Thank you, God, for Bloomington. Thank you for its rich beauty and diversity. We pray that love, grace, and joy will fill our city. We pray that those who visit and reside here will experience Bloomington as a place of peace, love, and growth.

God, make Bloomington into an oasis of Living Water where thirsty and weary people can come to taste the refreshing and redeeming love of God (John 4:14). May it be a place where deserts are transformed into gardens, where joy and gladness are found, and where gratitude fills the air (Isa. 51:3).

Let the Light of the World, who came to give abundant life to all, shine in Bloomington with a bright light that cannot be hidden (Matt. 5:14.16, John 10:10). May people see the love and good works of your Church as we practice the way of Jesus. We pray our city will be a place where mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13) and where people defend, protect, and include the impoverished, marginalized, and excluded (Pro. 31:8). God, may all people feel seen and loved.

Lord, we pray that the Church of Bloomington will walk in unity, living life together in a manner worthy of our calling with all humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love and grace. Help us grow in unity and faith towards maturity, operating as a healthy body joined together by Christ, with every part and joint working together to grow and build itself up in love for the glory of God (Eph. 4). Bring healing to the brokenhearted through your Church, O God, and bind up their wounds—make the Church a place of peace and new beginnings (Ps. 147:3).

Lead the Church to pray continually, working together for the peace and welfare of our city and honoring our municipal leaders, as this pleases the Lord. May we honor everyone, love the brotherhood of Christ, and honor the appointed leaders as we live quiet and peaceful lives devoted to Christ (Jer. 29:5-7, 1 Tim. 2:1-4). Let us, your people, be a community of worship and honor—in word and action.

Let us look to the Lord alone to satisfy us in scorched places, strengthen our inner lives, and transform us into well-watered gardens and refreshing springs of water. Lord, rebuild our ruins and restore our foundations that we may be called repairers of the breach and restorers of homes (Isa. 58:11-12). May the Church act as a catalyst of spiritual renewal in each neighborhood as we love and serve our neighbors. As we seek to build your Kingdom on Earth as in Heaven (Matt. 6:10), bring salvation and reconciliation to Bloomington.

For the Church and all people, we pray that according to the riches of His glory, God will strengthen us through the Spirit to be rooted and grounded in love and to comprehend the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ's love which surpasses all knowledge, and filling us with all the fullness of God (Eph. 3:16-19).

Amen.