Come near to [Me], and [I] will Come near to you." Prayers of invocation are designed to invite the Presence of God into the time and space weve designated for worship. 24 0 obj <> endobj Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer. I thank you for this day and for this occasion that brings us together, as we uncase the Brigades colors, a ceremony which always reminds me of the strength of our military and the character of our Soldiers. As we gather we remember those who are not with us today - For those who are sick we ask for healing, Thank you for your presence with us here today, and for all that we have heard to inspire and encourage us. Bless them for all that they have given up and all that they will give to keep our country free from terror; and other people free form oppression. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. I ask that you will bless in a special way those who have demonstrated the loyalty, discipline, professionalism, and caring that gained them this honor and help them to be an example and inspiration for us all-in all that we do. May the Lord bless you and keep you. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybodys chains came lose (Acts 16:25-26). In 2020, add prayers of invocation to your prayer discipline. Most of the time chaplains dont need help with prayers, its what we do. Prayers to celebrate graduation and graduates. We ask you to receive them into your hands. He is the potter, the life-giver, and sustainer. 5:15). Lastly, it is important to keep the invocation prayer concise and to the point. Hear my prayer for faith. Be for them all that they need you to be just now and continue to provide for them in every way in the days, weeks, months and years ahead as they face life without their wife, husband, father, mother or child. Bless their lives from this day on with goodness and love. Seekest thou the praise of men? God, for the joy of this occasion we thank you. Thank you for your many and abundant blessings. May we not harden our heart when we hear your voice, but rather circumcise those things of our heart that youre asking us to remove. Help us also to remember that it is not enough for us only to think about God; He wants us also to act upon what we think. Its the life yielded to the Holy Spirit, similar to a powerful stallion who is willingly led by his trainer. This gathering reminds us of our freedom as Americans and we are grateful to you for that freedom and for what it means to us all. In short, its intentionally remembering that He is God and we are not. I pray that their experiences here at Knox will strengthen them even more for the mission that lies before them. An invocation prayer typically includes several key components, including an opening statement, a petition or request, and a closing statement or benediction. On this day we ask for your presence with us as the command of the 5th Squadron, 15th Cavalry Regiment is handed over. We thank you today, especially for the heritage of Hispanic-Americans. The result? I have especially enjoyed reading prayers of invocation. Bless them in these days, encourage them, strengthen them, and help us all to appreciate the special contributions that are theirs. The Heart and Purpose of Prayer. Jennifer Slatteryis a writer, editor, and speaker whos addressed womens groups, church groups, Bible studies, and writers across the nation. Throughout our nations history you have raised up such strong and courageous men to lead the way. When we earnestly seek Him, were responding obediently to Jesus call in John 15:4, where He says, Remain, other translations say abide or dwell, in Me, and I will remain in you. Not I may but I will. I pray that all of us gathered here today will be inspired by their careers and achievements to seek to excel in our remaining time in uniform or civilian service; to be examples of integrity and excellence; to also finish the course well as these Soldiers have done. We pray that everything that we say and do this morning will please you and also that it will bring glory, honor and praise to your name. How great is his joy in the victories You give (Psalm 20:1). Use inclusive language, such as we and us rather than I or me.. I am a chaplain and commenting from that perspective. Dear wise and loving Father: First let me say, "Thank you" on behalf of all who are gathered here today. 45 0 obj<>stream These examples of opening prayers for meetings, church worship and bible studies serve as the perfect examples of the type of prayers you can use at your next event. For your presence here and now and for your presence at all times, we thank you. We pray that you would make our way purposeful and our footsteps firm out of your goodness and love. In Jesus Christ's holy name, Amen. An invocation prayer is a way to give greetings to God. Reveal things, people, or attitudes of our hearts that no longer nurture or nourish our walk with you. Give them wisdom and give them courage as they chart our course and as they lead our world. Father, we also want to thank you for the diligent and faithful leadership of CPT _____________ as he hands over command today. I also pray that you will be with all of the incoming commanders as they take on the challenges that are ahead of them. We give You thanks for being with them every step of their journey in the Army and we Know You will continue to be with them in their future. Lift our eyes to seek You first today, and always, surrendering our need to achieve, understand, and be known. Though our circumstances will be unfair from time to time in this life, You are always our unwavering protector and shield (Psalm 3:3). Thank you for this time we have had together honoring those who have done so well over the past several weeks. Let all who would forget war reach out in compassion to those who must always remember. King David understood his propensity for sin, and in Psalm 19:12-14, he prayed against this. In your precious and holy name I pray, Amen. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Throughout our nations history you have raised up such strong and courageous men to lead the way. We ask that you be with us today as we celebrate their accomplishment and help us to remember that it is because of you that we have life and can accomplish anything. To be meek, prausin the original Greek, indicates the quiet strength of the one who, operating self-restraint, stands firm under Gods control. