St. John’s Episcopal Church West Hartford, Connecticut

2014 - 2015 Rector Search Prayers for Recruitment Team Recruitment Team Prayers

Forward This document contains the prayers used in the search process by the Recruitment Team that lead to the hiring of Reverend Susan Pinkerton as the 14th Rector of St. John’s. The prayers came from three different sources: some were written for St. John’s Recruitment Team by the Rector Search Prayer Committee many were written by the Recruitment Team, and one, known as Eva’s prayer - a Christmas Prayer, was written in 2008 by my Presbyterian Aunt Eva McClure Winterbottom when she as 88 years old. The prayers, in general, were used to open and close meetings of the Recruitment Team. One dated January 4, 2015 was used to close an Adult Discussion Forum when an update by the Recruitment Team to the Parish was provided. Another, dated February 9, 2015 was used to open up the combined Recruitment Team - Vestry Meeting where the decision was made to call Reverend Pinkerton to St. John’s. It seems like many of the members of the Recruitment Team at the beginning of the process were a bit overwhelmed about the responsibility placed on our shoulders. I certainly was. The heart-felt and loving support that the Recruitment Team received from parishioners, clergy, Vestry, and the other Rector Search Teams - Discernment, Hospitality and Prayer helped us greatly to make us feel that we could do this and do it well. A good example is the note received from Mary Stoughton, Chair of the Prayer Committee, in response to a request made for some thoughtful, reflective, and supportive prayers for the Recruitment Team when some major decisions had to be made at the beginning of December 2014. December 12, 2014 Dear Wes, Enclosed are two prayers for your use as you see fit! I also commend to you, if you have not already done so, a passage from the New Testament’s Book of Acts: Chapter 1 Verses 23 - 26. The chapter tells us of the beginnings of the Christian Church It struck me that we are currently doing what happened after the Resurrection. The Apostles wanted to replace Judas Iscariot who had betrayed Jesus by appointing a new, twelfth, Apostle. They prayed about the two candidates and the lot fell up Matthias. That is all we know. But it was important to those early Christians. Just like us! Blessings to all on Monday evening, Mary Stoughton

The Acts of the Apostles Book I, Verses 23 - 26 (King James Version)

And they appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou has chosen. That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might to go his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the twelve apostles.

Knowing that the Apostles struggled, as we were struggling, when choosing someone to replace Judas Iscariot helped us more than we will ever know. The opening and closing prayers although only a small part time-wise of our many meetings, seemed to provide comfort, love, a feeling of unity, and the presence of the Holy Spirit even when difficult decisions needed to be made.

Wesley L. Winterbottom Chaplain, St. John’s Recruitment Team

Opening Prayer PT September 24, 2015 Almighty God, we pray to you for a vision for St. John’s Recruitment Team on whom you have placed such awesome responsibility of choosing the fourteenth rector to lead your flock. As they work tirelessly to call a new rector to this congregation, may they be strengthened by the prayers of all members of this community of faith, We beseech you to continue to inspire these dedicated recruitment team members and to open their hearts and minds to the guiding of the Holy Spirit to ultimately direct them to the candidate you have called to be our leader. Inspire them to rely on your grace for divine help in making the right decision no matter what is may be. And when a decision has been finally reached, let them not look back, but to unanimously agree that they have faithfully fulfilled their responsibilities by making the right choice in your eyes. Give them wisdom; shed your light on their deliberations. Let their aspirations come true through righteous and good efforts. Instill in them the diligence to thing objectively and to see clearly the goal ahead of them. May your gracious presence among us calm our anxieties during this transition process and give the assurance that a decision is just around the corner. We thank-you Lord, and ask for your continued blessing on St. John’s Church. Amen

