Prayer 2489: For the Second Day of Diocesan Convention and Election of a Bishop

O God, You are our wisdom and our guide: 
bless and keep us this day. 

Send your Spirit upon us,
God of Grace and Mercy, 
and lead us into pastures of plenty, 
that we may be refreshed and restored 
to be your light and truth in the world. 

Make us bold in discipleship, 
steadfast in prayer, 
and united in spirit, Beloved Savior. 

Grant us wisdom and courage 
 that we may be resolute 
 in seeking your will, O God, in all things. 

Extend the shelter of your mercy 
over those for whom we pray this day.

Amen.

Prayer, day 2488: for Diocesan Convention

O God, You are our refuge and our rock: 
we put our trust in You.

Help us to work together in harmony
in the work You have given us,
and let our deeds bring honor to Your name.
Let us make your Word and commandments our sure foundation,
and seek always to forgive rather than condemn.
Let us remember the generous love You have given us,
and uphold each other in our trials and needs.

Help us testify to the world
about your grace and mercy
by our love and example, Blessed Jesus,
and help us lift up the banner of love and compassion.

Extend the shelter of your mercy
over those for whom we pray this day.

Amen.

Prayer 1758: Inspired by Psalm 90 (Diocesan Convention day 2)

Almighty One,
your steadfast love endures forever:
as the curtain of night is lifted,
we see the glory of all your works,
and rejoice!

Your loving-kindness satisfies us
and sustains us all our lives:
we know our times are in your merciful hand,
and You, O God, are with us.

Forgive us for chasing after fleeting pleasures,
for closing our hearts to You and each other,
and failing to care for creation.
Make us mindful of your abundant grace;
and make us generous and compassionate
that our actions may testify to your love.

Teach us instead to number our hours as your gift,
and dedicate our days to seek wisdom and embody mercy,
walking in justice and reconciliation.

Set us aflame by the power of the Holy Spirit,
and make us one Body,
rejoicing in the mighty waters of hope.

Spread the canopy of your blessing, Lord Jesus,
over all who seek you, and especially those we now name.

Amen.

Photo: The Rev. Loren Lasch, my friend and colleague in youth ministry, addresses the 178th convention of the Diocese of Missouri, with my son and other youth behind her.

Prayer, Day 1757: For the opening of the 178th Diocesan Convention

We raise our voices in praise and song to You,
O God, our Creator and Light.

For our manifold blessings--
community, hope, faith, and love--
we give thanks to You, O Lord.
For all who are gathered as disciples,
seeking to discern your will in our lives,
we give thanks to You, O Lord.
For the Light of Christ,
which uplifts our hearts and minds,
bringing us into communion with You,
we give thanks to You, O Lord.

For all who seek You,
or a deeper knowledge of You,
that your kingdom may be glorified
on Earth as in heaven,
we pray to You, O Lord.
For all who travel this day,
for traveling mercies,
that they be returned to their homes safely,
we pray to You, O Lord.
For wisdom and justice
to be strengthened and restored in our land,
we pray to You, O Lord.
For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble,
that the awning of your mercy shield and shade them,
we pray to You, O Lord.
For those struggling against illness or pain,
that your healing hand may uplift them,
we pray to You O Lord.

Holy One, we pray especially for these, your servants we now name.

Amen.
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Prayer, day 1398- For Diocesan Convention

An excerpt from the Barmen Declaration of 1934 used by Bishop of Missouri George Wayne Smith at the beginning of his address to the 177th Diocesan Convention.

O God, You are our refuge and our rock: we put our trust in You. 

Help us to work together in harmony in the work You have given us, and let our deeds bring honor to Your name. 

Let us make your Word and commandments our sure foundation, and seek always to forgive rather than condemn. 

Let us remember the generous love You have given us, and uphold each other in our trials and needs. 

Break the chains of fear and enmity that threaten us, and help us lift up the banner of love and compassion. 

Extend the shelter of your mercy over those for whom we pray this day.

Amen.
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Prayer, day 1397: For the opening of diocesan convention

Dawn this morning was particulaly spectacular. 

Come, let us walk humbly with our God today, that our lives testify and worship the Lord with all we do. 

Our help comes from You, O Holy One: give us the strength and the wisdom to persevere in all our struggles today. 
O God, we pray for peace in our homes, peace in our communities, peace in our nation, and for peace in the world. 

May we remember that the foundation of peace is justice and equity, compassion and mercy, repentance and forgiveness, strength and love.
May God's love be our mantle against the chill of fear, and our shade against the heat of turmoil. 

Lord Jesus, reign in our hearts and teach us your ways: draw us all within your healing embrace as we pray.

Amen.
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Prayer 1033- At diocesan convention

New deacon Elizabeth Simpson receives a Bible from Bishop George Wayne Smith at the Eucharist and ordination held to open the 176th Convention of the Diocese of Missouri.

Almighty and merciful God, we rise with a song of praise on our lips for all your wondrous deeds. Let us waken the dawn with a prayer of thankfulness, that we may rejoice forever in You, O Holy Lord, God of power and blessing. 

Let us treat no one with contempt or ill-will, but let us take joy in each other by the power of the Holy Spirit. We dedicate ourselves anew to serving You, Holy One, for You are making a new heaven and earth within us. 

Unite us to You and each other through the love of Christ, and make us steadfast and sure in discerning your path of love, we pray. Restore all things good and right, loving and pure within us, O Prince of Peace. 

Lord Jesus, we bend the knee of our hearts before You: we ask that you draw our loved ones within the circle of your embrace.

Amen.

Prayer 1032

Almighty God, we praise and bless You, and glorify your Name as we rise to take up our labors today. Accept the offering of our time, talent, and worship that we offer before You, and consecrate them to your service, we pray. 

Lord Jesus, grant us wisdom and charity to guide all our endeavors, that our works may find favor in your sight and help build your kingdom. Strengthen the hearts of your servants, O Holy One, that we may be united through love to care for each other as our own. 

Grant your comfort to all who are in need, O God, and help us work to bring justice and peace to the world. Buoyed by your love and faithfulness, O Loving One, we lift up these beloveds and ask Your blessing upon them.

Amen.