We found Mike Mitchell’s prayer of blessing that he read at Antioch’s first public service on October 15, 2006 this week in Kim Hunt’s “Antioch Archives Folder” that she’s been keeping.
It was so cool to read the prayer, that the staff decided to print an excerpt on bookmarks to be handed out after the 3 Year Anniversary Service this Sunday.
Here is a transcript of the entire prayer:
Eternal and ever blessed God, who makes all things new, we thank you for today, that you have allowed us to begin Antioch Church.
Heavenly Father, today we remember the way by which you have brought us to our first service and we thank you for every step of it, and praise you for what you have done.
We give thanks and honor this day to Jesus, our Savior and blessed Lord, and for his death upon the cross, that he gave himself for us, to seek and save the lost, sacrificing his life as a ransom for ours.
We ask that your Holy Spirit be present guiding the leaders in preaching and prayer, let the congregation be edified with the divine truth of your Word. When we leave let us be refreshed, convicted, melted, comforted and with the testimony of Christ burning in us.
Give Antioch special grace to fit us for special services. Keep us humble and conformed to thy will. Give us knowledge of your goodness. May our food be your precious Word. Allow our minds to be flooded with your peace. We resolve to live in forgiveness, in kindness, in goodness, in purity, in gentleness so we may be used to encourage each other to draw closer to Christ.
Protect Antioch Church, let your wisdom be our guide, your Word be our shield. Protect and bless the children, may this be a place they can grow in your knowledge with peace and laughter. May your seed be sown in them, take deep root and produce a full harvest.
Protect the marriages in your church, bless them with faithfulness, giving, humility and love.
In the name of Jesus we ask that your church be a searchlight to the community of Bend, giving of itself in selflessness to others. Allow many to come to hear and accept your good news.
Romans 12:9-13
Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of God. Love each other with genuine affection. And take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. When God’s children are in need be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests to your home for dinner, or if they need lodging for the night.
Jesus let us not limit ourselves to the ministry you would have for Antioch, that Antioch would serve beyond the borders of Bend and show your love in the places you present to us throughout the world.
Father thank you again for what you have done and what you are doing. Let us be your servant in all we do. Change our lives to be more like you.
In ending allow us to meditate on your Word in Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I kneel before the Father, 1from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.