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Prayer Archives
December 2010 ELMC Prayer We are grateful for the last ELMC prayer offering for 2010 which comes to us from The Rev. Dr. Daryl B. Ingram, Executive Director of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Christian Education Department and Chair of the NCC Education and Leadership Ministries Commission.
our harbinger of HOPE, our paragon of PEACE, our jubilee of JOY, and our luminary of LOVE. Lord, you were, are, and will be very God through ages untold. You are uncreated, unborn, not made and existing before creation. Your Presence permeates all of the created order. Nothing exists without you. Your Power sustains everything that has been, that is, and that will be. We humbly adore your majesty. We boldly worship you. We come to the seasons of Advent and Christmas with great anticipation and eager expectancy of HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE, for you have sent Jesus Christ as the babe in Bethlehem and are sending Christ Jesus as the redeemer of the ransomed and sanctified of the Kingdom. We celebrate what has been done and what will be done. We glorify the Lamb that was born in Bethlehem to be slain for our sins and salvation and the Lamb that will welcome us home in heaven. We are ever so grateful for the coming of Jesus that we lift our voices in praise with the angels, shepherds, and all creation blessing the One who comes in the name of the Lord and is the very essence of God with us, Emanuel. We are thankful that the birth of Jesus offers us the HOPE of new beginnings and destinations beyond our trite existence and plight. We appreciate the wondrous LOVE of God who gave us the ultimate gift of life in Jesus. We are glad about the JOY of our celebration of holy days when God intervened in the course of human drama giving us a real reason to sing with abundant ecstasy. We are gratified for the PEACE of God that moves our human propensity to struggle and fight each other into an everlasting eon where harmony will guide our hearts. Holy, harmonious peace produces more than the secession of war, armed conflict, or strife. It brings genuine concord in community. Let your peace rest on us yielding a swift end to the far too numerous conflicts around the world, especially on the Korean peninsula and in Southwest Asia where war and armed conflict have exceedingly dangerous global consequences. God, Aristotle said that you are the unmoved Mover. We implore you to move that peace will yield a global community where all will be loved and valued among the diverse, disparate peoples and ethnicities of our cosmological existence. God, let the church in earth be a sign and symbol of the church in heaven. Help us to work for the infinite glory and majesty of the Kingdom through our finite capacity. May our imperfection be perfected as we worship and work in the culmination of your heavenly vision. May our sojourn show that our common faith and witness honor the one True and Living God. May our oneness be sanctified through divine use of our manifold, diverse gifts and talents that glorify you and your kingdom. May the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA and its agencies be a continuing blessed servant to your will and the kingdom today and forevermore. AMEN Ecumenical/NCC/ELMC Related Meetings and Events: ► December 1-4, Ecumenical Youth Ministries Staff Team's Youth Worker Summit, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Concerns/Observances: ► Advent and Christmas Seasons ► December 1 ̶ World AIDS Day (UN) ► December 5 ̶ International Volunteers Day (UN) ► December 10 ̶ Human Rights Day (UN) ► December 21 ̶ First day of Winter ► December 25 ̶ Christmas ► December 26 ̶ Kwanzaa begins ► December 31 ̶ New Year's Eve ► Prayers for NCC General Secretary Michael Kinnamon's India ecumenical trip ► Prayers for Peace, particularly on the Korean Peninsula, Iraq, and Afghanistan ► Prayers for the people of Haiti with the cholera outbreak ► Prayers for the sister and family of Faith W., AME Church, Committee on the Uniform Series member, as her sister faces serious health challenges November 2010 ELMC Prayer
We are thankful to our colleague , Bronwyn
Clark Skov for this month's prayer offering.
A member of the
Ecumenical Youth Ministries Staff Team, Bronwyn is
the Officer for Youth Ministries in The
Episcopal Church. She is also the Team
Leader for TEC’s Formation and Vocation
Ministries Team in the Department of
Mission.
As an
ecumenical body we give thanks for opportunities
to live into God’s mission in the world with one
another, specifically lifting up the meetings we
commit to this month including: · November 1-3, Committee on Public Education and Literacy,
· November 9 NCC Governing Board meeting, New· November 9-11, NCC/CWS General Assembly and Ecumenical Centennial Gathering,· November 18-20, Pacific Asian American Canadian Christian Education,
We also celebrate the Holy
Observances the calendar offers us as we finish
our liturgical year in a Season of Harvest and
Thanksgiving, to begin the cycle anew with the
season of Advent, including:
We
hold close all of our partners in ministry,
especially those enduring transitions and
challenges, praying for comfort and guidance for
all of our communions, with special intentions
for:
October 2010 ELMC Prayer We are thankful to The Rev. Kaye Edwards, Director of Family and Children’s Ministries for Disciples Home Missions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada and Chair of the NCC Committee on Families and Children for this month's prayer offering. Let us raise our hearts and minds to God, giving thanks for the Spirit that is alive within each one of us and that surrounds us everywhere we go.
In this day of instant news, we are sometimes overwhelmed by our knowing – wars, hunger, racism, child abuse, natural disasters – and we are made hopeless. Heal us of our knowing and save us from our hopelessness. Renew our faith. Strengthen our resolve to live this one day, doing what You, O God, have called us and gifted us to do and be. We continue in prayer for the many ministries of the National Council of Churches and for all of those engaged in these ministries. Ecumenical/NCC/ELMC Related Meetings and Events: ► Sept. 30 – Oct. 2– Committee on Black Congregational Ministries Meeting in New York. ► October 7 – 9 – Interfaith Relations Commission in Philadelphia. ► October 12 – NCC Health Task Force Meeting in Newark, N.J. ► October 14 – 26 – Faith and Order Commission in Santa Clara, Calif. ► October 20 – 21 – Ecumenical Campus Ministries Team Meeting in New York. Concerns/Observances: ► Cheryl W., United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship, Chair of the Committee on Black Congregational Ministries, as she undergoes surgery. ► The continuing 40 Day Prayer Vigil, leading up to the October 15 -17 Children’s Sabbaths ► October 3 – World Communion Sunday ► October 13 – International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction (UN) ► October 16 – World Food Day (UN) ► October 15 – 17 – National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths (Children’s Defense Fund) ► October 17 – Laity Sunday ► October 24 – United Nations Day ► October 31 – Reformation Sunday and All Hallows Eve September 2010 ELMC Prayer
We are
grateful to our colleague, Elise Antreassian,
Christian Education
and the
Department of Youth and Education for the
Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
and
ELMC Vice Chair, for this month's
prayer offering reflecting on divine healing
and wholeness from her favorite mystic poet
of the Middle Ages. We marvel at the
relevance and freshness of these ancient
words.
To
heal our spiritual wounds, you do not need
ointments,
Nor
time, nor advocates,
Nor
the passing of days,
Nor
the changing of prescriptions,
Nor
amputation, nor cauterization, nor surgery
As
practiced by earthly medicine,
In
which there is always trial and error,
Often
grave error.
But
for you, the creator of the soul and body,
All
is illumined,
All
is clear,
All
is written,
All
is easy,
All
is possible,
Wisdom leads,
Promises are kept,
Wishes are
fulfilled.
Prayer 43; Speaking with God from the Depths
of My Heart
St.
Gregory of Nareg (945-1003)
We ask for your illumination and patient
guidance upon all those who gather in your
name this month and your loving care for
those in special need:
Ecumenical/NCC/ELMC Related Meetings and
Events
Concerns/Observances:
As many gear up for the new church programmatic and the academic year, we are thankful to Ms. Jan Resseger, Minister for Public Education and Witness for the United Church of Christ, Chair of the NCC Committee on Public Education and Literacy, and member of the ELMC Administrative Board, for this timely and prophetic prayer offering for this month. God of Love and Justice ... As the seasons begin to change again and we ready ourselves for another program year at church, make room in our hearts also for the school year that begins so soon for our children, our grandchildren, our neighbors’ children and all their teachers.
We give thanks for all schools in our communities and for those people who work diligently year after year to help our children fulfill their promise. We give special thanks for public schools as expressions of our heritage as a well informed, democratic society.
Once again this year we find ourselves in the midst of a national debate about the best way to balance the needs of each child and each family with the rights of all children and all families. Help us, as faithful citizens, consider these matters in a spirit of prayer and humility.
God, your neighborhood is bigger than any street or municipality or school district or state. Help us reflect on the question the lawyer asked Jesus: “And who is my neighbor?”
