Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family

Week of March 13, 2024

Written by Steve Richardson

God of all creation, God in heaven and in our midst, God of grace and love, we humbly ask you to hear our prayers. 

Thank you for the majesty of the spinning Earth and the changing seasons. Thank you for the emerging signs of springtime that hearten our senses ever more frequently. Thank you for the beauty of nature dispersed all around us in this region where we live. Although we know there are other areas around the globe just as delightful as ours, we still feel blessed to call this space our home. To you, God, all praise and glory.     

Thank you for your grace and mercy, even when we don’t deserve either. Thank you for sending Jesus the Christ who continues to point us to paths of righteous living, paths of justice, paths of love, paths of hope and confidence, paths of transformation, and paths of eternal life. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to journey with us on those paths every day. Thank you for your constant presence, even when we may not always realize it. To you, God, all praise and glory. 

Thank you for daily moments of joy, as well as memories of joy. These are gifts that help sustain us amid the difficulties we face. Thank you for your holy scripture that reminds us many, many times to “fear not” as you surround us with hope and love. Thank you for church and connections that provide ties that bind us in mutual support. To you, God, all praise and glory. 

Thank you for minds that can imagine, dream and hope; minds that can reason and solve problems; and minds that can share empathy and compassion with others who grieve and feel despair. Thank you for never abandoning us. Thank you for your Word and your Light. Thank you for the wisdom of Biblical writers, teachers, commentators and scholars. To you, God, all praise and glory. 

Yet even with these many blessings and countless others (plus blessings that undergird us but escape our awareness!), we still seek your help and direction. There are circumstances and challenges beyond the abilities of humankind. So we humbly pray to you, Lord, for your sacred omnipotence to bring your creation to its ultimate wholeness. And to you, God, with all praise and glory, we pray that you hear these needs and prayers of others in our church community; and that you surround each person with your loving embrace and comfort… 

We pray for ….

• Family members grieving the loss of a beloved mother
• A mother in the hospital
• A newborn who had procedure done recently; prayers for healthy days ahead!
• A mother grieving the death of her son by suicide; Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer!
• A man in our community whose brother has been missing
• One who is looking for safe housing and meaningful work
• A recent widow and her day-to-day coping

We give thanks for ….

• Acceptance letters from colleges and post-high school programs
• Faithful volunteers who come to soup kitchen week after week
• A good job interview; praying I will find the right job. 
• A good time away with family over spring break; praying that the rest of the school year will be positive for my children
• Our country and its freedoms

We continue to pray for ……

• A grandmother who has been diagnosed with multiple cancers; prayers for discernment in next steps for treatment
• A member who has moved to skilled nursing care and rehab after a stroke
• A dear friend who was so active and now unable to walk
• A woman seeking employment that will bring her joy and will help her family
• The health of a newborn; may parents make good decisions
• One is traveling overseas for school
• For children who are adjusting to life after the sudden death of their mother
• Victims of Israeli-Hamas war
• Loved ones who are transitioning from ‘home alone’ to ‘assisted living’ 
• Caregivers who feel they are alone.
• Those whose grief is deep 

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 March 6, 2024

Written by Rev. Catherine Nance

Honestly God, it has been a dreary day.

We know we are supposed to give thanks in all things, but we let the gray sky and the rain and the humidity bring us down.

We say things like, “Now, I have to change shoes. These got all wet.”

Forgive us, O God of Sunshine and Rain. As we mutter under our breath that we left our other umbrella in the office and our new one is at home, make us pause to give thanks that we have two umbrellas. Forgive us when we forget we have a choice of clothing and can dress in layers. We complain when we have to de-layer; forgive us.

Move us beyond ourselves, O Lord.

We pause now, embarrassed by our pettiness, and offer thanks to you. We are grateful for all that we have. We are grateful for the options that most of us have. When an activity is rained out, we have a dry place to go. Forgive us for grumbling.

Now that we have our good sense about us O God, we do give you thanks for this day. We have had enough to eat, we have stayed mostly dry and warm, and we have a safe place to sleep tonight. We thank you for the people we have encountered today; some strangers and some family. People who were kind to us and people who took time for us.

Before we call it a day, be with us O God, as we remember the conversations and the interactions that were meaningful. We include you in these remembrances knowing that your spirit is always present. Thank you for your blessings.

Before we pray for those near and dear to us, we think about your world. We cannot imagine what a rainy day is like in Gaza or Odesa. We simply open our heart right now and know that you hear the prayers of people all over the world. Through the power of your holy spirit, as we pray for people we know and love, may we feel a connection to all people who call out to you.

Lord, we thank you for the rain. We thank you hearing our prayers. We offer now the prayer requests from our congregation ….

