Anglican Missions asked me to write new prayers for three particular topics they named. These have just been published in their Partners in Prayer 2009 prayer diary. Here they are reproduced:
Vestry (or any other meeting)
Let us pray (in silence) for this (vestry) meeting.
Silent prayer
God of wisdom,
you send your Spirit to guide us into all the truth;
may we (who meet here) have listening ears and humble hearts,
that we may together find the mind of Christ,
and walk in the way of your will;
through Jesus Christ your Word
[who is alive with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever].
Amen.
Mission
Let us pray (in silence) for our church in mission.
Silent prayer
God our Creator,
in Christ you are reconciling the world to yourself
and you entrust to us this message of reconciliation;
may we make known the good news of your love
and so live the message we proclaim
that others may also grow into your reign of love
through Christ who was lifted on the cross
and is now alive with you
and the Holy Spirit
one God for ever and ever.
Amen.
Church
Let us pray (in silence) for Christ’s church.
Silent prayer
Ever faithful God,
you call us into your church
to continue Christ’s reconciling work
and reveal you to all;
may the fire of your Spirit transform us,
the gentleness of your Spirit encourage us,
and the gifts of your Spirit enable us
to worship you
and to serve you in others;
through Jesus, the Christ, our Lord
[who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever].
Amen.
Let us pray (in silence) for Christ’s church.
Silent prayer
Holy and life-giving God,
Jesus prayed that his friends may all be one
and grow into union with you;
forgive our discord and divisions,
renew our celebration of the diversity you make,
and grant us the courage to strive for the unity that is your will;
through our Saviour Jesus Christ
[who is alive with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever].
Amen,
Thank you for your prayers which I have used in various situations and have always seemed apposite – concise yet meaningful. I hope you will writing more?
Thanks, Jennifer. You can find a lot of the material I’ve written towards the back of my book, Celebrating Eucharist.