99 Prayers Your Church Needs (But Doesn't Know It Yet): Prayers for Unpredictable and Unsual Times
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About this ebook
99 Prayers includes blessings or prayers for:
-when your pastor is facing criminal charges
-those who have lost a loved one to an overdose
-a member of your congregation formally changing their name
-when your pastor has experienced the death of a child
-when your pastor is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness
-when your pastor has been arrested in a non-violent protest
-your pastor's deployment as a military chaplain
-a member of your congregation celebrating a milestone in sobriety
Editor: Cara Gilger
Contributors: Robyn Bles, Diane Faires, Shauna Flemming, Danny Gulden, Jamie Haskins, Megan Houston, Shane Isner, Stephanie Kendell, Billy Kilgore, Elizabeth King, Allison Lanza, Peter Mitchell, Ryan Motter, Suzanne Kerr Motter, Sunny Ridings, Kim Gage Ryan, Melissa St. Clair, Shanna Steitz, Arthur Stewart, Whitney Waller-Cole, Dawn Weaks, Kory Wilcoxson, Chris Wilson, Mark Winters, Selena Wright
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99 Prayers Your Church Needs (But Doesn't Know It Yet) - The Bethany Fellows
Copyright
Copyright ©2018 by The Bethany Fellows
All rights reserved. Except as stated below, for permission to reuse content, please contact Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, www.copyright.com.
Permission is granted to reprint material from this book in worship bulletins or to project material for use in worship, provided the following notice appears with the material:
From 99 Prayers Your Church Needs (But Doesn’t Know It Yet) by the Bethany Fellows, ed. Cara Gilger (St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2018). Reproduced with permission.
Cover Image: ©Lightstock
Cover Design: Elizabeth Wright
Interior Design: Connie H.C. Wang
ChalicePress.com
Print: 9780827225343
EPUB: 9780827225350
EPDF: 9780827225367
Contents
Copyright
Introduction
Prayers for Individuals in Challenging Times
A family in your congregation has experienced a traumatic death
A member of your congregation has committed suicide
For those who have lost a loved one to an overdose
A member or close relative of the congregation passes away on deployment
A member of your community is facing mental health issues
A member of your congregation is struggling with depression
A member in your congregation is experiencing personal financial crisis
A member is placing their spouse into assisted living
A member of your congregation has miscarried
Social services has become involved with a family in your community
For someone beginning treatment for a longterm illness
A family in your church is being deported unexpectedly
Prayers and Blessings for Individuals
Blessing for a church member who is starting a new job
A member of your congregation is celebrating a milestone in sobriety
Blessing for a family who is making a long-distance move
For the new identity of one who is transitioning
For those who serve behind the scenes in ministry
Blessing for students who are leaving to study abroad
A member of your congregation is formally changing their name (refugees)
A family in your congregation is welcoming
a foster child
A prayer with a child for the passing of their pet
Prayers for Community in Challenging Times
A medical emergency occurs
during worship
Your congregation is struggling to pay bills
Your building has been on fire
Your building’s sprinkler system goes off
and damages your church property
Your church has been burglarized
Your church has been vandalized
Your community has sustained
a significant disaster
Your community has sustained a significant economic disaster
Your congregation experiences a significant drop in membership
Your congregation has sustained the
passing of a member
Your congregation is about to implement
a staff reduction
Your congregation is letting go of
a staff member
Your congregation is being protested
Your congregation is facing a
budget shortfall
Your congregation is facing a challenge
with government
Your congregation is facing negative
media coverage
Your congregation is facing the loss of
a significant community partnership
Your congregation is marking a first anniversary since something sad
A staff member or lay leader has been discovered stealing from the church
Your organist or music leader calls in sick
on Sunday
Your youth group experiences something frightening on mission trip
A congregation member is injured
at camp or on mission trip
A member of your congregation has been discovered to be a sex offender
There has been an act of extreme violence within your town or community
There has been an act of extreme violence perpetrated on children in your town
or community
Organization or business housed in your building has experienced
public scandal
Your community has sustained a significant social justice disaster
A lament for racial inequality and prayer
for reconciliation
Your congregation is being threatened
with a lawsuit
Prayers for Community Discernment
Your congregation is participating in new justice work within the community
Your congregation is forming a new
community partnership
Your congregation is considering
a merger
Your congregation is considering closing
Your congregation is considering significant changes to worship (time, format, etc.)
Your congregation is considering becoming open and affirming
Your congregation is discerning ending
a long-standing and historical program
Your congregation is discerning adding
a new staff position
Your congregation is discerning becoming
a bilingual worshiping community
Prayers and Blessings for Community Celebrations
Your congregation is considering a building addition
Your congregation is considering
a building remodel
Your congregation is seeding another congregation in your building
Your congregation is supporting a new
church start
Your congregation is selling an existing building and relocating their ministry
Your congregation is marking a first anniversary since something joyful
Your congregation is sponsoring a family (immigrants, refugees, homeless transitioning)
Your congregation is celebrating Pride Month
Your congregation is hosting worship prior
to Pride Parade
Your community has received a significant economic benefit
Your congregation experiences a significant spike in membership
Your congregation has received a
significant gift
Your congregation has completed a
successful capital campaign
Blessing for a Habitat for Humanity home
Your congregation is celebrating Earth Day
Blessing for the demolishing of an existing building, with no plans to rebuild
Prayers for Your Pastor
Your pastor calls in sick on Sunday
Your pastor has been arrested in
a nonviolent protest
Your pastor is about to lose their job
and they don’t know it
Your pastor is about to lose their job
and they know it
Your pastor has resigned suddenly
out of conflict
Your pastor is adopting a child
Your pastor is beginning maternity leave
Your pastor is beginning parental leave
Your pastor is put on bed rest
Your pastor is placed on short-term
medical leave
Your pastor has experienced
the death of a child
Your pastor’s spouse/partner is
diagnosed with an illness
Your pastor’s spouse/partner
passes away unexpectedly
Your pastor is diagnosed with a
life-threatening illness
Your pastor has died suddenly
A beloved former pastor dies suddenly
Your pastor is divorcing
Your pastor is facing criminal charges
Your pastor has been accused
of sexual misconduct
Your pastor has been caught in an
embarrassing situation
Your pastor is deployed as a chaplain
Pastor is transitioning to a new role
within the ministry
Blessings for a pastor departing for sabbatical
Blessing for a pastor returning
from sabbatical
About the Contributors
About Bethany Fellowships
Introduction
The looming, Southern style pulpit elevated several feet off the ground blocked the congregation’s view of the small, hard pew where the preacher sits. This made it hard for the congregation to see my face as it alternated flashing a strange mix of surprise and compassion, with an equal attempt at composure. Across the chancel standing in the lectern was our Elder for the Sunday. He was known for being a tall gentleman in a well- polished gray suit, mid-40s with two teenage daughters and a string of successful entrepreneurial endeavors. As he stood in front of the congregation clutching either side of the lectern, the sanctuary was silent as we listened to the muffled gulping sound that erupted mid-prayer and the silence that followed as he tried to compose himself amid sobs to complete his morning prayer.
The next morning, the senior pastor, who had been out of town, came by my office to see how my solo weekend preaching and leading worship had gone, as this was my first as a seminary student at the church.
I heard it went well,
he began in his usual exuberant way, You took my advice on your sermon.
I nodded in agreement, even though I had not and paused mulling over what to say next. Did you already hear about the prayer?
I