Leader: Gracious God, the governing body of our denomination has gathered this week in Birmingham, Alabama, to worship you, to seek your guidance and to discern a continuing path to follow your footsteps.
People: Endow all planners and participants with a sense of your peace and calm spirit.
Leader: There are many issues before the General Assembly that call into question our unity and our trust in you.
People: Give all Presbyterians a gentle reminder that you have called all of us, with different gifts and different opinions, to be your children, united in our faith in you above all else.
Leader: Those who gather will be friends and strangers, but as they spend the week together, we pray that they may find common ground, bonds of unity, and a sense of your presence in all that they do.
People: Bless the times of worship as our denomination gathers on its own and with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. Send your Spirit to be an inspiration, to interpret the Word and spread your love among all who attend.
Leader: Bless the committee meetings with a special measure of your grace, understanding, wisdom and discernment, that the business of the Assembly may move smoothly and with love.
People: Bless the plenary sessions, that all who speak may do so with respect for you and for each other.
Leader: Give a special measure of your wisdom and grace to whoever is elected as Moderator, and to all the other leaders, that they may lead the denomination in following and serving you with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.
People: Help each person attending General Assembly to heed these words of Scripture, "Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him"
(Col. 3:17). Amen.
Written by the Rev. Kimberly Secrist-Ashby, Minister Member, Maumee Valley Presbytery
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