Board Retreat
The RHC Board is on retreat today,  This is the opening prayer.

Leader  Welcome to Retreat. You have prepared for this retreat by becoming familiar with the agenda and the contents.  Let us began by attending to the Agenda that drives the agenda and the contents. After Jesus had oriented his disciples, he commissioned them extend his kingdom in his name.
He told them:
“Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you”
(accept their hospitality)
cure the sick”
 (using the power of Jesus’ commissioning, give your attention to healing the sick)
Say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”
 (witness to the source of your healing power.)

When the disciples came back from their journey they were ecstatic with joy about all that had been accomplished and Jesus indicated that he knew of their triumph,
“I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightening.  I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you”
 (There were frightening challenges, but my power was and always will be with  you.)
“Don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
 (It is I who invite you to participate in my mission. It is I who record your deeds  on this earth and who write your name in heaven.

 As we address the current Resurrection Health Care Mission as it is being articulated these days, I invite each of us to reflect on our own personal call to ministry.

Reading:  Isaiah 6:1-8 
 In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.  Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said,") Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory." And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said,  "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven." Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!"  

Response 
 Leader:  My people hunger for living signs of my love for them. Whom shall I send?  

All:  Here am I, send me!  Leader:  My people are weary, and long for encouragement as they labor at tasks with few stopping to thank them.  Whom shall I send?  All:  Here am I, send me! 

Leader:  My people yearn to have their giftedness called froth in the service of love.  Whom shall I send?  All:  Here am I, send me! 

 Leader:  My people live in an age which prizes individualism, and starves their need to contribute to something bigger than themselves.  Whom shall I send?  All:  Here am I, send me! 

 Leader:  My people thirst for leaders who reveal me as a God of hope who accompanies them in their struggle and pain.  Whom shall I send?  All:  Here am I, send me! 

 Leader:  My people long for leaders who have tasted their brokenness, and have learned to serve with humility and joy.  Whom shall I send?  All:  Here am I, send me!

  Leader:  My people’s eyes and hearts search for role models who honor my presence in the poor, the hungry, the grieving, the peacemakers, and those wrongly persecuted for my sake. Whom shall I send?  All:  Here am I, send me!

Closing Prayer
ALL: Lord, God, you call us to life in all its fullness, following the path set out by Jesus your son.  As we begin this retreat, we ask you to deepen our desire to imitate His example.  May our exercise of the gifts you have given us be a faithful reflection of His presence at work in our lives.  We make this prayer to you through Christ, our Lord.  Amen.