Holy and awesome God, we come to you this morning with hearts that are full and overflowing with both praise and grief. We come to you humbly as your children, with lips that offer words of rejoicing and sighs of pain.
This morning we rejoice in your goodness and answers to prayer as we welcome Pastor Matthew into his new role as our pastor here at Wellesley Mennonite. We pray for the presence and blessing of the Holy Spirit over both Mathew and Nina, as well as over their children as they adjust to a new home and community, and experience these early days of a new school year and workplace. God, may they know your peace and presence, as well as your holy guidance and mighty strength each day as they serve, study, and build relationships. Father God, we pray for Pastor Matthew that you would calm his spirit, fill his heart with your grace and love, and gently lead him as he shepherds this congregation in the months and years ahead. Fill him with courage and increase his faith as he walks with you.
This morning as we both rejoice and grieve, we also choose to proclaim the words of David in Psalm 23.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (NIV)
O God, we also pray for your peace to reign in our world, especially in the Middle East, Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. Mould and soften the hearts of leaders that they may choose to walk in your way. We would also pray the same for Ukraine and Haiti. God, grant us wisdom as individuals to be peacemakers, caregivers, and people of grace in our community and world as you direct us.
We rejoice and give thanks with so many of our congregation who have received healing and renewed strength over the past weeks and months.
This morning we pray for the following families in our Households of Faith.
We pray all this in the name of Jesus.
Amen