Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of December 14, 2022
Rev. Catherine Nance
Oh, Lord! Time is running away from us!
Six more days until school is out …
Ten more days until Christmas Eve….
Seventeen more days until a new year begins!
You have gifted us with morning and evening, O God, and yet we complain we do not have enough time.
Forgive our frantic natures, Lord! Still our spirits so we might acknowledge your presence. How would you have us spend this time?
We think of others and how they are marking time.
We think of children who are counting down days in excitement.
We think of parents who are remembering the anniversary of a death.
Young adults anxiously awaiting a notification after a job interview.
Older adults who find themselves alone.
Oh God, sometimes our hearts cannot hold all of the compassion we feel! We turn to you in prayer and ask that the presence of your Holy Spirit be with those who are hurting. People we do not know, but we hear about them in a news update or we see them at the mall. May these connections we feel strengthen our ties to you. May we find peace and comfort in your Emmanuel – in knowing that your Spirit can and does reach out to others.
We do not want to be frantic, O God. So, we will cling to the prayer, Give us this day our daily bread. Give us this day enough energy for today. Give us this day opportunities to make today a good day for someone else. Give us this day a sense of all the others who are praying about today. In focusing on today, Lord, may our spirits turn from the frantic feeling of time rushing away to the time being a precious gift for now.
We stop for a moment and hold in our hearts the people we love, those who are sick and frightened, and those who are feeling hopeless. May they feel the presence of our prayers, just as we feel your presence with us.
We feel a special bond to all who are praying with us now as we say the prayer your Son taught us ….
Church family asks for prayers for….
- A mother recovering from knee replacement surgery
- A husband recently diagnosed with Kennedy’s Disease
- A friend recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease
- For other members in the church dealing with ‘test results’ and diagnoses; patience and discernment as they learn about new illnesses and protocols
- Families not able to be together at Christmas
- Teachers who are under so much pressure this time of year
- A member recovering from surgery
- Healing of heart and memories when family cannot travel or be together for the holiday
- Safe travels and a wonderful visit for a church member seeing family in England – first time in three years!
- A husband who has been laid off from job; searching for new work and hope!
- A couple hoping for pregnancy
- A little grandchild who has been so sick; prayers for healing
- Comfort and strength in the midst of a sudden death of a dear friend. The family is already dealing with serious illness and treatments.
- A thorough and decisive conversation with primary care physician.
- Guidance for a judge who is making decisions about where grandchildren can live; prayers for the mother who has been patiently waiting
- An elementary-age daughter of a friend who had surgery on her finger this morning after a severe injury
- A friend’s grandmother who had cancer surgery and is looking at a long recovery; prayers for the family as they deal with all that is ahead of them.
- An aunt who is experiencing a lot of stress with family
- A friend with stage three breast cancer who is having surgery this week
- A relationship to be restored
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
