Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of December 21, 2022
Rev. Catherine Nance
We are worried about the cold weather, O God. The empty shelves at grocery stores and the anxiety at gas pumps show that we anticipate the very worst. If we were honest – sometimes we are not completely honest with you! – if we were completely honest, we have plenty of food at home. Enough to last a few days. Maybe not our first choice, but we will not starve. We are worried about the cold weather, O God, but we buy items to make brownies and chili and stew and cornbread; almost as if we are planning a party!
We are worried about the cold weather, O God. Maybe our extra bag of marshmallows in the cart is a way to cushion our worry and guilt about those who are homeless when we have enough. Maybe our buying an extra pound of ground beef reveals the intention to take extra soup to the neighbors.
We are worried about the cold weather, O God. Some are haunted by childhood memories of not being able to turn up the heat or not having enough wood or coal. Some are anxious about the cost of utility bills right now but not wanting to let children know about layoffs and cutbacks. Some feel helpless in their warm apartment knowing there are those who are cold.
We are worried about the cold weather, O God. Looking at the weather app and the clock and knowing all that needs to get done, we begin to shiver – not with cold, but anxiety. We meant to do more, we meant to run those errands earlier. We meant to, O God.
We are worried about the cold weather, O God. We have family members who work for utility companies, we have friends who are rescue workers.
We are worried about folks who don’t have the resources to keep warm and who have drafty crawlspaces where the pipes are. We are worried about family and loved ones who are traveling – O Lord, keep them safe! We are worried about parents who have to go to hospital in the cold and we are worried about elderly who ….
O God of arctic winds and God of trade winds and warm air … O God, calm us down. As we blow warm air into our hands, may we feel your breath on us. Give us a sense of peace and a sense of time. Perhaps by warm lamplight on this longest night, we can make a Love-inspired list of folks to check on tomorrow. Perhaps with more daylight tomorrow we will feel hopeful that we have done enough.
Thank you O God for hearing our anxious prayers and for calming our spirits. Give us good judgment and clarity. We thank you for opportunities we have through service and offerings to help those who do not have housing, to extend help to those in need. We offer prayers of thanksgiving for those whose job it is to prepare for cold weather.
We thank you O God for your abiding presence in all times. May we feel the warmth of your Holy Spirit and may we be bold to share that warmth with others, however you give us opportunity.
We pray for our church family who have requested prayer …
Prayers have been requested for….
- A daughter and son-in-law undergoing IVF treatment
- A family whose teenager was killed in auto accident this week
- Healing after surgery
- An individual who is here from Ukraine; prayers that things will work out in starting a new life here
- Friends and families with particular concerns (unspoken requests)
- A high school student injured in ATV accident
- Those who are homeless during this freezing weather. Prayers of thanksgiving for KARM!
- A brother healing after cancer surgery
- Those dealing with mental health issues and adjusting to medications and treatment
- Teachers who have students going through crises of health or family
- For a wife/mother who is being placed on hospice care tonight
Prayers of thanksgiving have been offered for….
- Successful gallbladder surgery
- That a mother has returned from rehab to assisted living
- The joy of seeing church members who have been missing worship back in church
- Wonderful worship services and musicians
- Grandchildren coming to visit for Christmas
- A new niece
- A second interview!
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.
