For Congregations and Schools During a Vacancy
Lord of the Church,
You provide pastors and teachers to preach, teach, train, and equip your people for works of service. Thank you for the blessing they provide to our congregations and classrooms. Let their service to your people – as well as the service and support of your people to them – be a blessing and mutually edify each other.
Be with those ministries experiencing a pastoral or teaching vacancy. Provide temporary solutions for ministry to continue as they wait patiently on your timing for any called worker(s). Turn the challenges of a vacancy into opportunities for blessing. In the absence of a pastor or teacher, make your people more aware of and appreciative of the service rendered by called workers. Lead gifted laypeople to step in and use their gifts wherever possible so that the ministry doesn’t suffer greatly. Intervene in ways that reassure them that you are the Lord of the Church who continues to guide and direct ministry even during a vacancy.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.