A Spirit of Wisdom
Invitation to Prayer
Leader: O God of life, of all life, of each life,
All: We offer you our prayers in the love of Christ,
Leader: in the affection of Christ,
All: in the company of Christ.
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Shared Prayer
1. Read the scripture passage aloud once and allow some time for reflection
2. Read the passage a second time and invite all those present to share aloud one word from the passage which speaks to them or resonates with them right now
3. Read the passage a third time and invite all those present to share aloud one phrase from the passage which speaks to them or resonates with them right now
4. Invite all those present to share aloud why this phrase holds some significance for them or why it resonates with them.
Closing Prayer
God our Creator, Jesus our Savior, Holy Spirit the Animator of our lives,
Hear the groanings of all creation as it longs for fulfillment and our amazement at the possibilities you open to us as disciples.
Hear the prayers of your people
who often try too hard
to say what cannot be said,
to express what cannot be expressed, to do perfectly what will always remain unfinished.
Take our hearts and shake them from complacency.
Turn our thoughts and energies toward kingdom-building.
Show us how to be sensible as well as imaginative,
servants as well as lovers,
co-workers as well as friends.
May we rejoice in our brokenness, in the wonderfully incomplete world which is ours, which is us, which is yearning for you.
God our Creator, give us strength to commit ourselves to do your work.
God our Savior, come again to reveal once and for all the fullness of your reign.
God the Spirit, inspire us - bring us to the task with wisdom and
humor, so that we may be filled with hope and vision.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, forever and ever!
Amen.