A prayer of the people,
for the commissioning of a leader
based on 1 Corinthians 12

#commissioning #embodied #gifts #intergenerational #prayersofthepeople

The act of commissioning people into particular roles is a beautiful moment of celebrating the unique gifts they bring into their local context and their willingness to respond to God's call upon their lives to use those gifts for the life of the Church and the world. However, especially in the individualistic mindset of today, it is essential to remember that one person's faithful response invites us all to consider our own significance within our Christian community. This prayer of the people visually reflects the growing beauty and power of the Spirit with us as we each add our own gifts into the mix, and so respond to the needs of the world around us. 

You will need:

• A large wooden dove
• 9 lengths of ribbon or wool of different lengths and colours
• An elastic band wrapped around the wing and tail in a figure 8 for easy attachment of the ribbons
• Several volunteers to attach ribbons

The leader being commissioned stands before the people.

The world is a mess:
so much hatred,
so much oppression,
so much poverty,
so much violence.

People are divided:
by race and religion,
by money and power,
by traditions and ideologies,
my media and misinformation.

We need:
compassion to care for one another’s needs,
critical thinking to make good choices,
creativity to help us find new ways of being and doing,
and competent leaders who are passionate about justice.

Lord, we thank you for the unique gifts you have given to <insert name>,
especially for <name a few particular gifts>
which inspire, revive and enliven us all.

The wooden dove is presented to them.

We place into <his/her/their> hands this symbol of your Spirit
praying that <he/she/they> will always know that you are with and within <him/her/them>
and with the family, colleagues, and friends who offer support in this ministry.

May this service of commissioning remind us that you are made known
in this needy, messy, divided world
as each of us uses the gifts you have given for the good of all.

Come Holy Spirit,
bless us with your gifts.

At the naming of each gift, a ribbon is threaded through the elastic onto the dove creating “tail feathers.”

Give us your gift of wisdom:
so that we may navigate the climate crisis, choose good leaders, and nurture the next generation.
Come Holy Spirit,
bless us with your gifts.

Give us your gift of knowledge:
so that we may craft policies and projects that support positive change.
Come Holy Spirit,
bless us with your gifts.

Give us your gift of faith:
so that we may hold onto holy hope for those who have none.
Come Holy Spirit,
bless us with your gifts.

Give us your healing powers:
so that we may bless others with health and wellbeing.
Come Holy Spirit,
bless us with your gifts.

Show us miracles:
so that the hungry may be fed, the poor lifted up, and the refugees sheltered from life’s storms.
Come Holy Spirit,
bless us with your gifts.

Give us prophetic voices:
that we may advocate for the day when sorrows cease and justice flows like a mighty river.
Come Holy Spirit,
bless us with your gifts.

Help us discern between spirits:
so that we are able to stand up to the false and call out the fake.
Come Holy Spirit,
bless us with your gifts.

Give us your gift of tongues:
so that our many languages blend in harmony to celebrate and make space for diverse communities.
Come Holy Spirit,
bless us with your gifts.

Above all, Holy Spirit, give us Love,
binding together all your gifts among all your people.
Come Holy Spirit,
bless us with your gifts.

All these gifts we receive from you.
All these gifts we give back to you
to build up your church
and bring peace to the earth
in Jesus’ name.

Amen.