Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of July 12, 2023
Tonight’s prayer is the one offered by Pastor Tim Best last Sunday.
“Come to me all who are weary carrying heavy burdens; I will give you rest ….”
Matthew 11:28
Almighty God,
We praise you for the love and concern you show to all your creation. You have made us to rejoice and to mourn, to cry and to laugh. By the burden of discipleship we are freed from the need to conform to this world. We can name suffering when the world calls us to ignore it. We can rejoice with abandon and hope over even the littlest of gifts. Grant that we would faithfully seek the rest that can be found only in you. For those who are weary, and whose souls are in need of much rest, grant them your peace.
When we think of the burdens of others, our hearts become heavy. We pray for those who are burdened with illness, loneliness, grief, and fear. We pray for those who daily face the burden of oppression and hatred. Fill us with your love that we may offer compassion and understanding to all the world, and all those who carry heavy burdens. Free us to joyful obedience to you that we may work to lift and carry the burdens of others as a sign of your kingdom.
We pray for the world, its nations, leaders, and peoples. For those at war, we pray for peace. We pray for our enemies and those who would count our nation and people as enemies. We pray not only for people and nations, but we pray for every part of the world. Make us mindful stewards of our resources and caretakers of the creatures you have placed alongside us.
Gracious God,
We pray for all of those who have been burdened by death. We place our trust and hope in you, that you will raise them and us to new life. Help us to keep before us the lives of those who have trusted your yoke in previous generations, that we might learn from them how to follow you.
We pray for …
- a niece grieving the loss of her beloved aunt; prayers for all of the family she nurtured.
- a church member awaiting results from a biopsy
- a member who is having prostate surgery on Monday; prayers for successful surgery and healing
- our Stephen Ministry team as they care for one another; several who are facing health issues
- a member who is recovering from surgery to remove brain tumor; awaiting cancer treatment
- a member recovering from brain surgery; awaiting treatment for lung cancer. Particular prayers for relief as he is in hospital with non-related but painful health concerns.
- those who are in despair from physical pain
- a family who is grieving the sudden death of a sister.
- a member who is burdened with worrying about the future; please bring God’s peace
- those who are exploring changes in jobs
- those who are exploring the meaning of vocation and calls to ministry
- a member who went home from rehab; may she remain healthy and safe
- a member having knee replacement surgery
- those who are under hospice care; thankful for the peace and comfort the program brings
- our neighbors in Vestal as they deal with transitions in the community
We give thanks for …
- the opportunities afforded our children and youth this week with Making A Difference in the City (MAD) and Children’s Choir Camp
- positive reports from the oncologist this past week
- drugs that minimize the side effects of chemotherapy
- a couple married in our church this past weekend
- our faithful online community
We continue to pray for …
- miracles of healing
- families who are grieving
- caregivers who are getting weary
We join our prayer with theirs now as we pray that prayer that you taught us, saying,
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.
