‹ €ÿ Opening Prayer for Meetings, Worship, Bible Study & Weddings
lords prayer words - traditional and contemporary prayers

Opening Prayers


Praying at the beginning of a meeting is a great way of reminding ourselves that God is with us, that He is at the centre of everything we do, and that the reason we are alive is to love and worship Him.

Gathered together on this page are a number of prayers that can be used for opening meetings and Christian events such as church services, weddings and bible studies. There's also a "how to" on writing your own prayer together with a sample opening prayer.



Opening Prayer


As we gather here in the harbour of your safety
We thank you for fellowship and family.

We ask that you will strengthen us, restore us and inspire us with your love.
Lord, would you fill us with your peace
So that as we journey onwards
We would pour out your love and grace to others.
We ask that our souls would catch the wind of your spirit
so that we would take your promises to all the earth.

Amen.

(an opening prayer from www.lords-prayer-words.com)



Opening Prayer for a Meeting


Dear Father,

We thank you for everyone gathered here now.
Thank you that you know each of us by name and have caused us to walk with You.
We say that we are dependant on You and our trust is in You completely.
As we surrender ourselves in adoration we ask that You would come by Your Holy Spirit and inspire our hearts today.

Come fill our lives with Your love,
Fill our conversations with Your grace and truth,
Fill this meeting with Your presence.

We ask this for Your glory and praise.

Amen.

(a modern opening prayer for a meeting from www.lords-prayer-words.com)


Opening Prayer

a printable version suitable for a program or event.
opening prayer for a meeting


Opening Prayer for Worship or a Church Service

Dear Lord and Father,

Thank you that you promise us that where two or three are gathered you are there in the midst.
Lord we welcome You amongst us today and celebrate the gift of life that you have lavished upon each of us.
We ask that You would open our ears so that we may hear your voice.

Open our minds so that we may receive Your eternal wisdom.
Open our spirits so that we may know Your leading and guidance.
And open our hearts so that we may receive Your wonderful love.

We ask all this in the glorious name of Jesus.

Amen.

(a opening prayer for a worship meeting from www.lords-prayer-words.com)



opening prayer for guidance

Opening Prayer for a Wedding Service

Lord God Almighty,
Creator of the heavens and earth.

Thank you for the gift of marriage
For all the joy and love that it brings us.
We thank you for N. (bride) and N. (groom).
Thank you that you have brought them together for this special day,
And that you hold them safely in Your hands.
We pray that you would richly bless them as they exchange their vows and their wedding rings,
And from this day forward they would walk hand in hand into everything that you have destined them to be.

We give our hearts and beings to You now in adoration,
And welcome Your Holy Spirit amongst us.

Amen.

(a opening prayer for a marriage ceremony from www.lords-prayer-words.com)



Opening Prayer for a Bible Study

God, you have made the heavens and the earth.
You have revealed your beauty in creation
and inspired the book that we are now about to study.
Please help us now as we read together.
Take us deeper into understanding more about you
and your love for us.

Amen.

(a opening prayer for a bible study from www.lords-prayer-words.com)


The divine pattern of prayer is to pray to the Father, in the name of the Son, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

anon.

Opening Prayer

An beautifully read opening prayer, suitable for showing at the beginning of a seminar or before a sermon or bible teaching session:-



Business Meeting Prayer

Lord, you have entrusted use as stewards of your creation
Please guide our hearts as we make our decisions
We seek you first in all we do together
We give you our business, our suppliers, our customers and our workforce
May we be always mindful of their service
We confess that we are nothing without you
And our trust is in you completely
Amen.

(a modern prayer suitable for opening a directors or business meeting from www.lords-prayer-words.com)


Traditional Prayers

Sometimes you may want to start your meeting or service by everyone praying together. In which case, a traditional prayer may be useful. Here are some suggestions:

The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven...
(read more)

The Glory Be
Glory be to the Father...
(read more)

The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity...
(read more)


Opening Prayer

An inspiring short opening prayer suitable for beginning a meeting or service. With beautiful images of a sailing boat in the waters and uplifting music:-



How to write or say an opening prayer

Some tips on how to compose a short prayer for a meeting or church service:-

Begin by addressing God
When we come to God it's often good to think about an attribute or title that God has - this helps to remind us of who He is.

E.G. "Dear all loving and everlasting Father"
"Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ"
"Dear Lord and Father"

Give thanks to God
Here we think about and celebrate the relationship that we enjoy with God. For example, you could recount God's faithfulness to you (or the groups) during the last week, or you could draw on accounts and experiences from the bible.

E.G. "Thank you that you have been with us this last week and that Your presence is with us now"
"Today we remind ourselves of Your faithfulness through all generations and Your goodness to each of us during this last week".


Bring Your Requests to Him
Here you can bring to mind some things that you would like to see happen as you meet together. If there is a speaker you could ask that God inspires them, if there is worship you could ask that God meets with people and that hearts are open to receive from Him etc.

E.G. "Lord, we thank you for (name of speaker). We pray that you would give them great inspiration as they share what You have placed on their heart".

"Father, as we come to You in worship, we invite You to move freely amongst us. Come and transform us by Your Holy Spirit we pray"

Close with worship and an amen
A good way of finishing a prayer is to acknowledge the greatness and wonder of God in some way. Also, it is important that people know you have finished praying by saying amen!

E.G. "For from him and through him and for him are all things, both now and forever. Amen". (this is a reference to the Apostle Paul's writings in Rom 11:36 NIV)
"To Him be the glory, for ever and ever. Amen"
"We ask this in the precious name of Jesus, Our Lord and Saviour. Amen"

Sample Opening Prayer

So putting some of these sentences together, we can start to build our own opening prayer to God:

Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Thank you that you have been with us this last week and that Your presence is with us now.
Lord, we thank you for (name of speaker). We pray that you would give them great inspiration as they share with us what You have placed on their heart.
We pray that You would fill them with courage and give them Your peace.

We ask this in the precious name of Jesus, Our Lord and Saviour.

Amen.

(a sample opening prayer from www.lords-prayer-words.com)


Short Opening Prayer

Officiant and People
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Except in Lent, Alleluia may be added.

(Source: 1979 Book of Common Prayer, Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA)




Take a moment to hear from God...

here are links to some wonderfully inspired prayers to aid your journey



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