On July 10-17, delegates from across the country will gather in Houston, Texas for the 64th Regular LCMS Convention. This meeting is the legislative assembly of our church body and in its gathering, will make decisions on mission, ministry, structure, governance, and funding that will have a tremendous impact on the future direction of the LCMS.

In preparation for the LCMS convention, the Southeastern District voted at its 2009 Convention to commit this year to prayer for discernment and guidance in our Synod in this time of preparation for the 2010 LCMS Convention.

To assist you in this process two special resources have been prepared by Rev. Art Umbach, Director of Spiritual Life.

The first is a series of prayers and Bible references for reflection for each month prior to the Convention. I have included the prayers for January in this email. You may download this complete resource from the Prayer Resources page on our website or click on the following link Prayers for the LCMS Convention.

The second resource is a worship liturgy that may be used for small group settings, prayer groups, or for a monthly prayer meeting. The purpose is to help us to prepare for the Convention and to turn to God through prayer the work and challenge that is before us. This resource is also available from the Prayer Resources page or by clicking the following Preparation of the LCMS Convention.

We encourage you to use these resources and to lift up the work and people of our Synod in prayer.

For January 2010:
REFLECT ON FORGIVENESS

Under the convention theme of “ONE PEOPLE – FORGIVEN”  (“Forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”  Ephesians 4:32 ESV) we are called to stand at the foot of the cross.  For us to be “one people-forgiven”, each of us needs to seek God’s forgiveness for the brokenness we may have caused and then to offer that forgiveness to each other.

What do we learn about God’s forgiveness through the parables of the lost coin, the lost son, and the lost sheep (Luke 15)?  How does Jesus model this for us?

Psalm 51 leads us into confession, while Matthew 18:15ff. and 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 guide us into living a life of forgiveness.  How might these help us as we deal with each other in the LCMS and our Convention?

PRAY

Loving Father, we come with grateful hearts for Your generous gift of forgiveness and reconciliation through Your Son, Jesus.   We seek Your forgiveness for the ways that we have hurt others, built barriers of anger and resentment, and willfully separated ourselves from those who disagree with us.  Help us to receive Your forgiveness and with an open heart to extend it to those we consider our adversaries.  May we listen for your voice in the midst of conflicted relationships.   By Your Spirit may our Convention be a time of healing and recommitment to the ministry of reconciliation.  As we gather, “restore to us the joy of Your salvation, and uphold us with a willing spirit.”  By the power of Your Spirit, help us to focus on You and the mission to which You have called us.

Loving Lord Jesus, the extent of Your love carried You to a cross, where in Your dying breath You begged Your father to forgive us. The extent of Your love reaches all people and does not cease to provide opportunities for all to come to Your loving arms. We pray Lord that our love for all Your children would model Your example. We pray that we would persevere as Your disciples and never cease to open our loving arms to all those who so desperately need to know You. Direct our hearts to love those who are hard to love, showing unconditional love and forgiveness at all times and at all cost, just as You have done for us.  In Your precious Name, we pray.  Amen.