Prayer for a meeting
One of my jobs at church is to open our board meetings in prayer. I share these prayers in case they're helpful. Here's mine from last night’s meeting.
Gracious and loving God,
Thank you for our church and for our opportunity to serve here. I find myself tonight feeling very cognizant of how each person around this table has lived a full day already. People here are taking care of kids and parents. We are worried about work and money and health. We have friends who need us and loved ones who miss us. We all contain multitudes. We are excited about things. We are sad about things. We are tired. We are stretched a little thin. But we're here, and I thank you for each person giving their energy and attention to this Board and to your church.
Please help us focus. Please inspire our communication. Please guide our decisions. Please show us how to prioritize.
Where we feel a sense of financial scarcity, please help us to remember that your love, grace, and acceptance are abundant. Where we struggle with trust and hurt feelings and radically differing perspectives, remind us that differences are a strength as long as we conduct our work with curiosity, mercy, and respect.
Please allow the work of this church to feel different than the work of the world. Help us to be the hands and feet of Christ not only in how we serve our community, but also in how we show up for each other.
Thank you again for the work, for the people, and for your love and presence with us.
Amen.
Loved this- especially this line “ Please allow the work of this church to feel different than the work of the world.”
Thanks for this. As a woman who has been a lay leader in the church for many years, your attention to this important role comforts me.