Pastoral Prayer

Danny A. Belrose

God of new tomorrows, we come before you in praise, thanksgiving, and corporate confession.
You have granted us hope in the midst of despair, assurance in the midst of uncertainty,
           and loving support in the midst of abandonment.

Every soul in this assembly, gracious God has responded to your strange love
      —a love that is unconditional, uncaused, uncalculated.
      Remind us of that love—lest love of self, status, and success overshadows it.

Every soul in this assembly, God, is here because you have called them by name,
    blessed them with gifts and pointed them to paths of service.
    Remind us of that call—lest competing voices drown its faithful whisper.

Every soul in this assembly stands equal in your sight, dear God:
    president, apostle, bishop, high priest, faithful disciple
    Remind us of our equality—that the ground is level at the foot of the cross and that we
    are each but saint and sinner reclaimed by your grace.

There is not one among us who does not know weariness, frustration,
    temptation, sin, and defeat.
    Remind us that our weakest efforts are blessed by your Spirit
    —lest we forget the victory is yours.

We confess the slow re-birthing of our lives
    when the windows of our souls are closed to the fresh breath of your Spirit.
We confess our functional atheism—those rare but telling moments
    —when church has eclipsed family and programs have replaced people,
We confess our propensity to place prophetic leadership beyond the pale of human frailty,
    wherein we fail to hear the silent cries of those called
    to bear its blessings and burdens.

Bless then the one you have called to lead us
May he assume your prophetic office—may it not assume him.
    Let us free him from “holy separation.”
May we free him to be to who he is—not who we expect him to be.
    Let us free him to be among us—not above us
May we grant him freedom to fail and grace to begin again.
And may the mantle of his calling be a blessing not a burden
    —a ministry made lighter by we who share his humanity.

Gracious God, it is with great joy that we confess your love for us.
We confess the freedom of your Spirit to sweep from our lives the ashes of discontent.
We confess your joy, your hope, your love, your peace.

Bless us and remind us that the core of our faith
    is not rooted in the foibles of human leadership, programs or polity
    but in the living Christ who calls us to the right arrangement of relationships
    through which your creation is blessed.
Tomorrow awaits us and you, O God, go before us.
We shall not delay. We shall NOT delay! This promise we joyfully confess
    —“We have decided to follow Jesus! No turning back, no turning back”
    —this promise we confess in the name of Christ, Jesus. Amen.