Today’s prayer for General Council comes from Samuel Grottenberg, a candidate for ministry in BC Conference. To view the archive of all prayers being offered in the lead up to GC43 click here.
Almighty and Most Merciful God, we come before you today as a community of servants, desiring to do your will. We praise you and thank you for the manifold ways in which you have blessed us with friendship, vision, and enthusiasm for the work of your Kingdom.
Lord, we pray today for all those who lead within The United Church of Canada—ministers, pastors, lay leaders, and more. We pray for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit into each one of them, as we embark upon a new journey together in the weeks, months, and years ahead. Renew our denomination’s sense of mission, O God. Give us eyes to see the world through your eyes; give us ears to hear your voice calling us to repentance, to worship, and to the sharing the gospel.
Holy God, we pray also for the commissioners to General Council who are preparing themselves mentally, physically, and spiritually for the gruelling week of discernment and decision-making that is coming up soon. Jesus, lead these women and men in the ways of righteousness. Reveal your will to them. Give them hope. Remind them of your Word. Help them to retrieve the good and the beautiful from the traditions and experiences of the Church catholic.
Gracious Giver of Life, we pray for you to revive your church—in this denomination, and in all others. We ask for your empowerment for all the saints; that followers of Jesus in all corners of the world would live in faithful obedience to the Scriptures; that they would preach the gospel with clarity and simplicity; that they would stand up against injustice; that they would live lives of compasion; and that they would be intentional stewards of your love to the whole world.
We ask all these things in the powerful name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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**As I’ve been praying for the church and the upcoming GC43, God has frequently brought to mind the Covenant Prayer of John Wesley. I thought I’d share it today, as well.**
“I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”