Prayer for Leaders and Times of Transition

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June 11, 2013 in Madison, NJ

Dear God, things are changing.  We are scared.  We are excited.  We are confused.  We are intrigued.  We are angry.  We are passionate.  We don’t even know what we feel.  Reassure us, strengthen us, calm us, enliven us.  Make us the people You hope for us to be.  Remind us that You’ll do some of that work, but that it’s up to us to respond to You.  We simply ask that You keep the conversation going, reminding us to speak the Truth and listen for Your Word.

We pray especially for those in our community who are lost or alone or suffering and for those who have been denied Your love.  Guide us to share Your love so that all may know it well.

We pray for [our outgoing senior pastor and his family] as they continue to serve You in their new church and community.  Let them find there not only work to be done, but also a home.  Give them Your strength and courage and be with them wherever they go.

We pray for [our incoming senior pastor and his family].  Let them find here not only work to be done, but also a home.  Help us to be respectful of the family’s time and space, but relentless in our support.

We pray for President Obama and all of our leaders in government; that they make wise decisions and lead with grace.

And we pray for the nation of Turkey in the midst of the turmoil there, especially these past two weeks.  We pray for the lives who have been lost and for all those left behind to pick up the pieces.  We pray for Prime Minister Erdogan, that he might hear his people; that he might fight for them and not against them.

Just and merciful God, help us to be slow to defame and vilify our leaders - political, religious, and otherwise - but quick to hold them accountable to such values as honesty and compassion.  Let us be honest and compassionate as we recognize our human leaders’ limitations and strengths, just as we recognize our own.  Let us know both justice and mercy.

And God, we trust that You have commissioned our leaders and that they are filled with the Spirit, like Moses and Joshua.  We remember that our leaders are capable of feeling fear and reluctance just as we are - just as Moses and Joshua were - but that, with Your blessing, they are also capable of leading us into the life that You promise us.

We confess that we have not always lived into that promise; we haven’t always believed it or acted like it’s true.  We confess that sometimes we feel distant from You or angry with You or don’t understand Your purposes.  Thank you for not letting that come between us.  Thank You for letting us know Your love and forgiveness even when we have done nothing to deserve them, because that is when we need You most.

In Jesus’ name and by the power of the Spirit, we pray.  Amen.

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Pastoral Prayer offered on June 16, 2013
Chatham United Methodist Church, Chatham, NJ