Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of August 31, 2022
Rev. Kim Goddard, Superintendent of New River District
This week’s prayer was written by Rev. Kim Goddard, Superintendent of the New River District. Kim also serves as the Dean of the Cabinet. We are sharing this from the “We Pray Together” project offered by our Holston Conference Communications.
Gracious Lord,
You once met a woman by a well and offered living water she did not know she needed. You quenched her thirst, filled her to overflowing, and everyone she met saw the transformation.
Oh, Living Water, do for us, what you did for her.
Make us thirsty again.
Cause us to drink so deeply from your springs of living water that we are transformed.
We confess, too often we content ourselves with half-hearted discipleship, and it leaves us parched and weak.
You offer us means of grace, like dippers, to drink in your presence and guidance. Too often, we leave them to gather dust.
We pray at meals, at church, when we emoji praying hands on Facebook, but find it so hard to quiet ourselves to linger and listen for your voice.
We open the Bible to prepare a sermon, or Sunday School lesson, or prove a point, but rarely go to scripture expecting to be challenged or changed.
We fast for our physical health, but Lord, when have we fasted for the singular joy of following you, communing with you?
We love to attend church where we experience family and fellowship, but do we leave without bending to you in worship and submission?
We send thoughts and prayers to the suffering and lost, but let others take the cup of cold water, the blanket, the Bible, the real presence of a friend.
Lord, is it any wonder we find it hard to guide others to your springs of living water when we are so parched ourselves?
Oh, Living Water, do for us, what you did for a Samaritan woman at a well.
Make us thirsty again.
Cause us to drink so deeply from your springs of living water that we are transformed.
Then, transformed, send us with dippers and buckets to share.
O God who hears all of our prayers, we offer the following requests on behalf of our church family:
We pray for…
- A clear diagnosis for a member’s husband in the midst of so many questions
- Peace of mind for a family who is in process of buying and selling a home
- A friend who has brain cancer.
- Friends and families who are going through difficult times
- A sister and her family who has been diagnosed with dementia
Continued prayers for…
- Loved ones in families who are battling cancer and going through difficult treatments
- Family members battling addictions
- Those who are grieving deaths of family members; may precious memories sustain
We give thanks for…
- A member’s negative CT scan report
- A new job! Prayers for joy and wisdom
- Opportunity to share food and fellowship with Maplehurst neighbors last Thursday night
- Sunday School classes and members who care for one another; prayers to know God’s strength and guidance
- The baptism of a precious child of God last Sunday
- Children’s and youth programs back in full swing on Sunday morning and evenings
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.
