Father God, You know that the council carries out its work in the shadow of Your Cross. You are with us in all that we do, and we ask that You continue to guide us by Your Spirit as we go about governing this parish. We give You thanks for all the blessings we enjoy, and pray that You will continue to pour out Your grace upon us. Guide us to be prudent so that our decisions are made thoughtfully, justly, and wisely. Please shed abroad the love of Christ in our hearts so that by our words and deeds people may see Your love in action. Grant this through Christ Our Lord Amen
Let us pray. O God, who grantest to those that love thee the grace to do thy will with joy, and the liberty to choose what is good: grant to us who now have assembled in thy name, that, with the spirit of wisdom and understanding granted to us we may direct aright the business of this our council. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Father, have mercy on us. Forgive us and bless us, that we may forgive and be forgiven. Life fills our hearts with tribulations and struggles; grant us the strength to carry them humbly. Our time is short; grant us a heart of peace. Help us to work together in unity by building bridges rather than walls, by bringing out the best in all people, and by singing your praises on this day, for your glory. Amen. Discussed; Closing Prayer for a Meeting, Prayer for finance council meeting.
Opening Prayer For Parish Council Meeting
Dear Lord, We come before you to ask for wisdom and guidance as we move forward with the plans for our parish council meeting. We ask that you help us to find a way forward that is in line with your will and that gives glory to Your name. Help us to be open to all ideas, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. Give us the ability to let go of any egos that stand in our way so that we can all work together in harmony. We know that this parish council has been through some difficult times, but we believe that they are only temporary. We thank you again for your mercy and grace, and pray that these gifts will continue to guide us into the future. Dear God, we come before you today in order to serve our parish community. We pray that you guide us and help us as we make decisions that will affect the lives of those around us. Please give us wisdom and courage, so that we may always act with love in our hearts. Amen
Heavenly Father, We come to you today asking for your guidance, wisdom, and support as we begin this meeting. Help us engage in meaningful discussion; allow us to grow closer as a group and nurture the bonds of community.
Powerful Opening prayer for church council meeting
Heavenly Father, we come to you today asking for wisdom and support as we begin this meeting. May everything we do begin with your inspiration and continue with your help.We ask for guidance throughout this meeting that all of our thoughts and actions would reflect your Holy will. Remember that all of our concerns are aimed at the spiritual transformation of our parish community.We do ask you to grant us the grace to love you and our neighbours more perfectly. And to remind us that all we do here today is for the pursuit of truth for the greater glory of you.We ask all these things in your name.Amen
Lord God, we thank you for bringing us together tonight after our different sorts of days; for the privilege of being able to serve you through helping administer the business of your church here; and for the many gifts you have given us which enable that.Please help us to recognise and honour those gifts in ourselves and in one other; give us the grace to allow each one to individually blossom; and show us how to use them to complement each other, so that we may grow ever closer to what you need us to be as a PCC.As we work through the agenda tonight, we pray that your spirit may move freely among us, guiding us with the mind of Christ, so that the practicalities of finance, fabric and any other concerns are underpinned by your will and dealt with in peace, truth and above all, love.We ask this in the name of your Son, our Saviour, whom we love and adore.Amen
Closing Prayer for a Meeting
Dear Lord, thank you for bringing us together today. We ask that your Spirit would guide and direct us as we seek to accomplish the work at hand. Make us sensitive to your will and help us to discern it clearly. May we all be open to the promptings of your Spirit as we discuss the matters before us. May our words and actions reflect our concern for one another, and may we be truly supportive of one another in all that we do. Amen.
Lord, thank you for this opportunity to gather together and worship. We pray that our hearts will be open and receptive to your love. We pray that we may be filled with the joy of knowing that you are always with us, even when we feel far away from you.
We come before you now with our worries, our fears and our concerns. We ask for your guidance as we face the challenges of this new year. We lift up those who are struggling in this time of great change and uncertainty, especially those who are in need of healing. May they find comfort in knowing that there is a God who loves them unconditionally, no matter what happens in their lives; no matter how bad things seem at times; no matter how many times they fall down or get up again.
We lift up those who have lost loved ones recently or over the holidays or any other time of loss and grief; those who have suffered through illness or injury; those who have experienced financial hardship; those who are facing difficult decisions about their careers or personal relationships; those who are feeling overwhelmed by all the changes happening around them right now in our world; those who wonder if there is hope for humanity after all these tragedies happening over
An Opening Prayer for Group Humility and Peace
Father, As we gather together, we praise You for this day and Your purpose for it. Reset our agendas, as we sit in Your presence. For You assure us that where two or more gather in Your name You are here. Recalibrate our intentions and refocus our hearts. Your will for our lives does not always reflect our plans. Change them to reflect Your will. Help us to understand that we don’t need full clarity to walk into the unique purpose You’ve inlaid in our lives.
