The House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church is meeting in retreat at Kanuga Conference Center, Hendersonville, NC. At their March 12 opening Eucharist, The Reverend Ricardo Bailey, chaplain to the House of Bishops, led the congregation in Prayers of the People, written especially for this gathering, with recognition and offered prayers for The Right Reverend Barbara Harris, celebrant and for David Booth Beers, Esquire and Chancellor to the Presiding Bishop, Emeritus.

These prayers are shared here:

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
HOUSE OF BISHOPS OPENING EUCHARIST
TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019
CAMP KANUGA, NORTH CAROLINA
CHAPEL OF THE TRANSFIGURATION

CHAPLAIN: Called as we all are to give Jesus to the world, in faith we gather as a Church in prayer asking our Gracious God to hear our needs and the needs of all who asked us to remember them in our prayers:

FOR THE CHURCH
In thanksgiving to God for the witness and ministry of The Episcopal Church and that of the Anglican Communion, especially as we observe and thank God for Bishop Barbara Harris – the first woman ordained a Bishop in this Church and in this Communion on February 11, 1989.  May this observance of her 30th Anniversary year of ordination renew her call to be an Apostle as she continues to liberate hearts and transform minds so that everyone can celebrate the outpouring of God’s Spirit on all of us!
We pray to the Lord!  R/.  Lord, hear our prayer!

FOR THE WORLD
That as we observe and celebrate the gift of women during this month of March, may we always have the good mind to celebrate the gifts of every woman – created in the image and likeness of our God – to proclaim the Good News to a world in need of a Word from the Lord!  May God bless the women who serve our Church in the Laity, in Religious and Monastic Life, in the Diaconate, in the Presbyterate and in the Episcopacy: may they continue to sustain, nourish and empower our world to see one another as God sees us!
We pray to the Lord!  R/.  Lord, hear our prayer!

FOR THOSE OPPRESSED, AFFLICTED OR IN NEED
That all who suffer injustice at the hands of others; we remember especially those souls whose dignity and right to life is not respected or protected – especially those who suffer from the “industry” of human sex trafficking; may the righteous legacy and sainted soul of Harriet Tubman inspire men and women alike to work to end all forms of modern-day slavery, oppression & disrespect of human dignity.
We pray to the Lord!  R/.  Lord, hear our prayer!

FOR THE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
That the Lord who calls all of us by name will empower and inspire us all to continue to build up the relevance and place of God in every aspect of our lives.  For those who find our ministry offensive or even threatening – may the Holy Spirit liberate every hardened heart and transform every closed mind to see the good that the humble disciples of Jesus do every day in our local communities.
We pray to the Lord!  R/.  Lord, hear our prayer!

FOR THE CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY
That we may celebrate with profound thanksgiving the work, the ministry, the faithful witness of our Brother, David Booth Beers – Chancellor to the Presiding Bishop – who served this role faithfully for 27 years – may he experience peace of mind and heart as he embarks on the next chapter of his life that God has in store for him.
We pray to the Lord!  R/.  Lord, hear our prayer!

FOR THE DEAD
That God, who is faithful, will raise up and restore to the promise of New Life every Bishop from this House and beyond who has gone before us marked with the Sign of Faith.  May they have eternal rest and peace and may their prayers be united to the Communion of Saints who continually intercede for the good of the Church every day!
We pray to the Lord!  R/.  Lord, hear our prayer!

FOR THE PRAYERS IN OUR HEARTS
That every prayer that we bring to this gathering today – those spoken and unspoken – will be answered according to the will, according to the purpose and according to the plan of our God who always knows our needs even before we ask.
We pray to the Lord!  R/.  Lord, hear our prayer!

BISHOP: Almighty God, to whom our needs are known before we ask: Help us to ask only what accords with Your will; and those good things which we dare not, or in our blindness cannot ask, grant us for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen!