Prayers for the Preacher and the Congregation

God the Spirit, Guide and Guardian (A Hymn Text)

God the Spirit, guide and guardian, wind-sped flame and hovering dove,
Breath of life and voice of prophets, sign of blessing, power of love,
Give to those who lead your people, fresh anointing of your grace.
Send them forth as bold apostles to your church in every place.

Christ our Savior, sovereign, Shepherd, word made flesh, love crucified,
Teacher, healer, suffering servant, friend of sinners, foe of pride,
In your tending may all pastors learn and live a shepherd's care;
Grant them courage and compassion shown through word and deed and prayer.

Great Creator, life bestower, truth beyond all thought's recall,
Found of wisdom, womb of mercy, giving and forgiving all,
As you know our strength and weakness, so may those the church exalts
Oversee its life steadfastly yet not overlook its faults.

Triune God mysterious being, undivided and diverse,
Deeper than our minds can fathom, greater than our creeds rehearse,
Help us in our varied callings your full image to proclaim,
That our ministries uniting may give glory to your name.

For Confession

You asked for my hands
that you might use them for your purpose.
I gave them for a moment, then withdrew them
for the work was hard.

You asked for my mouth
to speak out against injustice.
I gave you a whisper that I might not be accused.

You asked for my eyes
to see the pain of poverty.
I closed them for I did not want to see.

You asked for my life
that you might work through me.
I gave a small part that I might not get too involved.

Lord forgive my calculated efforts to serve you
only when it is convenient for me to do so,
only in those places where it is safe to do so,
and only with those who make it easy to do so.

Lord, forgive me,
renew me,
send me out
as a usable instrument
that I might take seriously
the meaning of your cross.

- Jo Seremane, South Africa. From A Forgiving Heart, Lyn Klug, ed. p. 142

Standing in the Back of Church

I stand and I wait.
Hopefully. Too hopefully-
like a kid at a science fair.
What did you think? Did you like my project? Did you like me?!

And when they file past with a nod, or a 'good morning,' or a 'beautiful day'
and move on to grab their kids and coats,
I still stand, and wait. Disappointed.

Forgive me, Lord. I know this is about you, not me.
But I can't give up the desire for approval, the need to be liked,
let alone the lust for someone-anyone-
to say, "Your sermon changed my life today. I'll never be the same."

Keep working on me.
Train my hopeful heart to stand in the back and seek how to serve;
Train my eyes to look in the faces of those who file past to see their hopes and hurts,
and put mine on the shelf.
Train me to be their pastor, even after I'm done preaching.

--MSH © 2004

For Humility

Sleepers

People are going to fall asleep while I'm preaching.
It always happens. Even the good sermons get a few sleepy nods amidst the rapt attention.

Bud, maybe, after milking this morning. Or Julie, up with the kids all night.
Or Brian, who stayed up because the last details of his dissertation chapter were finally coming together.
Or-who am I kidding?-anyone who watched Saturday Night Live because Jennifer Aniston was on.

They'll come in, sing the hymns, yawn a bit, and when I stand and deliver
the warmth of the room, the curve of the pew and the rhythm of my voice will lull them to sleep.

It's not about me. It's not about me. It's not about me.

Bless their resting, Lord.
Sunday morning restoration and renewal takes different forms.
Bless this one.

--MSH © 2004

For the dark times

A Psalm of Desperation

God
hear my
silent
scream
say
peace
be still
to the storm
that rages
within me.

--Joseph Bayley, Psalms of My Life, p. 22

For Sunday Mornings

A Psalm of Preaching

I'm on the bridge
Lord
the ship's bridge
steering shipload
of your people. There they are
on the deck looking up
trusting
scarcely knowing
of the icebergs
hidden reefs
wrecks of long gone ships
that I'm avoiding.
Keep me glued
to chart
that you've provided
to Holy Spirit's course
sensing dangers
most of all
the danger that I'll think
beyond the steering
I provide
power to make the ship move
on its appointed course.
Bring us all
to safe harbor
by twelve o'clock.

--Joseph Bayley, Psalms of My Life, p. 42

Prayer while driving to church on Sunday morning

O God
Give me words and give them ears,
give me words and give them ears,
give me words and give them ears.
For Jesus' sake. Amen.

--MSH

(hide)

Almighty God,
through your Son Jesus Christ
you gave the holy apostles many gifts
and commanded them to feed your flock.
Inspire all pastors to preach your Word diligently
and your people to receive it willingly,
that finally we may receive the crown of eternal glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

--Book of Common Worship, Prayer for Ministers of the Word and Sacrament,

(hide)