Dr. Thomas J. Egger was installed and inaugurated last Friday as the eleventh president of Concordia Seminary. I was invited to offer a prayer at the banquet that ended the festive day, and offer it to you now.
O God, “your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). You have enlightened Concordia Seminary throughout its long history. We beg You not to take your Holy Spirit from us but continue to enlighten us by Your Word as we make our pilgrimage into the future. Give President Egger a vision that looks higher and sees farther on this road we travel, giving him insight that transcends and transforms the busyness of each day. Continue Your graces to Mrs. Egger as she complements the president in his service and is a loving helpmeet in their home. We pray that the scholarship and unity of the faculty will continue to bring light from above to these most challenging times for congregations in communities, nation, and world. For the staff, we pray their administration will be filled with care of individual souls whom You love and zeal for mission to reach more for our Lord Jesus Christ. We thank You for the families and congregations who are raising up the next generations to continue the advance of the Gospel when our own journeys have come to the heavenly inheritance.
Now You are blessing us with this food for the nurture of our bodies as You grace us with the fellowship that gives us joy in one another.
And at the end of this day may we cling to Your promises for the future and close each day of grace confessing to one another with reverent fear, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32). Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. “Give me life, O Lord, according to your word! Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your rules. Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart” (Psalm 119:107-108, 111). For Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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