Moving...a great prayer

The following is a prayer which was passed out at our Moving Pastor's Seminar in the beginning of June.  The prayer was written by the people of PlowPoint Ministries which is a great place to help your congregation grow and learn to follow God's call in their lives.  This is my prayer for Sunday and I thought I would share it for anyone else to be inspired by it as they head into their last Sunday.

Covering Prayer

Gracious God,

We praise you for who you are and for all that you do for us.  You, O Lord, are the Good Shepherd, and you have given us and blessed us with abundant life and ministry.

We thank you for the gifts and calling you have given each of us as your servants in which we share and minister together as the One body of Christ.  We especially give you thanks, Lord, for our shepherd leaders, our pastors, who you have sent to lead us according to your will. 

Lord, we are yours and you are ours, and we share in your precious gift of the Church.  In this season of transition, Lord, we ask that you guide us and protect us as we release and receive our pastors and their loved ones.

Forgive us, Lord, for the ways we have disappointed one another and you.  Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have insisted on our own agendas instead of heeding and following only yours.  Where there has been hurt, give us healing.  Where there is grief, give us grace.

As we prepare to say goodbye, help us to leave and release one another with honor.  Help us to celebrate the ways you have worked among and through us.  And help us to let go of past disappointments to embrace the promising future that lies ahead.

As we prepare to say hello to our new leaders, bless them and us.  Lord, bind us together with our bond of peace.

Make us one, Lord, as you and the Father are one.  Let nothing, namely anything we say or do, be divisive among us.  What you, Lord, have brought together, let no one tear apart.

And now, Lord, we give ourselves entirely to you so your Church will be entirely yours.  For it’s in your holy and precious name we pray.  Amen.