Closing Prayer RT September 24, 2014 Dear Lord, As we leave this evening’s meeting, we ask you to help us to keep open our hearts and minds, that you help us to remember, be sensitive to, and be understanding and supportive of the spoken and unspoken needs of every member of this parish. Please help us to have the wisdom and patience to thoughtfully reflect on the many, many things that must be considered in choosing our new minister so that we are able to make wise choices and decisions that with your guidance will provide hope, joy, understanding and spiritual nourishment and growth to the members of this parish and people beyond this parish. All this we ask in the name of your son, Jesus. Amen

Opening Prayer October 8, 2014 Eva’s Prayer* God above us, God around us, God within us. Set us free from the past that we cannot change; open us to a future which can be changed. Remove the calluses of prejudice and dogma from our hearts and minds. Save us from majoring in minor concerns. Grant us minds to know the truth, hearts to know Your love, and will to know Your way. Grant us grace to grow more and more in Your likeness and image. Grant us strength to weather life’s storms. Keep us strong. Keep us steadfast. Keep us faithful. Keep us loving and caring. Keep us helpful. Grant us wisdom to walk the walk as well as talk the talk.

*Eva McClure Winterbottom, 88, Presbyterian Aunt of Parishioner Wesley L. Winterbottom Christmas 2008 Prayer and Blessing

Closing Prayer RT October 8, 2014 Dear Lord, Thank-you for all of the good work that you inspired us to do this evening. Thanks for the many meaningful potential questions that were created by all of the committee members, the spirited discussions that took place as we worked together to developing a list of significant, thoughtful questions for the ministers who have answered our call for a new spiritual leader. Thank-you also for the fellowship that was so clearly present here this evening as each member of the Recruitment committee worked so hard to do your work. We pray also for the candidates who have submitted their application materials to the diocese in response to our call. Each has felt a call to come to St. John’s which we greatly respect and honor. As our search process moves forward that we pray that we are able to continue to thoughtfully reflect on and discuss their applications with open minds and open hearts. We also pray for all the good work to be done by Tim Hodapp at the Diocesan Office and that his work reflects your thoughts and hopes for the future of this congregation. Please continue to watch over our committee, the members of this congregation, and the candidates as we move forward in our search for our new spiritual leader. Amen

Opening Prayer RT October 22, 2015 Dear Lord, As we meet this evening we ask that you be in our hearts, minds, thoughts and in the words that we speak. We ask that each of us remember all of the hard work being done by each and every member of this committee and that we also never forget that there are many more things that unite us than divide us. We thank-you for all of the good work done by the Diocesan liaisons in assisting us until now and to be done by them in the future. We are blessed for having been chosen to participate in this Recruitment Committee and we pray that the spirit of oneness present within us until now continue so that we continue to work together harmoniously to do your work. All of this we ask in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

Closing Prayer (RT October 22, 2015 Dear Lord, As we close our meeting this evening, we pray that you will continue to walk with us as we move forward in our journey to find a new spiritual leader. Thank-you for providing us with so many good candidates who have felt a call to come to St. John’s; we ask that you watch over them and their loved ones and that every day they feel your love and support. We also pray that the members of this committee, as we move forward, be able to review and thoughtfully reflect on each minister’s application materials and that you be with each one of us so that our recommendations reflect what will be best, not for just us collectively or individually, but for the entire congregation of St. John’s and for our many community and world outreach programs. Finally, the next few weeks are going to be very demanding for all of us. We pray that you will be in each of our hearts, minds, and thoughts so that our actions and interactions with each other always reflect your will and that we never forget how blessed we are to have been chosen to serve on this committee. All of this we ask in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening Prayer PT October 29, 2015 Pour out your blessing, O Lord, upon our Recruitment Committee that they may wisely fulfill our commitment to the goals of our parish. Grant that through them us our parish may be knit together in brotherhood, be a strength and joy to all our members, and an instrument of peace in our troubled world. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Closing Prayer RT October 29, 2014 Almighty and ever living God, source of all wisdom and understanding, continue to be present with us as we move forward in our search for a new spiritual leader for St. John’s. We pray that we continue to work together well and that we will have the mind of Christ and agree We pray for the wisdom to choose the right person We pray for discipline as a recruitment team and as individuals We pray for the candidates, their families and loved ones We pray that our next minister will begin new relationships at St. John’s in the right way even during the search process Guide us by your Holy Spirit to perceive what is right, and grant us both the strength and courage to pursue it, and the grace to accomplish it, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Opening Prayer RT November 5, 2014 Gracious giving God, we are reminded of your gifts that you have given to all of your children. Call on our gifts now, use us, in service to St. John’s. As we work to call a new minister to our parish, may your Holy Spirit lead us to discern those gifts clearly in the candidates that you have sent to us. In our communications, interviews and meetings with them, may we find ourselves once again, who we surely are in Christ Jesus, stewards of your many gifts. Amen

Closing Prayer RT November 5, 2014 Gracious giving God, continue to give us your help, as your have always done. Remind us of your care and support for the members of this committee, St. John’s, our community and the world. Let there be gratitude in our parish for all that is needful has been sent and ordained for us already and that the our members continue to pray for us. As we go forward to call a new minister to our parish, may we be strengthened for this task with the thought that your providing reaches every need today and forever. Amen

November 12, 2014 RT Opening Prayer Almighty and ever living God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with us as we consider the renewal and mission of our congregation. Teach us in all things we do to seek first your honor and glory. By your holy spirit, this evening and always, guide the members of the Recruitment Team, the Vestry, and Reverend Dawn Stegelman to perceive what is right, and grant all of us the courage to pursue it, and the grace to accomplish it. May all of our words and thoughts this evening reflect thy will and that the conversation that we are about to have will reflect what is best for thee. All of this we ask in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen

November 12, 2014 RT Closing Prayer Dear Lord, thank you for the thoughtful, enlightening conversation that we have had this evening with Dawn. Please keep in the hearts and minds of all that you have a plan for each one of us and that you hold out to us a future full of hope. We pray that you provide each one of us, especially Dawn, with the wisdom of your Spirit so that we can see the shape of your plan in the gifts that you have given us, and in the circumstances of your daily lives.

Give each of us, the freedom of your Spirit, to seek you with all our hearts, and to choose you Your Will above all else. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen

Opening Prayer RT November 16, 2014 Lord, we ask you to continue to guide the members of our Recruitment Team as we move forward in choosing our new spiritual leader. Continue to give us the wisdom and insight into the qualities of leadership needed to best serve our precious parish. Encourage the spirit of the person who will become our new minister to accept with joy your choice of him/her to lead us as we move forward with a faith-filled church. Give us all a sense of happy anticipation as we await the one we know will be the right one according to your plan for us. We pray in Jesus’s name. Amen

Closing Prayer RT November 16, 2014 Good and gracious God, thank-you for uniting our congregation as St. John’s Church continues to be a beacon of light. We pray for your grace and mercy during this time of transition. Help us to continue to be patient and prayerful with open minds

Open the hearts of our Recruitment Team, our Vestry and our candidates to trust that all things will work out according to your timing, which is perfect timing. Watch over our candidates and their loved ones during this period of uncertainty for them. Please prepare the heart and mind of your chosen candidate to love us, lead us, care for us, and inspire us according to your will. Amen

Closing Prayer RT December 3, 2014 O Lord, We do not know what to ask you. We know that you alone know the real needs of St. John’s and that you love us more than we even know how to love. Enable us to discern the true needs of St. John’s. We wait in patience for you. Our hearts are open to you. With your great mercy and kindness, come to us and help us. Put your mark on us and heal us. Together we put all our trust in you; we desire to do your will and only your will as we move forward in our search for a new Rector for St. John’s. All this we ask in your name, the name of your son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. Amen

Opening Prayer PT December 15, 2014 Merciful God, bless our Recruitment Team as it enters a crucial phase in its search for a new rector for St. John’s Church. We prayerfully ask for your direction for members of this team who have been working tirelessly toward the completion of their mission. May your Holy Spirit lead them to discern the gifts they seek and see those gifts clearly in the candidates you are sending to them. When they meet with candidates, may they ask for your help in making the right decision. Give them faith to perform their duty with grace and courage, knowing that you are always in the midst of their deliberations. When a candidate is finally chosen at the end of the search, may the entire community of faith at St. John’s offer you thanks and praise for giving them patience and understanding to wait for the right person at the right time. Thank you, Lord, for your steadfast love. Amen

Closing Prayer RT December 15, 2014 As we move through the season of Advent, the Rector Search Committee is also transitioning into a new season. Author of hope, faith and love. Giver of inspiration, and creativity, God of Advent and new beginnings, you are the peace that passes understanding. Thank you for continuing to direct our Rector Search journey. As we continue to narrow the candidate pool, we ask that you Lord give us insight and clarity. Grant this committee sensitivity to each candidate who has opened themselves to being considered. Help the candidates as they learn about St. John’s. May we mutually discern what God has in store for them and for us. May our joint discovery result in a gracious match Lord, we especially ask that you deal gently with each candidate and their families as they proceed in the process. Bless and strengthen the families of the candidates as they contemplate the possibility of a move to St. John’s. Grant the families joy and peace as they learn about and explore what it might mean to be a part of the life and ministry of St. John’s Lord, in all this we continue to trust that your kind, guiding hand is in the midst of our search process and in the mind of each of us. In Jesus' name. Amen

Closing Prayer RT Adult Discussion Forum - January 4, 2015 Recruitment Team Update Almighty God, look graciously on the people of St. John’s. Be with us and continue to lead us as we near the end of our search for a new spiritual leader for this church. We ask your direction and guidance for all involved in the search for our new rector, so that we may receive an upright and faithful pastor who will care for us and equip us for our ministries. Grant us perception, faithfulness and joy so that we may hear your voice in all our deliberations. Grant all involved in the search for our new rector the desire and ability to truly hear each other and those who have entrusted them with this process. Watch over our candidates and their families during this stressful and demanding time in their lives. Bless and strengthen them as they contemplate the possibility of a move to St John’s. Grant them joy and peace as they learn about and explore what it might mean to be a part of the life and ministry of St. John’s Give all the courage to respond and act as you lead us. We pray this though Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Opening Prayer RT January 7, 2015 O God, you know us better than we know ourselves. You alone know what we need in order to serve you. As we meet this evening we turn to you once again for guidance as we continue our search for a new rector. We ask you to empower each one of us to share our thoughts openly and honestly with one another, to respect each other’s opinions, and to seek humility, patience and joy in our work. Instill in us and in our candidates a vision of the future of St. John’s and that we be united in love and joyfully accomplish this mission, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Closing Prayer RT January 7, 2015 Dear God, thank-you for the caring, thoughtful, open and honest conversation that took place this evening. As we move forward: to welcome our final candidates to St. John’s for their visit and interviews having members of our committee visit their home parishes, and to introduce our recommended final candidates to the vestry of St. John’s. we ask that we be able to keep foremost in our minds what is best for St. John’s, the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut and the community that we serve. We ask that our actions and decisions continue to reflect your love and acceptance for all and most importantly thy will; and that you continue to watch over Nicholas, Susan and David, their families and loved ones. All of this we ask in the name of your son and our savior Jesus Christ. Amen

Closing Prayer RT January 13, 2015 Transition from the Recruitment Team to the Vestry God of our coming and going, God of our past, our present and our future. Thank-you for being with us as we met tonight to discuss who may be called to be the next spiritual leader of St. John’s. As we go out, remind us that we go with a mission that is not over yet. Help us keep you in our hearts, thoughts and words so that as we move forward both the Recruitment Team and the Vestry, who will be making the final decision, will be able to keep the needs of all at St John’s foremost in their minds. Please help us to not major in minor concerns. We pray our relationship with the person called to St. John’s will be one that blossoms into one of mutual love and respect and that all may rise to a higher level of belief in you and your son Jesus and in service to others. Godspeed to our candidates as they journey to St. John’s and to our Recruitment Team members as they journey to visit them at their home parishes. These things we pray in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, the one we call Christ, in whose name and hope we gather as a community. Amen

Opening Prayer RT January 18, 2015 Pour out your blessing, O Lord, upon both the Recruitment Team and the Vestry of this parish so that we and they may wisely fulfill our commitment to the goals of this parish. Grant that our discussions and decisions and our new Rector may help to knit together our parish in strength and joy for all our members and that we will be an instrument of peace in our troubled world and times. These things we pray in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, the one we call Christ, in whose name and hope we gather together today. Amen

Closing Prayer RT January 18, 2015 Thank-you: for being with us as we met today, for our continued ability to have honest, open, and objective discussions during our search process and for us being able to keep the needs of all at St. John’s foremost in our minds. We know that it is not because of us but because of your guiding each of us individually and all of us collectively in our thoughts and words. As we prepare for the visits of our final candidates, we pray that you be with them, each of us, the members of the Vestry and the staff of St. John’s. We pray that our conversations and interactions with them be done with the grace, respect and love with which you bless each of us every day of our lives so that our decisions and those of the vestry reflect not our will but yours. All of this we ask in the name of your son and our savior, Jesus of Nazareth. Amen

Opening Prayer - Candidate On-Site Interviews RT January 21, 2015 God our Father, you have a plan for each one of us. You hold out to us a future full of hope. As we meet with our candidate this evening, give us the wisdom of your Spirit so that we can see the shape of your plan in the gifts that you have given each of us and in the circumstance of our daily lives. May our conversation this evening with be one of frankness, honesty and integrity with the thoughts and words of all present being guided by your presence. We pray that we will be able to make wise choices and decisions that with you will provide hope, joy, understanding and spiritual nourishment and growth to our candidate, the members of this parish and our community. We thank our candidate for being with us today and pray that our next minister will begin their new relationship in the right way even during this search process. All this we ask in the name of your son and our savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

Opening Prayer RT February 3, 2015 Lord, we ask you to guide us as we meet tonight. Give us the wisdom and insight into the qualities of leadership needed to best serve our precious church and move it forward. Help us to keep foremost in our minds that what is most important are the needs of the entire St. John’s community, not ours individually or as a committee. Encourage the spirit of the person will become our new minister to accept with true joy Your choice for him/her to lead us as a faith-filled church. Give us a sense of happy anticipation as we await the one we know will be right one according to your plan for us. We pray in Jesus’s name. Amen

Closing Prayer RT February 3, 2015 Good and gracious God, thank-you for uniting us as you have throughout this search process. We pray that you will continue to provide us with your grace and mercy during this time of transition. Continue to open our hearts and minds; help us to listen, really listen; give us peace so that we can thoughtfully reflect individually and as a team and help us trust that things will work out according to Your timing, which is perfect timing. All this we ask in the name of your son. Jesus of Nazareth, our savior. Amen

Prayer of Reflection for Recruitment Team and Vestry Joint Meeting RT February 9, 2015 O Lord, we do not know what to ask you. Teach us in all things we do to seek first your honor and glory. Help us to not major in minor concerns. We know that you alone know the real needs of St. John’s and that you love us more than we even know how to love. Enable us to discern the true needs of the members of St. John’s and our community. Our hearts and minds are open to you. With your great kindness and mercy come and help us so that when meeting we are able to come together in a decision that reflects your will and plan; and when a decision is made, our parish will rejoice and unite behind our new chosen spiritual leader. All this we ask in the name of your son, Jesus of Nazareth. Amen