We pray that you will help us remember that our public schools are among the most basic expressions of community and of our democracy. Help us reflect on our obligation together to provide schools that welcome all children and families, that provide a full range of services in every neighborhood to meet the needs of all children, where teachers can comfortably teach, and where creativity, critical thinking, and mutual respect replace drilling for tests.
We give special thanks for the people whose vocation is teaching or working with our children in other ways at school. We pray that you will continue to remind us that our support and respect are necessary to help them find the energy to inspire our children.
In this month, we also pray for:
Ecumenical/NCC/ELMC Related Meetings and Events:
Concerns/Observances:
This month's rich prayer offering reminds us of the beauty of God's creation and recommits us to faithful stewardship of it. We are grateful to The Reverend David Berkey, Executive Director of the Florida United Methodist Camps and Retreat Ministries and Chair of the NCC Committee on Outdoor Ministries for this month's prayer. Loving Creator, God of wind, fire, water and earth, Giver of all good things: We thank you and praise you for the gift of Creation – The clouds and the sun, the moon and stars – an infinite universe. The trees and all shapes and colors, the seasons ever changing. The birds of the air and the creatures who walk, run and climb on the earth. The rivers, lakes and oceans – vast and full of life. The living beings of every size and type, so varied yet so interdependent. We thank you for your trust in us to be in charge – to be stewards of all that you made.
Forgive us our sin as our thirst for fuel causes oil to dot oceans, beaches and wildlife Forgive us our sin as our appetite for coal-fired energy crushes beautiful mountains and valleys Forgive us our sin as our hunger for quick food, sugar and fat gobbles up resources meant for the whole of Creation and those who live nearby. As millions of children, youth and adults spend time in your Creation this summer in natural places like summer camp, parks and beaches, help us to renew our commitment to the Earth that you made. Help us teach our children to fall in love with what you have made enough to cherish it and work to preserve it. Guide our every choice, every day, in ways that considers how interdependent we are with all your Creation. Inspire us to believe that we can make a difference, no matter how large or small. Strengthen our resolve to be the people you created us to be – stewards of all that you have made and called good. We praise you and worship you, through your son, Jesus Christ, the first-born of all Creation and the giver of new life. Amen.
Ecumenical/NCC/ELMC Related Meetings and
Events:
Concerns/Observances:
We are thankful for this
beautiful prayer for humility offered this month
by The Rev. Dr. Devorah Greenstein, Program
Coordinator for the Office of Accessibility
Concerns of the Unitarian Universalist
Association and Chair of the NCC Committee on
Disabilities. To Be Humble in Spirit
Beloved Lord and Savior, Beloved
God, as part of ELMC and bringing words of prayer
this month, I humbly come to you, praying for us
all, that we might understand the importance of
humbling ourselves before You.
May we choose instead to humble
ourselves before You and before Christ, for we know
that You care not for the proud of heart, but
rejoice in those who are contrite and humble.
(Daniel 10:12; James 4:10;
Proverbs 16:5a; Isaiah 57:15) May we desire to be like Christ,
gentle and humble in heart, living in harmony with
one another, compassionate and sympathetic, loving
each other -- not trying to pay back hurts or
insults but instead responding with blessings.
May we be willing to submit to You
and each other out of reverence for Christ. (Matthew 11:29b; 1 Peter 3:8-9;
James 4:7; Ephesians 5:21) May we be willing to humble
ourselves before You, for if we will, Your Word says
You will guide us in what is right and teach us Your
way, giving us grace in Your sight.
Help us to show true humility
toward all people, to clothe ourselves with
humility. (Psalm 25:9; Proverbs 3:34; Isaiah 66:2b;
Titus 3:2b; 1 Peter 5:5b) May we be daily more sensitive to
pride in our lives, that we may confess it as the
sin it is. In the power of the Spirit, may we choose
humility over pride at every turn.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
This is our prayer.
We pray for:
Ecumenical/NCC/ELMC
Related Meetings and Events: June 2-6, 100th Anniversary
Celebration of the Edinburgh World Mission
Conference; Concerns/Observances:
May 2010 ELMC Prayer We are thankful for this prayer for transformation from apathy, which is this month's offering from one of our newer colleagues, Becky Ullom, member of the Ecumenical Youth Ministries Staff Team and the Ecumenical Young Adult Ministries Team and the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Church of the Brethren.
Creator God, source of energy and strength, we ask for your presence in our hearts and in our communities. We crave your Holy Spirit breathing life into us once again.
We are pained to admit our shortcomings; please
forgive us. But God, we will mope no more, for you are our Great Redeemer! We sense your incredible presence with us in these moments! We feel your love warming us gently, thawing our frozen hearts. You strengthen our bodies and energize our passion to share your light with the world. God, change our apathy into energy. Transform our empty words into solid action. May we be increasingly aware of our own anemic attitudes; give use courage to overcome these obstacles in order to become the sources of your light that you wish us to be!
Grant that your transforming love would pour
forth and envelop the following people and
events:
NCC/ELMC Related Meetings and
Events:
Concerns/Observances:
Christ is risen! We are thankful for this month's prayer which is a prayer of confession and recommitment to live as Easter People. We thank The Rev. David A. Williams, National Director of Youth Ministry of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church for this month's prayer offering. Gracious God, with open and
humbled spirits, we approach you with thankful
hearts. Your continued compassion and steadfast love
have overshadowed our work, and, we are indeed
grateful. We acknowledge our dependency upon your
strength to fulfill the mission set before the ELMC;
and, we realize that without your guidance, we would
make a mess of everything. We are deeply
As the ELMC, we ask for your forgiveness because of the lack of trust we display daily in the subtle promptings you send. Make us more sensitive to your spirit so that we may unload ourselves of our agendas and focus more on the goals you desire for your Kingdom. Gracious God, there is so much to be done in the USA and abroad. There are days when we are completely overwhelmed by the urgency of every task. The urgency of right now seems to always be on our lips; and, we eagerly attempt to pursue your agenda and prioritize your objectives. Sometimes it never gets done. What we need to accomplish rest idle while other tasks gain unwarranted attention. Even in our failure, you rise and the mission does go forth and because of your grace we praise your name. Gracious God, we resubmit ourselves to the mantle placed upon the ELMC this month. Meetings will occur causing persons to travel and leave their families for days at a time. Plane crashes and acts of violence attempt to render us fearful; but, today we ask for your reassurance and protection as we serve your church. God, you are our refuge (Psalm 46) and we rely on your total protection (Psalm 23). Being faithful in our work is important to the overall plan you have for the world. As instruments of your glory, use us to perform extraordinary tasks which could not be tackled without your Holy Spirit. During the following meetings and events, lead us to lead your people to perform tasks which will meet the needs of people all over the world. NCC/ELMC Related Meetings and Events: ● April 7-10 Religion Communication Congress; Chicago ● April 20-22 Committee on Public Education and Literacy; New York ● April 21-22 New Earth Publishers Meeting; St. Louis, Mo. ● April 26-27 Eco-Justice Working Group Meeting; Annapolis, Md. ● April 29-May 1 Pacific Asian American Canadian Christian Education; New York As we transition from Lent to Easteride, fix our hearts on living the Resurrection for more than one day. Let the full meaning of a risen Lord command a greater commitment. Concerns/Observances: ● Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday ● Easter ● Earth Day
We are so grateful to The Rev. Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield, General Secretary of the Department of Christian Education of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, ELMC Administrative Board Member and member of various other ELMC program ministry committees, for this expansive prayer which speaks to our present longings and thankful reflections.
Oh God, we praise you as our creator, redeemer and comforter. We are thankful for a very meaningful ELMC meeting in Nashville. We are thankful for the hosting of GBOD and the leadership provided by our Senior Program Director, our Chair and Vice Chair. We are grateful for safe travel and the reports of the work of the committees. We thank you for giving ELMC a productive year of ministry that has lifted your people and giving honor to you.
Oh God, only weeks removed from the devastating earthquake in Haiti that killed thousands, injured many more, trapped more under debris and left even more homeless; we continue to call upon you in the midst of our distress. We ask your blessings upon rescue and relief teams. We ask you to move beyond our human limitations and give relief and deliverance to the people of Haiti. Help the people of Haiti find you in the midst of humanitarian efforts and not be consumed by those who would tell them they are being punished by you. We pray that you keep us mindful that all of life is precious.
