Prayers for the Diocese of Virginia as we prepare for the election of a new Bishop diocesan
A Vigil for the Eve of the Diocese of Virginia Bishop Election
Opening Prayer:
Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear
our prayers for this diocesan family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the
careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our
common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy
Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Silent time for prayer.
O God, by your grace you have called us in this Diocese to a fellowship of
faith. Bless our Bishops Susan and Jennifer, and other bishops and clergy,
and all our people. Grant that your Word may be truly preached and truly
heard, your Sacraments faithfully administered and faithfully received. By
your Spirit, fashion our lives according to the example of your Son, and
grant that we may show the power of your love to all among whom we live;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Silent time for prayer.
Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be
present with those who take counsel in the election of Bishop for the
Diocese of Virginia, for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us
in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is
right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to
accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Silent time for prayer.
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church,
and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this
Diocese, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people
and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Silent time for prayer.
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of
Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in
by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever
else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one
Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one
Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and
of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Silent time for prayer.
Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ in his earthly life shared our toil and hallowed our labor: Be present with those whose labor has and is making possible the work of this convention. We pray for the members of the search committee and the standing committee who have brought these candidates forward; we pray especially for the transition committee and diocesan staff who are preparing tonight for the work we will engage tomorrow. Guide their efforts and the efforts of all who will lead, serve, pray and minister tomorrow and strengthen them in the ministries of service to which they are called. Amen.
Silent time for prayer.
Heavenly God, we pray for those who have been nominated for election in
becoming the next bishop in the Diocese of Virginia. For Joseph, Alan,
Gideon and Mark, as they take this step, following God’s will in their lives
and in the life of the Diocese of Virginia. Amen
Silent time for prayer.
O God, you prepared your disciples for the coming of the Spirit through the
teaching of your Son Jesus Christ: Make the hearts and minds of your
servants ready to receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit, that they may be
filled with the strength of his presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Silent time for prayer.
Please feel free at this time to name your prayers and intercessions,
silently or aloud (you may unmute or use the “chat” function)
A Litany for Healing
(adapted from The Book of Occasional Services 2018)
Let us hold before God all of those for whom we offer our prayers.
God the Father, your will for all people is health and salvation;
We praise you and thank you, O Lord.
God the Son, you came that we might have life, and might have it more
abundantly;
We praise you and thank you, O Lord.
God the Holy Spirit, you make our bodies the temple of your presence;
We praise you and thank you, O Lord.
Grant strength to this diocese as we move ahead, being Chist’s hands and
feet in a broken world;
We praise you and thank you, O Lord.
Help this diocese to move beyond our weaknesses and pride and pray we
do only your will;
We praise you and thank you, O Lord
Restore to wholeness, whatever is broken by human sin, in our lives, in our
nation, our diocese, and in the world.
We praise you and thank you, O Lord
Let us pray together in the words our Savior taught us:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer:
Let us pray
Gracious God, we give thanks for your beloved Jesus Christ, in whom we
have a guide as we love and serve others in Your name. Help us to follow
your will, trust in your strength as we choose a new Diocesan bishop from
those you have called to serve. Heal the division that seeks to break us,
Help us to trust in God alone, most gracious lover of all souls. In Your most
blessed name we pray.
Amen
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21
The Prayer Vigil on the Eve of our Electing Convention was prepared by and will be led by Dawn McNamara, Candidate for the Diaconate, Episcopal Diocese of Virginia.
Selected Prayers for Personal Use
We invite you to continue to use the prayers on this site in this time leading up to and during the Diocese of Virginia electing convention. The following prayers might be useful to pray during the convention and throughout the election process:
A Prayer for the Search for a New Bishop (presented by the search committee)
Almighty God, Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, who calls, guides and empowers us as your Church: Create in us discerning minds as we seek to elect a bishop in this diocese. So many issues are open before us; so many wounds that need healing; so many gifts that need celebrating. Bless and continue the good work begun in your name and open our ears to the hurts and hopes around us; broaden our vision to see what we do not want to see; and enliven our hearts with honesty and compassion to do the hard work that lies before us. Guide us as we seek an inspirational leader and willing advocate to help us meet the challenges and lead us to become the people you have equipped us to be in your service. All this we pray through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen
Prayers for the Church (from BCP pp. 816-818)
For the Church
Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.
For the Mission of the Church
Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Clergy and People
Almighty and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift: Send down upon our bishops, and other clergy, and upon the congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace: and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honor of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.
For the Diocese
O God, by your grace you have called us in this Diocese to a goodly fellowship of faith. Bless our Bishops, clergy, lay delegates and all our people. Grant that your Word may be truly preached and truly heard, your Sacraments faithfully administered and faithfully received. By your Spirit, fashion our lives according to the example of your Son, and grant that we may show the power of your love to all among whom we live; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For the Election of a Bishop or other Minister
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this Diocese,
that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
For the Unity of the Church
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For the whole church (Enriching our Worship 4)
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Virtual Chapel of St. Phoebe 