Unity In The Community Celebration

Pastor Rusty Bowles (my Dad!) was asked to pray and open the annual meeting for Unity in the Community, in Garland, TX.

That meeting was tonight with many different churches/denominations in attendance. Here in its entirety is the prayer that Holy Spirit led him to pray.

May the convicting and confronting power of Almighty God flow to everyone who reads it. May we drop our petty differences, our likes and dislikes, our traditions that build barriers instead of bridges of understanding. May we each be confronted with things in our own hearts that do not line up with TRUTH; if there be pettiness, smallness of mind, jealousy, competition, insecurities, fears, prejudices, doubt and ugliness of attitude. May we run to the Cross and tie ourselves to HIM who bore our sins and took away our reproach and shame. May we lay aside selfish ambition and self promotion for KINGDOM ADVANCEMENT instead. May we be GOD MINDED and not "me-minded. " Help us to seek not just your face or your hand of blessing, but to seek your heart. Let us Love in Word and in Deed.
Let it begin with me. Amen? Amen!

"Invocation for Unity In The Community Celebration"
9/20/2009 6PM
Mount Hebron Baptist Church

As a sign of unity would everyone please stand and join hands

Father as we humbly come before you to seek your face, help us to be of one mind and one spirit. We are reminded of that awesome day of Pentecost recorded in the second chapter of Acts when your disciples came into one mind and one accord, tremendous power was released and your church was birthed. Help us now to join hand in hand and arm in arm to come together to see our community grow in unity. Father let this not be a mere function or just a joyous meeting time. Release it to be a new birthing and new beginnings for all involved as you bring every church represented here corporately under your guidance and direction. We may each see your diamonds from different angles and catch fleeting glimpses of different reflections but permit us the grace to step back from our position of close focus and see the entire gem. Let us be truly joined in the Spirit not just in word where we come together annually to profess something and then promptly forget our reflection as we leave here. Burn into each one of us our brother’s concerns, problems, strengths, hopes and fears. Help us Lord Jesus to lift each other up in Your kingdom for it is Your kingdom and not ours. We humbly call on the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and direct everything that goes on here tonight. Every word, thought or action is given over into your excellent care. Speak to our hearts and cause us each to answer the call from the throne to love one another and by that demonstrate that we are your disciples. We come from different backgrounds and cultures but permit us to be of one heart as the mind of Christ is formed within us. Father, grant us temperance with one another, forbearance in all things and your love flowing through these earthen vessels. We, as humans, cannot do this by ourselves as evidenced by the many arenas in our nation and the world where your love does not abound, but with your love and guidance all things are possible. King of the Universe accept our prayers and petitions on this day of unity and help us O Lord Jesus to be what you have ordained and established us to be in this hour. Cover us with your precious blood and let us be an example and witness to other communities, cities and municipalities that unity is not only possible but desirable in order to move forward in this hour of trial and struggle in our nation. We plant this seed in fertile ground and with your help we will see it grow, blossom and produce much fruit. We consecrate this solemn assembly under Your mighty hand while under the covenant in your blood and in the precious and mighty name of Jesus our Lord we pray.

AMEN AND AMEN