, Hear My Prayer” Taizé Community
Prayer for Unity, Leadership, and the Future of the Church by Ken Robinson
Sometimes we are weary of confronting change, Lord, and sometimes we are weary from fighting for change....
But then you come and call us on again, and eventually we understand and rejoice. In the meantime we are often torn, both within self and also between us.
Across this globe we stand in such vastly different cultures, and yet we all are drawn to the same powerful, loving presence, seeking and receiving blessings. In our differences today, Lord, we seek unity through your presence...
In each of our national houses as we yet again face potential change.
May we feel your blessing with us, and may we feel your blessing binding all our nations together in one great family as we have experienced so often before.
Each of us in our nations will find our voice as we confer and we will share that voice. Bless those who will hear and weigh our voices, seeking to discern your will for the whole as well as the parts...
Especially grant our president and his colleagues in the leading quorums, the wisdom and insight for which they yearn.
May this church that moves into the future be a body unified.
Through the struggles in faith, through wrestling inside our souls and with one another, may we remain in community, never letting go of you, Lord.
Empower this body through your Spirit with such faith and courage, is our prayer this day.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Congregation Response: “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord” HS 94
OR “O Lord, Hear My Prayer” Taizé Community
Invitation for Personal Prayer and Meditation
As meditation music is shared, you are invited to offer your own silent prayers or meditate. During this time you are welcome to come forward and light a candle symbolizing individual prayers being offered on behalf of those participating in the conference.
Lighting of Candles