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We recognize your provision of all things. When we keep this truth in mind, our hearts will be more apt to follow, and when our hearts are filled with Christ, we can feel confident that our plans and desires are in line with His. 0000007027 00000 n Thank you for all that he has done for the Squadron and for the Army. Forgive us for when we don't thank you enough, for who you are, for all that you do, for all that you've given. In short, we treat our all-powerful, sovereign Creator as if He were a Genie at our disposal who exists for our pleasure. Wherever we go, let us spread love, joy, peace, goodness, and faithfulness. Lord, we count our might not in numbers or weapons, but in our allegiance to you, for, the battle is the Lords.. We come before You with hearts full of love and gratitude, seeking Your presence and power in our lives. Now Lord, gazing toward that great looking buffet, I pray that you will bless the food that we will soon eat, that it will nourish us to be stronger to serve better. Its the ancient hymn seeking Gods presence and calling His people to worship. Any links (including those listed on the Links page) are not guaranteed for their appropriateness or usefulness. We are gathered again in celebration of the safe return of 3-159 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion from Iraq. Change them to reflect Your will. Thank you also, Lord, for their families and friends who support them in this worthy and honorable profession. Invite God into your time and space in this new way. Julie Palmer from Prayerscapes shares three creative tips for leading others in prayer at church meetings:-, (suitable for the leader of a meeting to pray before a hymn or time of congregational praise or worship). Only You know the true impact each of them have had over the years. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. Not only did he recognize his need for a purified heart, he also understood only God could perform the purging. 0000002918 00000 n Some of the most powerful, life-transforming revivals began with a simple yet heartfelt prayer of invocation. We acknowledge your holiness and sovereignty and ask for your guidance, protection, and blessings as we begin this service. Whether this Regiments mission was to defeat the enemy or train those who would, you have been with us, and for that we are grateful. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on you afresh. The following are sample opening prayers before starting a church service. Do not interpret this standard as an attempt to instruct your prayers or their contentbut in the interest of Soldiers standing in the formation we need to be spiritual leaders, military professionals and technically proficient at disciplined public prayer. Amen. We ask for your guidance so that we might walk fully in your blessing and goodness today. Support us in the day of battle, and in the time of peace keep us safe from all evil: endow us with courage and loyalty, and grant that in all things we may serve thee and our country without reproach. This prayer point is to pray for a healthy life, and to commit the celebrant into God's care and protection. Grant our supplication, we beseech thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Special effort has been made to maximize the inclusiveness of the contents and should be adequate in meeting the pluralistic needs of our diverse military community. Simply stated, an invocation prayer is an opening prayer for a church service or meeting. Finally, Lord, we ask that you will be with us all today, that this ceremony will not be just another event on our calendar, but a benchmark of excellence for us all to follow as we seek to be all that you have called us to be and all that our country needs us to be. We seed your choice in our lives. The congregation should be able to understand the message of the prayer easily and focus on the worship service without any distractions. We call unto You to guide this service. Amen. (Heb13:20-21). One important aspect of an invocation prayer is the use of language. Lord, I want to surrender to You completely. Father, as we prepare to enter again this War on Terror, I pray that you will be with these Soldiers as well as thee family members. How To Become A Deacon In The Catholic Church. We thank you for giving us another day that we can serve you and that we can gather together for this ceremony. The Lord is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed one (Psalm 29:8, NLT). Go with us now, keeping us ever-aware of your presence and your love for us. As we look over this group of graduates today, were also reminded of the great cost of our freedom over the years. Dear Lord, Thank you that the teachings in Scripture are still relevant to our lives today. 0000006282 00000 n Help us to be ever mindful of your presence with us and your desire to know us personally. May the events that we have remembered here tonight be more than just a memory, but rather a lesson. Through us, He is, at this moment, expanding His kingdom rein, and not even the gates of hell can hold this back. Amen. Thank you for this day you have given us and especially for this occasion that brings us together as we celebrate the accomplishments of these graduates here tonight. These blessings we ask in thy name and for they glory. Article Images Copyright . Prayers Playing a Part in the Lives of Students Good and loving God- We thank you for the completion of another academic year, and for giving us the opportunity, short though it may have been, to play a part in the lives of our students and our new graduates. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. In addition to the structure and content of the invocation prayer, it is also important to consider the delivery of the prayer. And remembering our history, may we not be doomed to repeat it. We know though, that LTC _______________s commitment to the Army and to the United States will not change and we thank you for this. "Dear Lord God, I know I am a sinner, and I ask for Your Forgiveness. We begin to rely on our strength and wisdom, grow prideful of our gifts, and compare our righteousness with others instead of against the standards and perfection of our holy God. Almighty and Eternal God who gives us the freedoms we enjoy in this great nation, come visit us in this most sacred garden where many of our veterans have gathered and many of our nations heroes rest. Bless him as he moves on to be better prepared to prepare others for service in the Army. Lastly, prayers of invocation reveal our prideful and independent nature. Prayer #4. Please continue to keep your hand upon us, both those who serve now only in their memories and those who daily face their tasks with honor. Thank you, also, for each one who has made the time and exerted the effort to be here today to be part of this noble effort. Thou hast said, Seek ye first the kingdom of God. If our hearts are right with Thee, Thy will shall be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Lord, teach me to offer you a heart of thanksgiving and praise in all my daily experiences of life. Your Word promises that You preserve our going out and our coming in from this time forth and even forevermore. Ive just become the Chaplain of our MOAA chapter and these will be quite helpful. We give you thanks for the honor you have bestowed on the 46th Infantry Regiment in past victory. We thank you for their patriotism, their devotion to liberty and justice, human dignity and rights, compassion and self-giving. As we pray in spirit and truth, we invite the Holy Spirit to enter those secret places in our heart and in our mindthe places where the transforming work of sanctification can begin. Thou shalt have it! With this i can rely on the content. Amen. Have We Turned Our Favorite Preachers and Teachers into Idols? 0000009469 00000 n for you, my God.In my heart, I am thirsty This website is not affiliated in any way with any government agency or department to include the United States Department of Defense, United States Army, United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Coast Guard or the United States Marine Corps. Dear God, Thank you for your great love and blessing over our lives. We give to you the thanks and praise that flows from our hearts as we celebrate our return to Germany and reunion with our family and friends. Additionally, according to Title 17, U.S. Code, 105, copyright protection is not available for any work of the United States Government so U.S. government-produced works (videos, pictures and/or text) may appear on this website with or without notice of origin without violating U.S. copyright law. Turn your face towards them and give them peace. When posted, all links were deemed to be safe and appropriate, but this website cannot control changes made after they were posted. We thank you for moments like these when we dont have to be alone but can gather among brothers and sisters in the faith. Being the sensitive chaplain he was, Chaplain Dukes added. When Jesus saw the paralytic man being lowered through the roof, he saw the faith of the man's friends. The God who loves and pursues, who rescues and redeems, who overturns nations and elevates kings. for streams of water, In this article, we will explore the different components of an invocation prayer and provide tips for crafting a powerful and effective invocation prayer for your worship service. We thank you for your presence and love which helps us to endure through difficult times. Hi Natasha, thanks for visiting The Chaplain Kit! 1. Thank you that your favor has no end, but it lasts for our entire lifetime. I am indebted to Chaplain (COL, Ret.) May we never forget the price that has been paid for our freedom and grant us the courage to protect what you have given us. A peace that is eternal, that is found in you, and that begins with us. Sign up for her free quarterly newsletterHEREto stay up to date with her future appearances, projects, and releases. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. It is because of Your loving kindness, care and protection that we are here. Let this commitment be molded by our Army training and empowered by your grace. It is essential to use inclusive language, such as we and us rather than I or me. This helps to create a sense of unity among the congregation, and encourages everyone to participate in the worship service. Guide my steps, Lord, to follow you. 0000010407 00000 n for you, the living God. Again we thank you for your presence with us today. We give You thanks today for the many years of service and sacrifice of all of our retirees and their family members who have made tremendous sacrifices of their own in support of the Army and the nation, and in furthering the cause of freedom worldwide. For chaplains from some traditions or chaplains with free-form public prayer styles, this may require writing our prayers or drafts or making notes to keep our praises and petitions targeted and direct and still honor the interests of Soldiers standing in formation in the sun or rain. Thank you also, for everyone who chose to attend this observance today to remember and honor these women who have done so much. Forgive us for taking that. We came tonight, O God, looking back over our shoulder. Who art a shield and buckler to all who put their trust in thee, bless us, thy servants, and the Army in which we serve. Let your presence be a blessing to us today and forevermore. Guide our commanders and staffs to lead us into victory. We give you glory, honor, and thanks, in Jesus name. Finally Lord, we pray that you will bring real peace to our land, so that we can rest in safety and comfort and not have to send our sons and daughters into harms way. Short invocation prayer for a graduation ceremony Lord God, We ask for your almighty hand to be upon all those who graduate today. We thank you for the peace that you have brought us today, your peacethat can exist within us even when all around us there is no peace. We may recognize our helpless, hopeless state when it comes to our salvation; we recognize theres nothing we can do on our own to repair our relationship with God, which our sin and rebellion fractured. I thank you for this day you have given us and for this occasion that we gather together to celebrate