ORDAINED CLASSES

Heavenly Father, I thank you
for calling me
to serve you and your people
as a permanent deacon.

Help me
to keep my path straight,
so that I may be a faithful sign
of your love, mercy, and presence
to all people.

Instill in me
the courage, the strength, and the grace
to build a world filled with justice and peace.

Give all deacons
the grace to firmly believe what we read,
to boldly teach what we believe,
and to practice what we teach.

Give us the grace
to accept whatever challenges
we face in life,
so that we may grow in wisdom and in humility.

Make us attentive to the needs of others.
May we act with loving hearts
what you ask of us,
and may you strengthen within our hearts
the faith you have given us.

May your love
be the foundation of our lives.
May our love for you
express itself in our eagerness to do good for others.
Help us to daily be thankful for all that we have,
and to continually praise you for being so good to us.
Bless our families and those to whom we minister.

Give rest to all who have fallen asleep.
Look kindly upon them,
and make them worthy of a place in your heavenly kingdom.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen