A Prayer for Clergy and Lay Leaders

Luke 4:16-19

“When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives  and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Do you recall the days when you felt this message in your bones? That time you heard the call, knew that the Spirit of the Lord was upon you, and anointed you to bring good news and do good works. Do you remember how you felt? Do you remember that feeling of being persuaded by Power?  Do you remember the times where you have preached with power and folks came and affirmed that the message you labored over was the one they needed? Do you remember  those Divine appointments came that you were not looking for—the grocery store, the post office, and your favorite restaurant? The times when you were simply showing up in your community and you encountered circumstances that confirmed that you indeed were called and commissioned to the work that you were doing?

Minister, Reverend, Deacon, Mother, Evangelist, Pastor, Sister, Brother… The good news is that these moments are not merely relegated to memories of the past! This is not just about looking forward to these times, but trusting that the One who called you is indeed faithful.  Your grief may be great and your despair is allowed. Those feelings of assurance and jubilant power may feel distant. Weariness is expected. Yet, the Spirit of the Lord who has anointed and equipped you have not left you ill-equipped. Your vocation nor your responsibilities have to stop. They may need to adapt, you may have to get creative and use new/old methods. But you do not have to stop doing that which you were called to do. 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon you, the Spirit has anointed you 

to bring good news to the poor—

all who are experiencing new levels of poverty,

those awaiting checks in the mail,

and the multitudes who are poor in spirit.

to bring release to the captives—

to all  held hostage by fear,

and those who feel that their wellbeing is in the hands of the government. 

recovery of sight to the blind—

to those who cannot see the way forward,

and the ailing you need your touch and prayers from afar. 

to let the oppressed go free—

to all whose minds, bodies and spirits are being ravaged by COVID-19.

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor—even in 2020!

When there are no large fellowships or funerals.

Where feelings of frustrations arise due to the necessary changes in how they are to provide pastoral care. 

When there are no nursing home or hospital visits, no end of school year celebrations and Vacation Bible School plans are uncertain.  

When giving is down and financial burdens are increasing.

Where guilt is being the cruel companion to them because they cannot be present with their people nor provide desired solutions to the concerns of congregations and their communities.
Remember that the Spirit of the Lord is upon you, the Spirit has anointed you— and you don’t need a full church to do what you have been anointed to do.

Let us Pray Together for Clergy + Lay Leaders

“The context of Christian ministry between the wilderness and the cliff. It is the context of our Lord’s ministry.  It is the context of Christian life. It is the context of African American life and struggle. It is the context of gospel preaching, and God in heaven knows it is the context of the ministry of women.  We preach, pray, teach, heal, help, bless between the wilderness and the cliff. ” -The Reverend Dr. Prathia Hall 

Gracious God, 

The One whose pastoral care and presence supersedes social distance.

The One who provides Shelter that is not limited to a particular place.

The God who has created, called, and commissioned us for service,

we call upon you to provide comfort, strength, grace and power for your leaders.

We lift up those who have been empowered by the Spirit of the Lord and entrusted with words and works of good news. When they feel at a loss for how to lead Your people, remind them to look to our Good Shepherd.

Teach them that the previous experiences have unknowingly prepared them to lead and serve between the wilderness and the cliff—between life in the places where they feel deserted and those in which they feel surrounded by the cruelty and violence of death. In the midst of the heavy realities and the various hardships that are distinct to each clergy person and lay leader, 

Lord in your mercy, hear these prayers and heed their troubles. 

Spirit of the Lord, breathe afresh upon your clergy and lay leaders—renew and inspire them.

Imbue them with holy wisdom and creative compassion that they might know how to do their work in the midst of the powers, principalities and pull of the people. Touch their tongues and quicken their spirits to proclaim messages of hope and truth in this hour.  

Minister to the ones who minister to your people--when they desire calls and responses between the pulpit and pews and affirming hugs at the church doors, may Your voice and presence be ever so real in their midst. 

Enable and empower them to do all that they need to do by Your Spirit, and to trust that You will be in their midst and present in the places where they cannot go, and doing what they cannot do.

Lord, hear the prayers of your people, Amen.

Scripture:  Luke 4:16-19 NRSV

Experience: Prathia Hall sermon, “Between the Wilderness and the Cliff” https://soundcloud.com/dradambanks/01-between-the-wilderness-and

Music:  “Where the Spirit Is” by Kirk Franklin and the Family // “This is a Move” by Tasha Cobbs // "My Soul has Been Anchored" by Douglas Miller

Images: The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me, Selrachco // Prathia Hall Portrait, Danny C Lyon // Author’s Own

About the Author:  Reverend Alexis Carter Thomas is a writer, researcher and adjunct professor. She and her husband, John, live in a small town in South Carolina.  For the past year, Alexis has been conducting research on the flourishing of Black clergywomen throughout the United States. As a result, Alexis launched Soul Rep to provide soul care as a form of reparations to Black women who give their time, resources and life to the thriving of Black churches. Alexis received her Master of Divinity from the Divinity School at Duke University.  More about her can be found at Alexiscarterthomas.com