Prayers for the Church

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given the Holy Spirit to abide with us for ever: Bless, we pray, with his grace and presence, the members of the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies assembled at the 81^st General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky from June 23^rd through the 28^th in your Name.

We pray that the Holy Spirit may guide and govern all conversations surrounding the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church. May all gathered commit together to a unified vision, mission, and ministry in ways that will help us to grow spiritually and numerically in the coming years.

We pray especially for godly wisdom to guide the choice of a new Presiding Bishop to lead us through the next 12 years, to inspire and strengthen us in your service.

May your Church, being preserved in true faith and godly discipline, fulfill all the mind of him who loved it and gave himself for it, your Son Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Our God, amidst the deplorable division of your church, let us never widen its breaches but give us universal charity to all who are called by your name. Deliver us from the sins and errors, the schisms and heresies of the age. Give us grace daily to pray for the peace of your church, and earnestly to seek it and to excite all we can to praise and love you; through Jesus Christ, our one Savior and Redeemer. Amen.

--Thomas Ken (1637-1711)

Almighty God,

You called your church to be One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. By your grace you have given us new life in Jesus Christ, and by your Spirit you have called us to proclaim his name throughout the nations: Awaken in us such a love for you and your world that in this Decade of Evangelism we may so boldly proclaim Jesus Christ by word and deed that all people may come to know him as Savior and follow him as Lord; to the glory of your Name.

Amen.

God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth,
Have mercy on us.  

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the faithful.
Have mercy on us

Holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, one God.
Have mercy on us

For your holy catholic Church, in all times and in all places, that it may continually be filled with the grace of your Son our Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the Anglican Communion, that in breadth of spirit and depth of devotion it may constantly rediscover its character as a church for all people, and that it may reach out to all peoples everywhere for the sake of truth and in obedience to the Gospel, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer

For the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, that it may flourish as a part of Christ's one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, faithfully fulfilling its mission and exercising its ministry in the changes and chances of this day and age, we pray to you, O Lord. 
Lord, hear our prayer

For our Presiding Bishop in these unsettled times, that she may be among us as an example: one who loves what is true, honors what is just, and belongs to all.
Lord, hear our prayer

For all the people of the Church, that our Lord Jesus Christ may live out in us the full mystery of his death and resurrection, that we may be stretched and transformed by his love and find ourselves in him, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the forgiveness of our sins: for failure to love you with our whole heart and our neighbors as ourselves, that you will renew us as one body and one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in his name, we pray to you, O Lord. 
Lord, hear our prayer.  

For forgiveness of our failure to commend the faith that is in us to those both far and near, that you will strengthen us to proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Jesus Christ, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.  

For forgiveness of our pride, contentiousness, and factionalism, our stubbornness and party spirit, our insisting on our own way rather than seeking your purpose, that you will give us the mind of Christ and by your Holy Spirit lead us into all truth, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.  

In thanksgiving for your blessings: for the challenges and opportunities you give us to grow in understanding and cooperaton in your Chuch, that as many members of one body we may continually be transformed ito the likeness of Christ Jesus, we pray to you, O Lord. 
Lord, hear our prayer.

In thanksgiving for the courage, compassion, and fearless witness of lay and clergy leaders who have risen to the trials of our times, and who have called the chuch to live out its enduring truth in the midst of changing circumstances, that our witness may be ever fatihful and ever new, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

In thanksgiving for all those who in constant faithfulness and quiet confidence work, pray and give for the spread of your kingdom, often without recognition or fanfare, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

In hope for the future, that you will raise up glodly leaders, grant us a clear vision, and give us both abiding trust and steadfast hearts for the days to come, we pray to you, O Lord. 
Lord, hear our prayer.

For our communion, that you will raise up instruments of healing and reconciliation in individuals, parishes, dioceses, and councils, that we may maintain constant love for one another and be connected to that larger community where Christ most fully is to be found, we pray to you, O Lord. 
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the coming of your kingdom, that we may prayerfully continue to strive for justice and peace as signs of your reign that is already at work among us, we pray to you. O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the consummation of all things in your well-beloved Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Lord, hear our prayer.

The Rev. Richard Kew

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace; GIve us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy division; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.