Prayer For Parish Council Meeting

Lord Jesus,
You were sent by the Father
to gather together those who are scattered.
You came among us, doing good and bringing healing,
announcing the Word of salvation
and giving the Bread which lasts forever.
Be our companion on lifes pilgrim way.
May your Holy Spirit inflame our hearts,
enliven our hope and open our minds,
so that together with our sisters and brothers in faith
we may recognise you in the Scriptures
and in the breaking of bread.
May your Holy Spirit transform us into one body
and lead us to walk humbly on the earth,
in justice and love,
as witnesses of your resurrection.
In communion with Mary,
whom you gave to us as our Mother
at the foot of the cross,through you
may all praise, honour and blessing be to the Father
in the Holy Spirit and in the Church,
Now and forever.
Amen


Gracious God
you are the source of all life:
we praise you.
You are the source of our rich diversity:
we delight in you.
With grateful hearts, we acknowledge
the dedication of all those men and women
upon whose efforts we continue to build.
May your guiding presence give us courage
to face the challenges that lie ahead.
Grant us enquiring minds and listening hearts
that we may deepen our understanding
of the concerns of your people.
Help us to discover new opportunities
for leadership and service
as we seek to live and promote
your values of love, justice and peace.
Hear our prayer
that, in walking the way of your truth,
we may leave the imprint of your goodness
throughout the world.
We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.


Lord God, we thank you for bringing us together tonight after our different sorts of days; for the privilege of being able to serve you through helping administer the business of your church here; and for the many gifts you have given us which enable that.

Please help us to recognise and honour those gifts in ourselves and in one other; give us the grace to allow each one to individually blossom; and show us how to use them to complement each other, so that we may grow ever closer to what you need us to be as a PCC.

As we work through the agenda tonight, we pray that your spirit may move freely among us, guiding us with the mind of Christ, so that the practicalities of finance, fabric and any other concerns are underpinned by your will and dealt with in peace, truth and above all, love.

We ask this in the name of your Son, our Saviour, whom we love and adore.

Amen


Heavenly Father, we come to you today asking for wisdom and support as we begin this meeting. May everything we do begin with your inspiration and continue with your help.

We ask for guidance throughout this meeting that all of our thoughts and actions would reflect your Holy will. Remember that all of our concerns are aimed at the spiritual transformation of our parish community.

We do ask you to grant us the grace to love you and our neighbours more perfectly. And to remind us that all we do here today is for the pursuit of truth for the greater glory of you.

We ask all these things in your name.

Amen


Everloving God
You gather us together
As a parish of Christ the King
To carry the Gospel of Christ to all people
Bless the members of this parish council
Let your Spirit enlighten their minds
And guide all their actions
That they may be renewed in faith,
United in love,
And bring to fulfillment the work of your church
To your greater honor and glory.
We ask this through Christ our Lord
Amen


Guide us by your wisdom,
support us by your power,
for you are God, sharing the glory of Father and Son.
You desire justice for all;
enable us to uphold the rights of others;
do not allow us to be misled by ignorance
or corrupted by fear or favor.
Unite us to yourself in the bond of love
and keep us faithful to all that is true.
As we gather in your name, may we temper justice with love,
so that all our discussions and reflections
may be pleasing to you, and earn the reward
promised to good and faithful servants.
We ask this of You who live and reign with the
Father and the Son, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Lord, we lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of
liberation
in realizing that. This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well. It may be incomplete,
but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do
the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the
difference
between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own. We humbly ask the Holy
Spirit to guide us in Jesus' name we pray
Amen.


Dear Lord,
It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long
view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything. Amen