Request for Prayer
We’ve talked a lot about prayer in recent weeks on this space. I learned a lot from those conversations and am grateful for them. One of the things I learned, and continue to learn, frankly, is that it’s important not just to pray, but also to ask others to pray for you, as by honoring each other with our deepest needs we weave each other more surely and securely into the holy tapestry that is our life of faith in the Body of Christ.
So that’s what I want to do, simply ask you for your prayers.
This is a significant weekend and week, you see, in the history of an institution that I hold dear and in the lives of people I hold even more dear. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but we at Luther Seminary are, to be most succinct, in a deep financial hole and are trying hard to dig ourselves out. (If you’re interested, you can read a longer version of the story in our local newspaper.)
It won’t be an easy process, and a number of staff and faculty colleagues will soon be leaving Luther as we try to right our financial ship. Our Board of Directors will be deliberating this weekend and early next week on some important steps to take, including decisions about staff and faculty that could be announced by the middle of next week. This is no easy time, and so I covet your prayers for all of us.
Prayers for wisdom for our administration and Board as they discern the best path forward.
Prayers that the leaders of the school will act in ways they believe will bring about God’s preferred future and resist the temptation simply to take the path of least resistance.
Prayers for all those who lose their employment by cuts to the budget, that they would have adequate support in the challenging weeks to come.
Prayers for those who have to make the decisions about which budgets to cut and tell people they care about that they will be losing their jobs.
Prayers for all those who remain at Luther that they will hearken to God’s call to train leaders for a changed and changing church and world.
Prayers for all of us that we be rooted in the confidence and courage of the Gospel and emboldened to share the good news of God’s love in Christ for all the world.
Prayers for hope, for love, for peace in this place and throughout the world.
Thank you.
Amid this situation, I find myself coming back again and again to the “Serenity Prayer” and recently found a very fine version produced, perhaps not surprisingly, by the good folks at The Work of the People. I will be praying these words often in the coming days and wanted to share them also with you, whether for now or for a future time when they are helpful. (The text of this version of the prayer is below the video.)
Blessings to you this day and weekend, and thank you for your prayers and support.
David
Note: If you are receiving this post by email, you may need to click here to watch the video.
The Serenity Prayer
God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other. Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.
(Music by www.timcoons.com)
Prayers are being offered for you at First Immanuel Lutheran in Portland. God bless.
In June of this year my own beloved alma mater, Bangor Theological Seminary in Bangor, Maine, will award its final degrees and end an almost 200 year history of training pastors. In these challenging times, for the church and for its institutions, for seminaries, their faculties and staffs, and their students and alums everywhere, Lord, hear our prayer.
Praying…
Prayers for you and your institution and the church as well in this time
May the Lord richly pour out His blessings upon your organization and give you peace of mind and heart!
I pray that God’s grace and mercy through the Seminary’s faith will provide all of yours with blessings
My prayers are with you and the seminary. Our own Lutheran theological Seminary in Saskatoon, SK, Canada recently went through this and we are all praying for them too.
Over these past months as I have been going through upheavals the words of ELW 262 have been a constant prayer: Wait for the Lord whose day is near, Wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart. God bless you and the seminary.
Thoughts and prayers unceasing…
Prayer and gratitude for your ministry and that of your colleagues arise this day.
O Lord of new life,
Let your Spirit surround those who gather on behalf of Luther’s future and show us once again that you are the God who turns death into resurrection. Lord, hear our prayer.
Prayers in progress, David!
Sad to realize the hardships being brought about by our financial climate
God strength ten you and all at your seminary during this difficult time
Joining you in these prayers. Thanks for the link to this version of the serenity prayer.