Gracious and Holy God, pour our your Spirit on The United Methodist Church. Give us voice to call upon your name that you alone might be glorified.

Lead us as with a mother’s tender hand. Breakthrough in all our congregations and revive our witness around the globe. Call us to the edges.

Engage us in your mission. Bless and empower us to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We offer you our lives and talents without excuse, delay or reserve to work through us to accomplish your kingdom purposes.

Almighty and faithful God, pour out your wisdom on the Commission on a Way Forward and the Council of Bishops. Morning by morning, awaken their ears to listen for your still small voice and to the heart-songs of one another. Morning by morning, awaken their hearts to yearn for you and your love, mercy and justice. Morning by morning, awaken their minds to seek your knowledge that surpasses all human understanding. Morning by morning, awaken their souls to receive your Holy Spirit and be formed into the image of Christ for such a time as this.

Lord God, give the Commission and the Council the tongue of a teacher, that they may know how to sustain a weary and wary Church with a word of hope, a word of peace, a word of courage, a word that charts Your Way Forward.

I pray, trusting in your goodness, righteousness and mercy and in the powerful, life-giving name of Christ Jesus. Amen.

Bishop Bruce R. Ough, resident bishop, Dakotas-Minnesota Area of The United Methodist Church