Prayers for Ecclesiastical Assemblies

Opening Prayer for Ecclesiastical Assemblies 

Heavenly Father, eternal and merciful God, it has pleased You according to Your infinite wisdom to gather a church to Yourself out of the nations of all the earth, and to govern it through weak servants. Called by You to watch over Your flock, purchased by Your Son’s precious blood, we call upon Your name now for this solemn assembly, gathered here according to the example of the apostolic churches. Faced with many weighty issues concerning the care of Your people, we ask that You would make us truly mindful of Your purposes for Your church. Draw our minds and hearts away from vanity and pride, discord and pettiness, and do not let these sins that still cling to us distract us from advancing Your great cause in this world. Refresh us, we pray, in the joyful commission of bringing Your good news to the ends of the earth. Make us more faithful stewards of the mysteries of the gospel and more zealous ambassadors of reconciliation. We ask that Your Spirit would be present among us to guide us into all truth, bringing us to agreement on the matters before us. May Scripture reign in our hearts, just as the living Word reigns over Your church, for we acknowledge only one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. All of this we ask because Christ is our Mediator and Advocate, who, with You and the Holy Spirit, the only God, deserves eternal praise and glory. Amen.

Closing Prayer for Ecclesiastical Assemblies 

Lord God, our heavenly Father, we give You heartfelt thanks for gathering a church in our land and for using us as the ambassadors and guardians of Your kingdom. As those who are receiving Your kingdom, make us ever mindful that it is not our labors, but Your electing, redeeming, justifying, and sanctifying grace alone, that renders Your church indestructible and victorious against all adversaries. We give You praise for Your providence in preserving liberty in this land for the free proclamation of the gospel and ask that You would, by Your Holy Spirit, fill us with joy to make diligent use of such opportunity. Your Spirit, who leads Your church into all truth, has been present in our assembly, giving us wisdom in our deliberations. We pray that He would also give us strength to bless the efforts that we purpose to put forth and finish the work that He has begun. Continue to draw the remnant of the nations to Your heavenly Jerusalem that is coming down out of heaven, and maintain the peace and purity of Your church, we ask. Strengthen us with a mighty zeal for the ministry of Word and sacrament, as well as for the care of Your flock in body and soul. As You hold Christ Jesus ever above and before us as the Mediator for sinners, may our churches faithfully proclaim this good news to those who have never heard it. Give strength, humility, and boldness to Your undershepherds, we pray: to ministers, elders, and deacons. We also ask that You would give prudence to our civil rulers, so that they may act with justice and wise restraint. Grant that their rule may contribute to the advancement of a society that is pleasing to You. Through their labors, may every obstacle to the preaching of the gospel and divine worship be removed. May it be given to us to lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honor. As You have promised to be present with us even to the end of the age, we ask You to enlighten, guide, awaken, convict, and console us by Your Word and Spirit. Hear us, dear Father, through Your Son, who, with You and the Holy Spirit, the only true God, is worthy of eternal praise and glory. Amen.

Opening Prayer for the Meetings of Deacons 

Merciful God and Father, You have not only declared that there will always be those in need among us, but have also commanded us to bear their burdens with them. For this reason, You have established the office of deacon. We ask that You would give us wisdom to faithfully discharge the duties of our office. We acknowledge that in Your kingdom each member supplies what is lacking in the other, so that Your name may be exalted and Your people drawn together with ever-stronger cords of love and affection. Equip us to stir up Your people to such love and good deeds. And since we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from Your mouth, help us to assist our brothers and sisters in such a way that they may look to these offerings and services as tokens of Your covenant faithfulness. May they, together with us, give You everlasting thanks in this age, until that age when our trials will end and we will enter the everlasting rest that You have prepared for us from the foundation of the world. In the name of Christ our Savior, we ask this. Amen.