Praying as a Community

The Rector Search Committee has invited all of the groups, committees, organizations, and other gatherings within our parish to join us in prayer during this transitional journey. As part of that call, the committee asked any interested group to compose a prayer for the search, pray it within the group, and then submit for use during a Sunday service.

The parish is rotating through them all.

From the Fellowship Committee

Almighty and Everlasting God, whose Son performed his first miracle at a community celebration, send down your blessings as we gather and celebrate within our own church community. By Your Spirit, grant that our occasions for fellowship will welcome all into the warmth of our parish family. Guide us also in our search for a new Rector, that your chosen servant will share our calling to strengthen the powerful bonds that link our parish in love, support, praise, and thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From 7th Grade Students at Grace-St. Luke’s School

Dear Lord, give us strength, wisdom, and leadership to choose the right pastor for our church. Whoever comes let them lead us in a way that is right and truthful and guide us into a faithful journey. As we stand here today, somebody right and great will come along to teach us the works of God. Let him or her be in our loving hands. Amen.

From the Grace-St. Luke’s Choir

Great Jehovah, source of all wisdom and fount of every blessing, guide the Vestry, the Search Committee, and this congregation as we seek our new Rector. Open our eyes to your vision, our voices to your song, and our hearts to your will; through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

From the 39ers

Heavenly Father we ask your guidance in finding a priest for Grace-St. Luke’s. Be with the members of the Search Committee and lead them in the discernment of choosing a good fit for all segments of the church. Give them good judgment and integrity to seek a Rector with good delegation skills, be a good listener, and hear what we say; be sensitive to the needs of seniors and to traditions of the Episcopal Church. Amen.

From the More Than a Meal Volunteers

Almighty God, you made us in your image. Open our hearts to see Christ’s face in the Rector we seek, the parishioners we serve, and the guests within our ministries. Grant us wisdom to seek love, compassion, hospitality, and strength of heart in our leader for pastoral action and outreach passion. May we find the wellspring of Your Son’s teaching to keep us focused on our task. This we ask in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

From Grace-St. Luke’s EFM Group

O God, great counselor and creator of wisdom who knows our hearts and the needs of this parish, you sent your son Jesus Christ to be a teacher of faith in the day-to-day events of our lives. As ministers of your Word by virtue of our baptism, we pray that our rector will be a preacher and teacher who will help us grow stronger as a community based on Christ’s love, someone who enables us to follow Christ’s command to “feed my sheep.” All this we ask in Christ’s name. Amen.

From the Adult Christian Education Committee

Almighty, All-Knowing Father, we beseech you to make your will known to the Grace-St. Luke’s Search Committee. Grant them discernment and wisdom to attract a rector whose vision is your vision; a pastor who will teach, preach, and celebrate our various ministries; a leader who will challenge and empower our congregation to live your will through fulfillment of Grace-St. Luke’s mission. All this we ask in the name of your Son our Savior, Jesus Christ, with the assurance of the revelation of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

From the Altar Guild

Lord God, our Creator and Sustainer, we beseech you to look favorably upon our parish as we seek our leader. Give us your grace to choose a faithful pastor to help us to know Christ and to make Christ known. We offer this prayer in the name of your Son, Our Brother, Jesus Christ. Amen.