Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of January 11, 2023
Rev. Catherine Nance
Away in a manger no crib for a bed …
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie …
Silent night, holy night ….
O God of mid-January, we are longing for the peace and calm of a few days off around Christmas. The quiet worship service and beautiful music soothed our souls and now we are frantic with planning for spring and summer! Why do we do this to ourselves, Lord? Do we not trust that your Christmas light will sustain us in a new year?
As we accept the reality that it is not Christmas any longer, open our hearts to your Epiphany Light. We truly want to be wise men and women who follow your bright and sustaining light and not the flashes of notifications and advertisements.
It is Wednesday, O God. No mention of Wednesday in our scriptures, but we have made it a priority in our evolution to mark time and name time. As we spend some ‘time’ in prayer this evening, remind us to close our eyes, take a deep breath, and focus on your presence. Let us ponder in our hearts the relationships and events that are truly important and Life-Giving.
We take a moment to give thanks for the epiphanies we have experienced. The glimpses and surprises and unexpected sightings of your grace bring us joy. Kindness, hospitality, forgiveness, and graciousness have crossed our paths already this week. Thank you, God of all days and ordinary days.
We take a moment now to pray for those we love, for our world, and we offer the requests shared by our church family …
We pray for …
- Families and friends who are grieving the death of a loved one by suicide. May God’s spirit help them sort out all of the feelings of anger, grief, confusion, guilt, shock …
- For members who have had surgery and are recovering at home.
- A mother receiving therapy at a health care facility after a fall.
- A friend anxious to be home after surgery.
- Successful hand surgery
- For those considering becoming Stephen Ministers
- Safe travels as family gathers for the weekend.
- A United Methodist congregation who is struggling with disaffiliation.
- A young family caught between grief and hope as they grieve the death of a child and celebrate the birth of another.
- A family preparing to leave Knoxville to help with parents and begin new work.
- A family in transition as older members’ health declines.
- A family as they deal with a new diagnosis of a loved one.
- Our wisdom to be increased; may we trust that God is watching over us and may we feel God’s peace, hope, love, and joy!
- Those who are feeling the impact of hard financial times.
We offer prayers of thanksgiving for …
- For Stephen Ministers and for those who are leading next training
- The miracle of organ donation offering life and hope in the midst of grief
- Support group started by Parish Health Ministry Team for those serving as caregivers
- Miraculous procedures that happen every day at hospitals and clinics
- A young couple expecting their first child.
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.
