Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of August 7, 2024
Written by Rev. Catherine Nance
We begin our prayers with O God … but you have heard us exclaim “Oh, God!” or OMG earlier today!
“Oh, my Lord, it is so hot,” we have exclaimed as we get into our cars and roll the windows down and turn on the AC. Forgive us for cursing about the heat, O God who created sun and moon in perfect balance. Forgive us for doing things as individuals, industries, and countries, that have made our earth, your earth, hotter. Make us mindful of our responsibilities to care for your earth and the air and atmosphere all around it.
As most of pray this prayer in air conditioning, we think of others. It is an act of repentance to turn from ourselves for a moment and to pray for others …
We pray for those who make their living outdoors … in this heat. We pray for construction workers, landscapers, farmers, dog walkers, those fighting wildfires, groundskeepers, camp counselors, police officers on motorcycles, soldiers on maneuvers, major league baseball players, and for the lady who sits in the ticket booth at UT Hospital parking garage. We rely on some of these folks for our food and for our entertainment, some for tending to our children, and some for making our lawns look nice. Others provide safety. Gracious God, for those who work outside, we pray for their safety; we pray they have access to clean and cool water, and that they have relief at the end of their shift or day or inning.
You have heard us pray (or exclaim), “Dear Lord! Where did the summer go?” Tomorrow is the first day of school for Knox County students. Other school systems have already started and some will be starting next week.
“Where did the summer go, O God?”
Why do we have such a distortion of time when you have set our planet in predictable motion? Each day is twenty -four hours. You have timed it perfectly, O God, that we have eight hours to sleep, eight hours to work and learn, eight hours to …. All the other things.
We ask for forgiveness for taking the passing of the hours so personally and offer prayers on behalf of others. We pray for those who are anxious about school starting tomorrow. We pray for those who have had a hard summer because of lack of routine and lack of resources and food that school provides. We pray for those who have been reunited with families and friends on trips this summer and have vowed to keep in touch more intentionally. We pray for those whose days seem to go on forever with no interruption of friend or purpose. We pray for those who feel rushed through the day with no time for themselves. We pray for parents who will be filled with grief as school buses drive by. Give these – and all of us – a sense of your perfect time.
Today is Wednesday, the middle of the week. Some are asking, where did the week go? Or even, where did the day go? We measure the speed of time by how productive we are. Or how much fun we’re having. Time flies … or time drags…
It is so subjective. So, we pause in the early evening in the middle of the week, and offer a prayer to you. To offer ourselves humbly, we will attempt to think of others and how they have measured time today. For grandparents who know this is the ‘last day’ they will see grandchildren for a while, for teachers who are praying for students who will be entering their room tomorrow morning, for those who began the day in surgery waiting and for those who will end the day in the Emergency Department, for those who stand in front of an open refrigerator full of fruits, vegetables, and good leftovers and for those who have unplugged the refrigerator because it is empty and it is too expensive to run.
When we turn to you and utter, Dear God, may we be humbled and also comforted that there are others all around in countless other situations who are also saying Oh my God, Dear God, Good Lord … and you graciously hear us all.
Thank you for hearing our prayers – even when they are simply honest utterances. In vocalizing our feelings, may your holy spirit transform it into sacred conversation with you.
We pray for those in our church family who have asked for prayers for ….
We pray for …
- A member who had surgery Tuesday morning; prayers for healing now that she is home.
- All teachers and students! Prayers for a safe and productive and fulfilling year at school!
- Administrators and principals who are juggling school needs, attendance numbers, and personnel; making sure all needs are met.
- A young couple beginning fertility procedures to start their family.
- A family member who is fighting for his life in the hospital; prayers for healing and peace.
- Those who have cancer.
- A friend who has COVID.
- Friends and family members who are going through struggles and have asked for prayers.
- An aunt who is ill.
- A friend going through a divorce.
- A couple going through divorce; prayers for peace as both are struggling.
- A friend who is looking for a job …
- Knox County Schools teachers
- Friends in Texas, 100 years old, who are moving into assisted living; prayers for smooth transition.
- An eleven-year old to be able to play sports; he wants to be on a team. Prayers that an opportunity will be provided.
- Families who are struggling with emotional pain as well as physical.
- Woman who is being discharged from rehab; prayers for good help and good decisions! Prayers of thanksgiving for church friends who help.
- Our Parish Youth Choir and their leaders this weekend while they are on retreat.
- Ninety-three year old aunt who is in hospital with complications from COVID
- College freshmen!
We continue to pray for ….
- Grandchildren who are hurting because of divorce of parents. May the extended family be a source of healing and comfort.
- Couples who are wanting to start a family.
- All of the men and women in the military.
- Those who are caring for family members who have dementia.
- Members who have cancer and are going through the ups and downs of treatments.
- All those whose grief is compounded by suicide; may they know the assurance that loved ones are in God’s eternal peace and love.
We offer prayers of thanksgiving for ….
- For a sister who is responding well to cancer treatments.
- The beautiful music last Sunday! Prayers for our interim directors and guest organists.
- For the birth of a healthy grandbaby!
- Amazing co-workers who have pulled together.
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.
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