Be Anxious for Nothing ... Pray Peggy Hedden & Ilona Busick Columbus, Ohio & Kansas City, Missouri November 2000 Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6) Prayer is talking with God. He invites us to talk with him about all things and at any time – rejoicing, lamenting, confessing, asking for ourselves and others. As you prepare for the debates for Amendment O, speak to God about what is on your heart. Here are several models for praying. Feel free to use either or both the “Praying for Our Presbytery” or the 4-week ACTS suggestions that follow. Since prayer is talking with God, take time to listen to God through his written word in Scripture. Prayer for our presbytery Almighty God, who through the apostles of thy Son Jesus Christ did order the governance of thy flock: Send thy blessing upon the Presbytery of _________________________ when it assembles in thy name. Grant unto thy servants the spirit of power and of love, and a sound mind. That they may abide in thy Word and may be wise in counsel, diligent in service, faithful stewards of the things belonging to thy kingdom, and worthy successors of the apostles whom our Lord sent forth to testify of him. Direct and govern them by thy Holy Spirit, preserving them from hasty judgment and vain dispute, inspiring them with hearty love and true devotion, and guiding them to do those things which shall be for the glory of Christ’s name, for the welfare of his Church, for the peace of all believers, for the spread of the Gospel, and for the good of the whole world; Through the head of the Church, Jesus Christ thy Son, to whom with thee, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen. [Altered and reproduced by permission of Westminster/John Knox Press.] 4-week prayer vigil Find out when your presbytery will be voting on Amendment O, and begin praying at least 28 days before the meeting. Spend each week focusing on that week’s Scripture and bring to God the praise, confession, thanks, or petition of the week. You may do this individually or with a group from your congregation or presbytery. You might want to have a prayer time with other commissioners before the presbytery meeting begins, or have a team praying during the presbytery’s deliberations. Adore God – Psalm 33 Day 1 – for his power and goodness Day 2 – for his wisdom Day 3 – for reigning over all creation Day 4 – for his justice and righteousness Day 5 – for his mercy that endures forever Day 6 – for the beauty of the earth Day7 – for his faithfulness to all generations Confess to God – Psalm 32 Day 1 – your own sin Day 2 – the sin of your congregation Day 3 – the sin of the presbytery Day 4 – the sin of the PCUSA Day 5 – the sin of the Church, past and present Day 6 – with a broken and contrite heart Day 7 – with assurance of God’s pardon Thank God – Psalm 136 Day 1 – for his mercy endures forever Day 2 – for his blessing the world through Abraham and his seed Day 3 – for his Son Jesus the Christ, full of grace and truth Day 4 – for our redemption in Christ Day 5 – for his revelation in word and flesh Day 6 – for the Holy Spirit and the communion of the saints Day 7 – for our every provision Supplicate – II Timothy 1:6-14 and Revelation 12:10-11 Day 1 – for a spirit of power and love and truth in all commissioners Day 2 – for courage for those speaking for God in the debate Day 3 – that truth will be spoken in love Day 4 – for faithfulness in keeping what God has committed to the Church Day 5 – that God will grant those who oppose him repentance and knowledge of his truth Day 6 – that God will be glorified in the decision of your presbytery Day 7 – that God will be glorified in the decision of the PCUSA

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