We pray for ….

• A preschool special ed teacher who is having to deal with extreme behaviors from students; pray for safety, wellbeing, and peace of mind. God bless all the students
• A grandmother who has been diagnosed with multiple cancers; prayers for discernment in next steps for treatment
• A member who has moved to skilled nursing care and rehab after a stroke
• A dear friend who was so active and now unable to walk
• A woman seeking employment that will bring her joy and will help her family
• A father in the hospital whose health is declining. May sons feel God’s guidance and strength
• The health of a newborn; may parents make good decisions
• One who is traveling overseas for school
• For children who are adjusting to life after the sudden death of their mother
• A member whose brother died
• One who is working with new doctor for second opinion; praying for discernment

We continue to pray for ……

• A friend who has started drinking again
• One waiting on test results from doctor
• One going through a divorce
• A family dealing with many health issues and employment issues as they relocate
• Victims of Israeli-Hamas war
• Loved ones who are transitioning from ‘home alone’ to ‘assisted living’
• Caregivers who feel they are alone.
• Those whose grief is deep

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 February 28, 2024

Written by Rev. Tim Best

Gracious Lord,  

For the mercies of today; for rest, for work, for food, and for fellowship with others we give you thanks and praise. As we come to the end of another day help us to find rest and renewal in you. Lift from our spirits the burdens of the day. Where we have caused harm or pain today, strengthen us that tomorrow we might seek forgiveness and restored relationships.  

We are thankful for the food we have had today. All that sustains and nurtures is a gift to us from your loving hand. We acknowledge that some of us have had too much, and some of us did not have enough. Create in us generous hearts that whether we have much or little, we would see all we have as a gift. We are thankful that our church family was able to host neighboring churches and community members. Bless those who worshipped and fellowshipped with us today. May the world see and find in us, Church Street UMC, a place and a people where there bodies and their hearts can be fed by your gospel love.   

We are thankful for this community of faith; May your Spirit continue to be at work in and through this congregation to shape us by the the love of your cross. As we continue to journey through Lent, bless and guide those who are participating in a special study, class, or prayer group. Renew their love, dedication, and joy through their faithful study and service. We ask for your guidance in all our missions and outreach ministries. May our neighbors come to know your love through the the ministries of this community.   

We pray for all who are in any sort of need. We pray for those who have had surgeries, those who have been sick, and those who seek answers from doctors. Give strength to their bodies and courage to their hearts. Fill all of us with compassion and mercy for those who suffer. When we see those suffering from loneliness, move us by your Spirit to stand in solidarity and relationship. We pray for those separated from those they love by service, imprisonment, or due to employment.  

We pray for the coming of your kingdom of peace. In the midst of a world that knows violence and peace so well, make your church to be a sign of peace and justice for all the world to see. Where division and hatred divides your people, heal us and draw us together in devoted service to you. We pray for those who feel they have no hope; may your church be a beacon of hope in the midst of the sufferings of the world and may we proclaim that in the midst of their sufferings your love stands with them.  

In a spirit of hope and trust we offer these prayer concerns of our congregation up to you, gracious God.  

We pray for ….

• A grandmother who is in hospital waiting on tests results; had a biopsy on a mass.
• A friend who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer
• One who is looking for a safe place to live; also needs a job
• One who is struggling with work issues; seeking forgiveness
• A member who is in rehab after a stroke
• Those who have been hospitalized; may they feel your strength as they continue to recover.
• A family in the loss of grandmother
• A member who is asking for God’s guidance in decisions about treatment options; waiting on second opinion. Prayers for peace of mind and healing as she learns more about situation.
• One waiting on tests results.
• Family members who do not yet know Christ as Savior. 
• A granddaughter’s anxiety and OCD.
• Grandchildren who are having a difficult time in current family situation.

We give thanks for ….

• New friends at youth group!
• The birth of a baby boy!
• A new college Sunday School class.
• The sermon and lectures from our Bishop Lecture Series guest, Edgardo Colón-Emeric

We continue to pray for ……

• A friend who has started drinking again
• Members of extended family who are not believers inChrist
• A friend who is missing her son
• One going through a divorce.
• A family dealing with many health issues and employment issues as they relocate
• A faithful companion – a beautiful and dear pet who is having health issues; praying for strength for all God’s creatures!
• Dear friends; a husband who is in ICU with infection and other concerns, and for his wife
• One who continues to grieve for her husband while dealing with some family tensions
• Victims of Israeli-Hamas war
• Loved ones who are transitioning from ‘home alone’ to ‘assisted living’ 
• Caregivers who feel they are alone.
• Those whose grief is deep 

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.