Prayers for Discernment

Those present at The Forum on Sunday, September 15, 2024, wrote impromptu prayers of thanksgiving and intercession for St. Paul’s, or simply what was in their hearts.

The prayers were a great blessing, and we shared many aloud. Because they are so moving, we share them here. Parts of these prayers will be interwoven in our Prayers of the People during liturgies in the coming months.

Thank you to everyone for these beautiful expressions of love and faith!

For St. Paul's

Gracious God, we give thanks for the many blessings you have showered on St. Paul’s Church. Help us to discern the needs and hopes of the congregation and guide the leaders in the search for a rector. We ask this in your son’s name.

Thanks be to God for the wondrous symphony in our midst, from joyful circles of children to the soaring chords of organs and choirs, to the joyous exclamations in silence, to the words we acclaim in unison, to those member at all stages of life; thanks be to God for our voice as a church built of many voices.

We give thanks for all those members of St. Paul’s of the past 151 years, whose faith, love, and service we stand on the shoulders of. May we honor them with our faith, love, and service in responding to the times we are in now.

My prayer is one of gratefulness for the family of believers at St. Paul’s – and a prayer for the continued love and support as the church moves through the process of the discernment and search.

Omniscient and omnipotent God – Thank you for blessing us, the Church of St. Paul’s, Cleveland Heights, with a history and foundation of strength, growth, and spiritual formation. Please, we pray, inspire us to ask and imagine not only our needs but also our capabilities and how they might be shaped, augmented, and applied. Help us find wisdom, patience, creativity, and energy during this period of search and discernment, that our call is answered, and our faith amplified and activated.

Gracious God, we give thanks for all the beautiful souls who are at St. Paul’s or who may find their way to St. Paul’s in the future. May we be ever conscious and committed above all things to the ways we love and respect each other and our neighbors, near and far, in small everyday moments and in the larger flow of our life.

I pray that St. Paul’s will aspire to be, more than ever, a place of radical hospitality, a haven of welcome in a dangerous, divided world.

Lord, we thank you for this beautiful, established parish that is built to withstand the challenges of being a Christian witness for the whole 21st century.

For Particulars of St. Paul's

We pray for the staff and clergy of St. Paul’s, especially during this time of transition.

In gratitude for our strong youth programming and praying for opportunities for the staff to streamline some duties to have time to refresh and care for themselves.

Thank God for this inspiring parish which draws us closer to you. I pray that we are open to the needs of our youth and the community, regardless of color, age, gender identification.

We give thanks for Bishop Jeff for coming to us, and for Bishop Anne for her support of us all.

God, be with us as we search for our new minister to guide us in the coming years. Bring us a realistic, compassionate person to lead us through these difficult times, not only in our church, but in our communities and this world.

I am grateful for the small groups of the parish that I am a part of, for the intellect of sermons, and for the beauty of this building and gardens.

In thanksgiving for the ministry to and of the Deaf Community and for Rev. Patricia’s work with and love of deaf persons, we never thought we would have a priest who signs and knows deaf culture. If it is your wish Lord God, we pray that more deaf persons will feel welcome here and join us. We are also grateful for Rev. Gabriel, Rev Rose Anne, and Bishop Jeff.

We pray that we can be an honest and open space to land in from the chaotic and hard world, that we can ask real questions about faith and life and power and justice, and that we can be welcoming in real ways.

O God, send us a rector of great heart and lively mind, with skill at pastoral care and a gift for preaching. May we uphold and support that person when called and may we be worthy of his or her enduring ministry.

In hopes for a priest with special oratory skills.

In thanksgiving for Rev. Patricia and Rev. Gabe and their tireless leadership in St. Paul’s time of need.

We pray that St. Paul’s will go through many more bishops.

Oh Holy One, we ask that our next priest can be an administrator and delegator and have the gift of pastoral caregiving as well. We give thanks for the skilled people who are already serving, particularly Bill Powel and Pam O’Halloran, Sam Hartwell and Susan Quill. We are blessed that this congregation will continue to be strong.

Oh, God we ask that you send us a rector who will powerfully proclaim the historic Christian faith in a way that makes disciples in our modern context!

In thanksgiving for our beautiful music, for Kevin Jones, and for all the voices who sing prayers and praise and lift our hearts.

I am thankful for our priests and their sermons. I pray more persons will want to come here and have a priest who stays for many years.

I pray for more participation on the part of the members of the church, i.e., attending services and participating in other activities. I pray for thoughtful outreach programs with metrics to gauge effectiveness.

In thanksgiving for the Rev. Jeanne Leinbach for being at my mother’s memorial service at Lake View Cemetery.

In thanksgiving for our children and youth programs and all the care of Lauren Dockery and the many who work with our children.

I’m praying that all of the new toddlers showing up in the soft space become the future of St. Paul’s.

I am so thankful for the diversity--with LGBTQIA persons, persons with disabilities, and especially the joy of children.

In thanksgiving for Bishop Jeff for his willingness to serve in this time of transition. In thanksgiving for Bishop Anne and Canon Jessie for their leadership in this transition. We pray for calm and peace for everyone in this parish as we discern our way forward together.

God of Abundance, watch over this congregation in this time of transition and change. Help us to recognize the gifts we collectively share in this beautiful building and to help call our next rector who will similarly appreciate our beautiful St. Paul’s.

Let us pray that whatever our future holds, let us never lose or forget that our strength comes from the Episcopal Church liturgy.

God of Wisdom, thank you for the rich variety of voices, experiences, and talents of our community. May our hearts be opened toward a spirit of belonging and diversity during our discernment.

Dear God, please continue to bless our parish. We are so grateful for our community of worshippers, and we pray that we can continue to serve you and our community as we seek a new rector to lead us.

Personal Needs and Thanksgivings

In gratitude that my son successfully and independently launched to college.

In thanksgiving for personal new directions.

In prayers for a friend to find peace and clarity as she navigates sole parenting after the death of her former spouse.

We pray for small congregations and traveling priests.

For the Rector Search Committee

We thank you for the commitment and dedication of this very talented search committee. I pray for a rector who is focused on the spiritual and pastoral life of this parish.

We pray for the search committee, that they listen to the congregation, to its needs, wants and wishes to discern the qualities in a new rector.

We pray that the efforts of the search committee reflect the diversity of the congregation of St. Paul’s, always focusing on God’s will for us and for the world beyond our walls.

In thanksgiving for the wonderful variety of gifts at St. Paul’s and on the search committee. In prayer that the search committee members will have the needed stamina and patience to keep their hearts and minds open as to really learn to know the candidates.

I pray for clarity and wisdom for the search committee members and clear communication with the parish during the process.

For Discernment

May the hearts of this congregation open wide to receiving guidance from the Holy Spirit.

Dear God, Help me, us, to listen. Help me, us, to love. Help me, us, to trust in and through you.

Lord, please guide us in our search for a new rector, your needs for us, and our community first and foremost. Lead us down the right path as we make decisions to the best of our ability.

In gratitude for the lavish hospitality of St. Paul’s – to everyone. Open our hearts to your presence, O God, your presence in those who are here and everywhere in our lives.

We pray for discernment and guidance to find our next rector.

O Lord our God, give wisdom to us your people as we seek your face. Humble us and allow us to rely on your spirit’s guidance. May we be a beacon of Light to the world in small and faithful ways.

My prayer is for the leadership at St. Paul’s and of our country; and that God provide-–through His wisdom--the leader for us.

O God who calls us to be more than we can presently imagine, guide us to speak and to listen faithfully in this time of transition. Help us to know ourselves and to recognize your presence among us. Let us know the deep peace of your Christ in these many months.

Dear Lord, Help me to be open to those who have other ways of hearing You and Your leading. May we join together to remember Your calling to all with the many different gifts we possess for Your kingdom. Thanks be to God!

Closing Collect:

Gracious God, accept the fervent prayers of your people; look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help and wisdom and guidance; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, in the name of the Creator Redeemer and Sustainer, now and forever. Amen.