Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family

Week of November 1, 2023

Rev. Catherine Nance

O God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob …. 

We often begin our prayers recalling our spiritual roots began before the birth of Jesus 

O God, Creator of the Universe … 

We often begin our prayers recalling your love and desire for humans began before there were any names to call. 

O God, Revealed to us in Jesus Christ … 

We often begin our prayers acknowledging that You and the Savior are One. 

O God, whose Holy Spirit hovers over us and in us …. 

We often begin our prayers acknowledging the mystery of your omnipresence 

 

But now, O God, we will just leave it at that: O God. 

O God, who understand the limits of our language. And the complexities. And the tyranny. 

If we say God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob … some will hear we are making a political statement about Israel;  

If we say God of the Universe, some will hear that we do not believe you are involved in our daily living; 

If we say God who is in Jesus, some will think we are excluding prayers for those who do not call on the name of Jesus. 

O God … how did even prayer become so weighted and measured and suspect? 

How about …. O God, who knows the name of every child. 

Surely that is a way we can all begin our prayer. O God ….  

You know the name the name of every child who has died in war or from illness or violence or hunger. 

You know the name of every child who is afraid. 

You know the name of every child who is struggling at school 

You know the name of every child who has experienced joy this day. 

O God, who knows our name, we pray for the children whose names we do not know. 

O God, who knows their names, we pray for the children who are close to us. 

O God, who welcomes the least of these, hear our prayers. 

We pray for all children everywhere and for these requests from our church family …. 

We pray for ….

• Friends who are going through difficult times
• A member recovering from surgery
• A husband who is now under hospice care; prayers for wife and friends
• A family grieving the death of husband/father after a long illness
• Continued healing and strength for a husband/father as he recovers from procedures and treatments
• A couple praying and hoping for a baby
• Those who are caring for aging parents and the struggles in relationships that occur
• A member recovering from emergency surgery out of town; may she regain her strength!
• The violence to stop in our world! We pray for peace in all the world. Dear God, please take the hate out of people’s hearts!
• A couple managing  the ups and downs of living with dementia and adjusting to new medications.

We offer prayers of thanksgiving for …

• A college student who is having a good semester and has come such a long way; thankful for parents and support group
• Scientists who do research that brings healing to our bodies and hope for our world
• My Sunday School class
• Granddaughter is recovering from surgery
• That a young father/husband is back home with family

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.

Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family

Week of October 18, 2023

Rev. Rick Isbell

O good and gracious God in whom we move and have our being, we come before you this morning with great thanksgiving for all your blessings in our lives. We give thanks for the love of our family and friends. We give thanks for the wonder and beauty of your creation with its richness of colors in this fall season. We give thanks for the ministry and witness of this congregation within and beyond its walls to those who need to hear, feel and see the love God in their lives. Thank you God for the many ways you come to us in the busyness of our lives. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

But most of all we give thanks for the gift of your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ who came into the world to show us how to live, what’s most important, and how we should treat our neighbor. And he died on a cross to save all humanity from their sins. But he did not stay on the cross and he did not stay in the grave. For He rose to conquer sin, death and darkness forever. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

O, triune God, we humbly ask that your Holy Spirit stir our lives in a way that will enable us to share your love in new and creative ways. Tune our hearts that we might do your will even when it is difficult and inconvenient. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

O, God of all nations, this morning we see the horror and feel the pain of the Israeli and Palestinian people. In a time of war, we pray for families who have lost loved ones tragically. We see the mass destruction and loss of human lives and cannot imagine what persons are going through in the Middle East. As we sit in our pews we pray for justice, peace, healing, and reconciliation in a time of great unrest. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

As we pray for those at war, we also pray for our own nation and community. We pray for understanding, honesty, justice and love between those who differ with one another. Help us to be unselfish in our own desires in order to hear and understand the hearts of our sisters and brothers. We pray for those in our own congregation who are going through difficult times in their health, relationships or jobs.

We offer prayers for ….

• A father’s member who is in ICU far away from family and friends
• A member’s husband whose cancer has returned
• The innocent and frightened people in Gaza and all over the world who live with violence
• President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu; for safety of world leaders as they meet; for Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
• A young woman who has lost her job and is seeking employment
• Members who are undergoing tests and facing new regimens of medications
• A sister who is caregiver for her husband and who is also looking for a job
• Families who are attending funerals and graveside services this week.
• A woman who is feeling threatened at work
• A grandmother having knee replacement surgery
• Third graders who learned of a classmate’s death over fall break
• Older elementary students who are facing complex issues at school
• A college student who is struggling under a heavy load; financial concerns
• A grandchild who is with family out of the country and is ill.
• A friend waiting on test results
• A member adjusting to new home at an independent living facility

We offer prayers of thanksgiving for ….

• A church member who feels well enough travel after cancer treatments
• Friends who were traveling in Europe who have arrived home safely.
• The group from First Baptist Church (Knoxville) who has returned from trip to Holy Land
• God’s Holy Spirit and grace who relieves us from guilt
• Living near the Smoky Mountains and how beautiful they are! Thanks be to God!
• Congregational Care volunteers who visit in nursing homes

As One who knows our thoughts and desires before we speak them, we lift these our prayers and petitions in the name of Jesus Christ, our risen Lord who taught us to pray……

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.

Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family

Week of October 11, 2023

Rev. Catherine Nance

Lament. It is the word on our hearts, O God. Lament. Usually spoken when there are no words – or, at least, no words that make sense. 

Israel. Gaza. Hamas. Palestine. We are horrified by the images and videos. We are frightened for loved ones who are there and for all of the innocent citizens we can only imagine. We cringe at the number of people killed and the number held hostage … regardless of nationality, we cringe at the number. 

