BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE
Daily Prayers of the Church Street family
Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020
Pastor Jan
Hail thee, festival day! Blest day that art hallowed forever;
Day wherein Christ arose, breaking the kingdom of death!
O One who set the sun in the heavens to light up the earth by day and the moon by night, you sent Jesus Christ to shed light into our broken world.
When you shattered the darkness of Calvary, we learned that love and light can never remain buried; we learned that nothing can ever separate us from the flame of your eternal love. Shine your light over us, in us, and through us, we pray, that we might shine all our days as Easter people.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Hail thee, festival day! Blest day that art hallowed forever;
Day wherein Christ arose, breaking the kingdom of death!
O One of Peace, your resurrection is a daily celebration over fear, our greatest enemy. For when we are afraid, we do foolish things: we turn our thoughts inward; we take more than our share; we obsess about the future. Beginning this day, O Risen One, we pray you would give us the peace to live with uncertainty, with questions and doubts. Then the world shall know we are believers in the Son who displayed no alarm, even when his ghastly sentence was pronounced. Let us place our hope in the resurrection of our Lord!
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Hail thee, festival day! Blest day that art hallowed forever;
Day wherein Christ arose, breaking the kingdom of death!
Because of the miracle of the cross, O Author of New Life, we know that nothing is impossible with you, so bend your ear close and receive with kindness these petitions offered by our faith community:
- A Wesley House grandmother offers thanks for kindness and thoughtfulness of church members during these trying times
- Gratitude for church staff who make communications possible
- Thank you for prayers: sister in Cleveland who had delicate heart surgery has been released a few days early
- Safety for NY physicians and healthcare workers who serve at great risk
- A cousin in a KY nursing home; he and 41 others tested positive for COVID-19
- Continued protection for a friend in poor health who lives alone
- That we never lose sight of the hope and love of Jesus Christ
- Safety for all who unselfishly work on the front lines to provide food, medical care, and daily services to protect and sustain our communities
- