BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE
Prayers for the Church Street Family
November 12, 2020
Rev. Dr. Jan Buxton Wade
O Silent Companion, we are again apprised of the numbers — numbers representing the ill ones, breathing souls who are beloved of God. When did it happen that our days were clouded by statistics? Numbers are meaningless when we must peer through a window to blow a kiss to that one cherished relative, when we must refrain from hugging that one hurting friend, when we attend to the needs of our own family member who has contracted the virus. “How long?” asked the psalmist whose own heart was breaking, and we fatigued ones put forth that same query: How long before this uneasiness is banished?
Forgiving One, in this vexing time of separation, we tend to heap our complaints and questions high, leaving them in little piles across your path. But you listen calmly as we offer them, and even lend your ear when we hand out advice on how you should fix what has been broken. We confess that we are full of hubris and lack the patience of the faithful. Give us that perseverance of the saints, we pray, that we, as they, might endure our inconveniences and misfortunes with grace.
Though the time of freedom remains uncertain, somehow, kindness and thoughtfulness thread themselves through our days, offering us their wisdom. It may be that the road stretches further than we can imagine, but the Suffering One walks with us, bearing hope. And even when the winds of dullness and routine blow rattle the windows of our lives, even when doubts hunker down deep within, his love becomes a blanket that tenderly wraps itself around every stone-cold heart.
Wrap all our hearts in your blanket of love, we pray, and especially these ones whose personal burdens are too heavy for them to bear alone:
- Gratitude for member’s successful bypass surgery yesterday
- Thanksgiving that lung pathology report was promising
- One is grateful for assistance in caring for a handicapped brother
- Prayers appreciated: Nephew with COVID moved from ICU
- Prayers for healing of a member recovering from COVID at home
- Lift up a sister-in-law who remains in ICU, but is improving
- Healing for a young grandson in D. C.
- God’s presence with grieving family – sudden death of daughter (28)
- Comfort for beloved wife suffering from metastatic cancer& her family
- That tensions surrounding the presidential election will ease
- Healing prayers for one recovering from delicate heart surgery
- Peace & assurance for daughter and granddaughter caring for ill mother
- For successful procedure: member having glaucoma surgery today
- Dear faithful Christian friend with progressive cancer, now in ICU
- Grieving family: loved one with COVID and pneumonia died yesterday
- Healing for teenage daughter, wisdom and peace for her loving parents
- A hospitalized brother, healing of foot infection, strength for family
- Pray for complete recovery from COVID for loved ones in hospitals and in healthcare facilities
- Prayers for one recovering from surgery on both knees
- Prayers for faithful member, in hospice care at home, strength for family
Turn our eyes upon Jesus, Good Lord, for his life mirrors what we ourselves hope to become. In all his ways he acknowledged you, so bear with us until we also arise each morning singing praises for all the goodness woven into our lives; and lying down each evening in peace, knowing it is Christ who is our Eternal Rest:
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.
