Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of September 25, 2024
Written by Rev. Tim Best
Loving and gracious Father,
At the end of another long day we seek a moment with you. We remind ourselves in this still moment that you have been our sustainer throughout the day. You have sustained “me” but also have cared for “us”. Help us to see and name the ways you have cared for each of us individually. Give us eyes to see, as the daylight fades, how you have offered light and life to our families, to our church, and to all those that matter to us. We confess that often when we reach the end of a day, or find ourselves feeling stranded in the middle of a week, praise and thanksgiving is not our natural response. Transform our hearts that we might look for your grace in each new day.
In the midst of the suffering and pain of this week, may we lay our troubles into your care. We know that the heavy things we see in the world are real. We may try to dismiss or minimize saying to ourselves things like: “It will all be ok. That isn’t our problem. We can’t do anything to help those people over there.” Give us a holy imagination when we see the suffering of the world. Give us the strength and courage to name before you that often we are not sure if everything will be ok. As disciples of Jesus we know that missiles and rockets are problems we are called to care about. Hear our prayers for people that live in the shadow of violence and war. Breathe into our hearts that we might be committed to your peace in our lives, and make us always mindful to pray and serve those who suffer.
As fall begins and school grinds on, we continue to pray for all the students and educators of our community. We pray also for those who wish to learn, but find their learning disrupted and their dreams delayed. We pray for students who dread school each day, and for those who dread going home. Help our community to see the ways that we can testify to you grace and love with the many students and educators near our buildings.
We pray for leaders and candidates for office. We are stunned when we hear of officials who threaten others, harm their colleagues, and create fear. We ask for strength and courage for those leaders who faithfully serve and seek to better the lives of others. Be at work in our communal life, that our leaders may collaborate with one another. Help each of us to see the challenges that our communities face as problems that together, filled with your hope and charity for each other, we may overcome.
As the day closes and we prepare for the night ahead, help us to rest in the embrace of your mercy and care. See the needs buried within our hearts. We lift up those who are sick, those who have had surgeries or procedures this week, and those facing longterm illness. We seek your care for those who grieve and ask your protection for those who suffer. It is in full confidence of your unending love that we share together the concerns of our Church Street family:
We pray….
- For an infant born on September 15 who is in the NICU at Children’s Hospital; Prayers for all of the family…
- For an eleven-year old in PICU at Children’s after an accident.
- For a family attending the funeral of a great-aunt. May they experience God’s gift of Eternal life and Love as they celebrate her life.
- For one who is experiencing depression
- For a member who is now in hospice care
- For an indigent friend who is having serious health/heart issues. In spite of his financial and mental state, he continues to inspire us with his gratitude.
- For a member who has moved to another state and is having difficult time recovering from pneumonia
- For one who is having surgery early Wednesday morning; prayers for whole surgical team
- For one who is recovering from emergency surgery
- For a sister in Virginia who is recovering from ankle surgery but fighting infection. Thankful she seems to be responding well to the second round of antibiotics.
- For a daughter who is very sick with Covid and pneumonia
- For so many who are having respiratory issues, covid, pneumonia, etc.
- For a husband and children grieving the sudden death of their wife/mother
We continue to pray for….
- A friend who is going through a divorce
- Neighbors who are having legal trouble with housing
- Those whose grief is overwhelming
- 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
We offer prayers of thanksgiving for….
- One of our houseless neighbors who teaches us about faith and gratitude
- For friends who keep us centered; for a good visit with a colleague
- For finally getting into rehab!
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.
