I led a one hour segment of the Parish of Wellspring’s prayer day this morning. My theme was Prayer for the Diocese and missions. The outline of resources for the hour follows. We managed to get a third of the way through. That happens when you try to fit three hours of prayer material into one hour!
THREE SESSIONS of 20 minutes each
Each Session to include ,
- Bible readings (Nehemiah to be read and bishop’s reflection; the other readings for personal reflection)
- Music ministry
- Prayer focus is via Diocesan Prayer Diary; days 1-10; 11-20; 21-31 [these include mission agencies]
- Prayer: shared and silence
SESSION ONE – PASSION FOR GOD’S WORLD
“When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. … O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name.” Nehemiah 1:4,10
Music: ‘Lift up our heads’, ‘Open my eyes that I may see’ Nehemiah 1 with a reflection Psalm 1 and John 15:12-17 Our prayer (Diocesan Prayer Diary with Bishop’s updates) and the Pentecost Prayer (see following) Music: ‘O Lord, you are beautiful’SESSION TWO – PREPARATION for MINISTRY
“I told them that the hand of my God had been gracious upon me, and also the words that the king had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us start building!” So they committed themselves to the common good.” Nehemiah 2:18
Nehemiah 2:1-10 (11-20) with a reflection Psalm 13 and John 16:1-16 Our prayer (Diocesan Prayer Diary with Bishop’s updates) and the Pentecost Prayer (see following) Music: ‘Jesus be the centre’SESSION THREE – CELEBRATION OF GOD’S GOODNESS
“You are the LORD, you alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. To all of them you give life, and the host of heaven worships you…and you have fulfilled your promise, for you are righteous.” Nehemiah 9:6,8
Nehemiah 9:6-8 Psalm 100 and John 17:1-26 and Revelation 21:1-5 Our prayer (Diocesan Prayer Diary with Bishop’s updates) and the Pentecost Prayer (see following) Music: ‘How great is our God’ PRAYER FOR PENTECOST God of Comfort and Life, you sent your Holy Spirit in wind and fire at Pentecost, empowering the disciples to proclaim with boldness your love in Christ, giving birth to your church. May the fire of the Spirit purify our hearts and minds to show forth the fruit of your Spirit. May the fire of the Spirit ignite our lives with zeal for your kingdom. May the fire of the Spirit provoke in us a passion to pray and proclaim your love in Christ. May the fire of the Spirit set our hearts on fire with love and adoration for you, our God. Amen.