the alliance which exists between the United States and the Republic of Korea, particularly tonight- in the Intelligence community. We thank you for your presence and love which helps us to endure through difficult times. We come toyou because this peaceful exchange of command reminds us of the freedom that we have as Americansa freedom thatyou have provided and thatyouallow. I will be using a few of them as a guideline for my first cadet military ball prayer! Finally Lord, we pray that you will bring real peace to our land, so that we can rest in safety and comfort and not have to send our sons and daughters into harms way. It is a powerful way to begin a service, as it sets the tone and focus for the worship that will take place. Thank you for each Soldier here, both cadre and trainees. Lord, we come before your throne of grace not trusting in ourselves but in your marvelous and gracious love as it seeks expression among us. If you have some you would like to share that we could post on this page, please send them to TheChaplainKit@gmail.com, we would love to expand this resource! What an awesome resource! All we have, including buildings and ability, belongs to God. Our words, offered corporately from our hearts to our Savior, set the tone for our events, help us slow down and focus on God,creates an atmosphere of expectancy, stirs our surrender, and calls those present to a united, eternal, and God-led mission. We also thank you for the battalion and company leadership that has worked tirelessly to prepare the Soldiers of this battalion for the task that lies ahead. He [hems us] inbehind and before (Psalm 139:5). Thank you for knowing our hearts and our need for rhythms in our lives and drawing us into a deeper communion with you. For most, there is no need to give credit, theyre here for you. It can serve as a reminder to be a light in the world as they go about their daily lives. I ask that you be with us here today as the responsibility for the fine Soldiers of _____ Troop goes to 1SG __________. May the nightmares of all wars cease, so that healing can take place. For the significance of this wedding day we thank you. We thank you for this great country and your providential care over us as you have sustained us through many difficult time sin our history. Fill our hearts today with thankfulness for our veterans who answered the call to defend the honor and just causes of our great nation. You are our Light and our Fortress. Be also with his wife, ___________________, that she would not only be supportive of her husband, but that she will also receive all the support that she needs. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. And we pray tonight, just as Jesus taught us to do, for our enemies. Go with us now, Lord we pray, as we reluctantly return to the world out there. The person delivering the invocation prayer should speak with a clear and confident voice, and should practice delivering the prayer in advance to ensure that it flows well and is easy to understand. We thank you for watching over us and sustaining us as a nation. As so we leave, just as we have come a people searching and longing for peace. Once again we thank you for your goodness to us. Though theres nothing wrong with seeking His favor over our ministries and events, we must remember, ultimately, were here to serve and glorify Him, not the converse. You are the one who hears all our prayers and grants our petitions. When crafting an invocation prayer, it is important to focus on God and his attributes, make the prayer specific to the worship service and the needs of the congregation, use inclusive language, and use scriptural references or quotes to support the petitions or requests. If thats you, and youre able to pray an effective prayer extemporaneously, keep it up! Strengthen us in our resolve to keep faith with all patriots and comrades-in-arms by fearlessly maintaining our liberties so nobly won. We love you, and praise you and your majesty. The following is an invocation prayer for worship service. In 2 Chronicles 20, when a vast and vicious army came against the national of Judah, following Gods command to stand firm, the king and his army marched into battle declaring, Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever (v. 21). And finally that thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the divine author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. We ask for your peace and harmony. God give us a joyous spirit of celebration of our nations veterans and their families. In the Name of our God who challenges us to care. We worship you this morning and thank you for the privilege and honor of wearing our Nations uniform. This can include a reference to Gods faithfulness or a reminder of his presence with the congregation. We thank You for Your many blessings in our lives. We ask you to bestow your blessings upon our regiment. 1. Thank you for the families and friends gathered here today. You have a photo of interfaith chaplaincy to the right and then list all Christian prayers? Throughout our nations history you have raised up strong and courageous men and women to lead the way in the defense of freedom, those willing to put their lives on the line for that freedom. Thank you for their commitment to our Soldiers and to our country. By whom all things were made. Teach me to be joyful always, to pray continually and to give thanks in . May we listen for your still, small voice as it speaks to us today and as it boldly proclaims the undeniable reality of your love that will not let us go. And finally, O Lord God Almighty Creator of all things visible and invisible: grant unto me an awareness of what You are doing right now both within my life personally but also throughout this congregation as a whole; grant me clarity about what needs fixing so that when I return home tonight I might have something meaningful to share with my family members over dinner tonight or tomorrow morning at breakfast, I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. Be with us now, dear Lord, as we celebrate this heritage and these contributions Let this celebration be not just educational for those of us who may not be fully aware, but also appreciative to all those who have given us so much.