Lift our eyes to seek You first today, and always, surrendering our need to achieve, understand, and be known. Shift our perspective to seek Your peace above all else. In every situation we ponder in our daily lives, let the Holy Spirit translate Your commands. Give us renewed strength and godly courage to obey You without questioning. Forgive us for striving beyond our means, worrying, and forcing results.
Only You know what lies ahead. You are our good Father, just and righteous. Though our circumstances will be unfair from time to time in this life, You are always our unwavering protector and shield (Psalm 3:3). Keep the words of King David fresh in our minds, and renew our hearts to the tune of Your truth.“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.” Psalm 3:5 NIV Let Your peace rain down on us today, as we seek You more than anything else. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for finance council meeting
Lord, we thank you for the opportunity to be together. We ask that Your Holy Spirit be with us and guide us as we consider our decisions today. We pray that You will bless the work of this finance council meeting, closing prayer for meeting, and all those who are impacted by our decisions.
Lord Jesus, You have told us that in everything we do we should pray and not lose heart. We pray that You would give us wisdom to make wise decisions that reflect Your desires for this church.
We pray for our leaders and staff as they serve in this capacity. We pray for their families and for their personal growth as well.
We pray for all of those who have been affected by whatever decisions have been made previously or will be made today. May they know Your love through our actions on behalf of this body of believers.
Finally Lord, we ask that You would provide a way through any difficulty that may arise during this meeting or afterward in implementing these decisions
Lord, you know the hearts of all people. You know our concerns and your will for us. Help us to be at peace with each other and to work together in mutual love and harmony. Fill us with your grace so we might participate in your mission as a church, bringing good news to the poor, healing to the broken-hearted, and release to those who are bound by sin and oppression. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Lord, thank you for this time together as we discern how best to steward the resources entrusted to us by God’s people. Bless our work together this morning as we pray for God’s guidance, so that we might make wise decisions that are pleasing in his sight. Amen
An Opening Prayer for a Meeting
Father,
Thank You for every seat that has been filled here, today. For each mind and heart that fills the presence of this room, we thank You. Only You truly know what we are setting out to accomplish today. We have an idea, a vision, hints, and daily instructions. We have talents, abilities, and time to work. However, only You can see in perfect detail the end of every beginning. Every project, every season, every life. Nothing is ever in vain, for even mistakes and missteps are used for good.
Your righteousness transcends all our efforts and understanding. Forgive us for our pride. The pride that puffs us up and the pride that threatens to unqualify us. Strengthen our confidence in who You have made us to be. Set us free from comparison in order to work together efficiently.
Bless this meeting today, all those present, as well as the lives of those we will encounter afterward. Ready us to make every moment count. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
A Prayer of Gratitude
Dear God, Thank you for your amazing power and work in our lives, thank you for your goodness and for your blessings over us. Thank you that you are Able to bring hope through even the toughest of times, strengthening us for your purposes. Thank you for your great love and care. Thank you for your mercy and grace. Thank you that you are always with us and will never leave us. Thank you for your incredible sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life.
Forgive us for when we don’t thank you enough, for who you are, for all that you do, for all that you’ve given. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on you afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with your peace and joy. We love you and we need you, this day and every day. We give you praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
A Prayer to Open an Event
Father, Praise You for this event, and Your purpose for it. We know that when we gather together, You always have a divine agenda. We love You for that, Father. That even when we have done what You have asked, the results are so much greater than we ever could have imagined. Even in failed attempts, You blow us away with Your faithfulness to provide what we need.
Our prayer today is that Your will be done through this event. Take what we have prepared and multiply our efforts as only You can. Steer our intentions to align with Your righteous will. Remind us of Your faithful provision when our efforts fail us or fall short. May all glory go up to You when we reach the finish line and climb over benchmarks. Blanket us with Your peace today, Father. Keep us physically safe and guard our hearts and minds from pride and selfishness. Keep love at the forefront of our minds today, and the guiding light for all we set out to accomplish and celebrate. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
For the Spirit to Work
Dear Lord, as we rise to meet each new day, please let us be filled with Your spirit. Wherever we go, let us spread love, joy, peace, goodness, and faithfulness. Let us desire to become more like you and to worship you in all we do. Help us desire these things so much more than the sin that entices us. Thank you for always going before us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
An Opening Prayer for Group Humility and Peace
Father, As we gather together, we praise You for this day and Your purpose for it. Reset our agendas, as we sit in Your presence. For You assure us that where two or more gather in Your name You are here. Recalibrate our intentions and refocus our hearts. Your will for our lives does not always reflect our plans. Change them to reflect Your will. Help us to understand that we don’t need full clarity to walk into the unique purpose You’ve inlaid in our lives.
