Prayer for Those Ending a Term of Church Leadership

The pastor or lay leader may invite those ending a term of leadership to stand where they are or to come before the assembly, recognize them and their work, and then offer prayer.

Like spreading olive trees*in your house, O God,
we trust your love and leading:
We thank you for these leaders (names if appropriate)
who have stood tall among us
as officers and stewards
of the mission and ministry of this congregation.
As their term of service ends
we ask for them a season of rest and change of pace.
Refresh them and renew in them your love and joy and goodness,
through Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

*The allusion to the olive tree is taken from Psalm 52:8-9 (NRSV)

But I am like a green olive tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God
forever and ever.
I will thank you forever,
because of what you have done.
In the presence of the faithful
I will proclaim your name, for it is good.

Graphic courtesy of www.biblepicturegallery.com