Saturday, May 16, 2009

Commencement Prayer

"A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God" (Ecclesiastes 2: 24-25a).

Dear Savior, bless all those who begin a new stage in their lives. Teach them to know you as the true wisdom of God that has come down from heaven. Lead them to find fulfillment in their daily walks with you, rather than in worldly success. And increase in them the understanding that, because we are pilgrims and strangers on this earth, the things of this world are not an end in themselves, but are a means of preparing for the commencement of the life to come. Amen.

Wisconsin Eastern Lutheran Synod (WELS) prayer for commencement.

I pray today for my friends Amy (Elastigirl) and Mary, and their classmates at SMU's Perkins School of Theology; and for all seminary students who are graduating at this time of year, including RevGal Mibi52.

May each and every one of them find useful and satisfying work in the service of God's people in the world, and may the world's blindnesses (sexism, ageism, discrimination against GLBT persons and others) be healed.

--If you know of other seminary students preparing for graduation, please share their names/pseudonyms in the comments.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

I would appreciate your prayers for my husband, Don (aka Pure Luck), who has been away from home on various jobs for three months now, hoped to be home in another month for a few months, but now may need to be away all summer and into the fall. Usually I would be asking for prayers for myself (that I can get through the lonely months and manage the household, etc.), but tonight I'm thinking of him. He sounded lonesome and discouraged, and I'm not sure I said the right things to help turn that around.

Dr. Laura Marie Grimes said...

Oh, Songbird, that must be so hard for all of you. Prayers ascending.