Lift our eyes to seek You first today, and always, surrendering our need to achieve, understand, and be known. Shift our perspective to seek Your peace above all else. In every situation we ponder in our daily lives, let the Holy Spirit translate Your commands. Give us renewed strength and godly courage to obey You without questioning. Forgive us for striving beyond our means, worrying, and forcing results.
Only You know what lies ahead. You are our good Father, just and righteous. Though our circumstances will be unfair from time to time in this life, You are always our unwavering protector and shield (Psalm 3:3). Keep the words of King David fresh in our minds, and renew our hearts to the tune of Your truth.“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.” Psalm 3:5 NIV Let Your peace rain down on us today, as we seek You more than anything else. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Against Evil and Temptation
Father God, we praise you for your love and faithfulness towards your children. We praise you for being a perfect, holy, trustworthy God that is bigger than all the evil we experience here on earth. We ask that you give us eyes to see when evil is before us, hearts to hate evil and the desire to flee from its presence. We ask that you would not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil and draw us closer to yourself. We ask for the long-expected Jesus to come quickly and make all things new. We ask these things His precious name. Amen.
A Prayer for Group Peace and Understanding
Father, As the events of the day continue to unfold, we seek Your clarity and Your peace. We know You are with us and for us as we gather together to seek Your counsel. Scripture reminds us the more we seek You the more we will find You. Lead our surrendered hearts to the path of Your peace today.
Come fully into our situation, both as a group and individually. And sort out the muddled feelings and distorted thoughts that plague us. Cover us with a blanket of honesty and patience that is not of this world.
Holy Spirit, translate our desires and pleadings, and may we understand the faithful response of our great Father. Jesus walked the earth to explain so much to us, and to save us from eternal suffering. Yet, on this earth He promised us that we would encounter much pain.
Struggling for solutions amidst differing personalities can seem impossible. Thankfully, we are not expected to be perfect. Thankfully, we’re told in the Bible that we will all fall short. So, as we sit here today, let us release the bind of blame in exchange for accord. Help us to endure disagreement and strife with godly courage and love. Grant us peace in knowing we are pursuing Your purpose for our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
A Prayer of Blessing
Dear God,
Thank you for your great love and blessing over our lives. Thank you that your favor has no end, but it lasts for our entire lifetime. Forgive us for sometimes forgetting that you are intimately acquainted with all of our ways, that you know what concerns us, and you cover us, as with a shield. We ask for your guidance so that we might walk fully in your blessing and goodness today. We ask that your face would shine on us. That you would open the right doors for our lives and for our loved ones, that you would close the wrong doors and protect us from those we need to walk away from.
Establish the work of our hands and bring to fulfillment all that you have given us to do in these days. We pray that you would make our way purposeful and our footsteps firm out of your goodness and love. Give us a heart of wisdom to hear your voice, and make us strong by your huge favor and grace. In Jesus name, Amen.
To Stand Firm
Dear God, We thank you that you hold the victory over sin and death in this world. We thank you for your redemptive work you’ve done in our lives. We thank you for freedom and the hope you bring.
Your word says to “stand our ground,” and that’s what we will do, in the power of your Name. The enemy has no control over us, and we bring your word of Truth as weapon against his schemes. We know that we do not fight alone, for you are constantly at work on behalf of your children, shielding, protecting, strengthening, exposing deeds of darkness, bringing to light what needs to be known, covering us from the cruel attacks we face even when we’re unaware.
We ask that you would give us wisdom and discernment to recognize the schemes of the enemy in our lives and to stand strong against his work. We ask that you would remind us to pray, constantly, for all believers. We ask that you would help us to stay alert in a dark world that tries hard to make things look “not so bad.” We ask that you would equip us to be salt and light, that we would be loving and gracious, yet unyielding to sin.
We ask that you help us to remember to put on your armor daily, for you give us all that we need to stand firm in this day. We thank you that though you remind us in your word that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one, you are still far greater and we have overcome, because you have set us free.
We thank you for your truth, “no weapon formed that is formed against you will prosper,” and that you tell us this is our “heritage” in you, our inherited blessing, place of possession, and gift straight from your hand. We love you Lord. We need you. We stand together in your great and powerful Name. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.