For the church plant I am a part of getting off the ground I was asked to organize a directed prayer centered on the Great Commission. The litany follows and has been adapted for general prayer use.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 28.16-20, Acts 1.7-11

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said:

"It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

Directed Prayer:

God Almighty, you have sent your Spirit upon us.  As you hovered over the waters of creation, as you descended upon Christ at his baptism, and as you spoke through the Apostles and all the saints, may we live as individuals and community within your Holy Spirit.

Let us pray for ourselves, that we may live, move, and have our being in the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray for each other, that we may grow in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray for our home church---may the Holy Spirit bless this community with discernment, inspiration, and healing.

Let us pray for all the Body of Christ, that the Holy Spirit work within all religious communities, and that we find unity within the work of the Holy Spirit throughout the world.

Christ, you have instructed us to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them all that you have commanded.

Let us pray that we become the disciples that Christ has created us to be.

Let us pray for God's mercy on those we disciple.  Ask Christ that we would be a witness to all people, and that our weaknesses would not hinder the power of the Holy Spirit.

Christ asked us to teach his disciples all that he commanded. When asked what the greatest commandment was, Christ said:

The Lord our God, the Lord is One.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no commandment greater than these.

Let us pray that we keep this greatest commandment.

Christ comforts us with his Spirit's presence---he is with us until the end of the age.

Let us praise him for living inside of us and forgiving us each day and delivering us from evil.

The angels told the apostles that in the same way Christ rose that he would come again.

Let us pray for the coming of God's kingdom.

Christ taught his disciples the kingdom of God is at hand, for God loved the whole world---the whole universe and all things in it---that he sent his only Son to deliver us from all evil and sin, and being delivered from our sins we are new creations and lights in the darkness of the world.

Let us pray that we would be light in dark places.

Let us pray that we would be Christ to others.

Let us pray that we God's kingdom will be on earth as it is in heaven.

Amen.