Oh God, we pray for the people who live in poverty daily. Direct our actions, money and efforts in ways that we eliminate poverty. Give us strength to fight for justice in all places.
Oh God, we pray for the children all over the world. Motivate us in ways so that children become a priority as we make political, social and economic decisions. We especially pray for the orphans. Create in us clean hearts so that we might be selfless as we reach out and minister to those who are most vulnerable in our world.
Oh God, we pray for those who teach in the schools, homes and churches. Endow all with wisdom, courage and the determination to stay vigilant in providing education at all levels of life, thus providing liberation and salvation to your people.
Oh God, bless now the
people and work of not only ELMC but those who work
with the National Council of Churches and Church
World Service. Bless our ministry together.
We pray for:
NCC and
ELMC Meetings:
February 11-13, Committee on Outdoor Ministries
Curriculum Development Team, Allenspark, Colo.
February 13-15, Committee on Outdoor Ministries, Allenspark,
Colo.
Prayer
Concerns and Observances:
We are grateful to The Rev. Patrice L. Rosner, former Associate General Secretary of Education and Leadership Ministries, for beginning our prayer year off with such a beautiful offering.
Creator God, from the
very beginning you brought light into darkness and
order into chaos. As we stand poised on the edge of
this new year, we are reminded of your
As we remember Jesus’ baptism and reaffirm our own baptismal covenant, renew our resolve in this year to live as your servants in ministry. Wash again our hands for your service, our lips for your praise, our hearts for loving all your creatures and creation, and our feet for walking the path you place before us. With the Holy Spirit reignite the flame in us that burns brightly so that our witness in the world brings you glory and praise.
We pray this day that the unity of your church, your gift to us through Jesus Christ, may be realized sooner rather than later, today rather than tomorrow. Keep our hearts and minds open to your working in and through others. Restrain us from erecting stumbling blocks and road hazards for those who want to walk along your path.
O God, Creator and Redeemer, hear our prayer for:
NCC/ELMC
Related Meetings and Events:
Concerns/Observances:
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O
God, the Ancient of Days, we bless you and your
holy name for you are 
The
seasonal cycle of the natural world brings many
changes. As we revel in the clear skies and
vibrant colors of this autumn season, let us
also remember those for whom the crisper air
brings worry about the cold months of winter.
And may our remembering spur us to generous,
compassionate and concrete actions on behalf of
the many people who are poor in this country and
around the world. 
Good
and gracious Lord, as our part of the world
begins its season of rest in you, we
remember, in an ancient prayer, of the
miracle of healing and new life in you:
We
give thanks for our children, each one created
in the image of God.
Yet
we confess that our greed, our selfishness,
and our neglect have ruined much of what was
good.
These
are hard times, Lord. And there are many things for
which we do not have answers although we think that
we do. Times like these can harden our proud hearts.
For
apathy, like a cobweb, grows again in the
corners of our souls. As we begin to feel owed
what is not ours, our souls twist. If we don’t
face this malaise and resist its selfish
carelessness, our lives will become misshapen.
Our generosity will dry up like a pool of water
on a hot day. Our words and actions will shrink
and wither. Our love will lose its roots in
Jesus’ love. Because we will be so interested in
our own wants and needs, we will cease to take
an interest in the wants and needs of our
neighbors, who are also your children.
sorry;
and, we repent for every missed action, thought, and
deed. We are pleading for help from you, God today
and in the coming days that we may continue to
proclaim your name in all of the earth. We are not
fit to serve you; but, you continue to dust us off
as your vessels and use us again. 
Oh
God, in ages past our ancestors cried to you in their
anguish. During this month of Black History we
remember them with thanksgiving for their perseverance
and for your love. We are reminded that you are our
refuge and our present help in times of trouble.
steadfast
and eternal care for us. The Word from the beginning,
and the Word now. Throughout the days and weeks ahead
as our lives unfold in rhythms that we cannot yet hear
or feel or even dance to, may we rest in the blessed
assurance of your presence with us and your guiding,
upholding strength. We pray that each day we will
remember to turn to you with our first breath of the
morning and then again at peak of our day and once
more as we lay down for slumber and rest – always
giving thanks to you for our very being.