We turn to our scripture and read from Lamentations … 

How lonely sits the city
    that once was full of people!
How like a widow she has become,
    she that was great among the nations!
She that was a princess among the provinces
    has become subject to forced labor. 

She weeps bitterly in the night,
    with tears on her cheeks; (Lam 1:1-2)
 

We read from the Psalms …. 

Lord, you are the God who saves me;
    day and night I cry out to you.
2 May my prayer come before you;
    turn your ear to my cry. 

3 I am overwhelmed with troubles
    and my life draws near to death. (Psalm 88:1-3) 

We are frightened and horrified. Scared and disgusted. We pray for action, we pray for justice, we pray for mercy, and then realize we are so far removed (at least most of us are) and feel helpless in our prayers. 

We again turn to scriptures, 

We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. (Romans 8:26) 

Do you lament, as well, O God? Are your groanings for the lives of innocents; are your groanings for the misguided ways of greed and hatred? Do you groan at violence? Forgive us when we move too quickly from lament to revenge; from admitting our helplessness to seeking security in fleeting strength. Let nothing bring us security other than knowing you are with us. 

We lament.  

We pray for President Biden, for Prime Minister Netanyahu, and for all leaders who are working together to bring a resolution. We lament. We hope. We pray for military personnel and for the work that they must do. We pray for their safety. Lord, have mercy. We do not want war; yet, we pray about war. Lord, have mercy. 

And then, O God, our own heartaches and our own situations interrupt our prayers. Sometimes we feel guilty for praying for ourselves or for a neighbor ‘when there are atrocities in the world.’ We pray with the Psalmist, “who are we, that you are even mindful of us?” 

But yet, you hear all of our prayers. Prayers of thanksgiving for a joyful Fall Break! Prayers for a neighbor’s family in the midst of illness and grief. Prayers for a spouse grieving for their partner. Prayers of thanksgiving for a good check-up and prayers of thanksgiving for good medical care. Prayers of hope for a grandchild who is trying out for a play. Prayers of hope for a sister looking for a job. 

Thank you, O God, for hearing our prayers, and for groaning with us. Knowing that you hear our muddled cries and our articulate praises at the same time brings us an assurance. We take a deep breath. We lament, we weep, we hold those we love, we hurt for our neighbors and hope for our friends. Thank you for this gift of prayer.  

We pray for …

• A member undergoing cancer treatments and the toll it takes physically
• A friend moving into independent living 
• A mother going from hospital to skilled care
• A friend who has had complications after heart surgery
• Law enforcement officers
• A member whose husband died unexpectedly; for the whole family – children and grandchildren
• Peace. 
• World leaders to come together with reason and peace
• Neighbors and friends from First Baptist Church, Knoxville, who arrived in Israel the day before the attacks. Prayers as they make plans to get home safely.
• Those who are grieving loss of loved ones
• A sister to find a job
• One who has been laid off from work

We offer prayers of thanksgiving for …

• Healing after surgery
• Help with plans for transition from hospital to rehab 
• Being with family during Fall Break!

You told us when we pray, pray like this: 

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.

Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family

Week of September 27, 2023

Rev. Catherine Nance*

A portion of today’s prayer was written by Bishop Ken Carter, UMC.

As we prepare for Blessing of the Animals Sunday …..

O God, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen: You place us in your creation, and you command us to care for it. As we look forward to Sunday and the blessing of the animals, we are mindful that they are your creatures – not ours – that we are to care for them.

In your great mercy you call us to care for all of creation,
to uphold one another, and to pray for your world.
Hear our prayers for the healing of the earth.

Your works declare glory and splendor, and you call us to praise and reverence.

Where we have degraded or destroyed earth’s bounty, forgive us.

Where we have taken beauty and majesty for granted, have mercy upon us.

Where we have become estranged from the creatures with whom we share this planet, have mercy upon us.

Renew us in the waters of baptism, refresh us with the winds of your spirit, and sustain us with the bread of life.

You have created us to be in community and so we offer prayers for those in our families, our neighborhoods, and circles of friends. For those who are struggling may they know your peace; for those who are sick, may they know your healing. As we pray for those near and dear to us, we know it is you desire for our circles to grow wider, to embrace others. As we reach for those we know so well, may our arms embrace those we would call stranger. Your Spirit transforms us into neighbors and friends.

With confidence that you hear our prayers, we offer ourselves for your good purposes,
watching and waiting for the healing of your creation as we work toward your coming reign.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior who taught us to pray 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.

We offer prayers for …..

• Those who are learning to live with new medications and adjustments to lifestyle and health
• A father and husband awaiting heart surgery; thanksgivings for skilled surgeon and good plan forward!
• A neighbor in the hospital; thankful for all of the good medical care
• One who is choosing to live well in the midst of cancer
• A mother in the hospital
• A member who is making decisions about long-term care
• Those who are grieving loss of spouse and who are feeling lost
• Continued healing for a husband who is home from hospital
• A brother who had pacemaker
• A family grieving the loss of beloved aunt
• Families making decisions about hospice and palliative care and next steps
• A couple who desperately wants to have a baby and, so far, has been unable to conceive
• A daughter at Children’s Hospital who has sepsis
• For a child who is struggling at school; prayers for parents as they discern how to intervene (or not)
• Peace and an end to violence in Ukraine.

We offer prayers of thanksgiving for ….

• Medical screenings that provide good reports and for those that provide clear answers for next steps
• That radiation treatments for a father are manageable; close to daughter’s home. PET scan clear! Thankful for the feeling of relief!
• Those who are preparing for wedding ceremonies but also for the lifelong commitment
• For the volunteers at Ladies Lunch & Learn and the wonderful fellowship
• For Pastor Walter’s sermon last Sunday. Thankful for his ABILITY!

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.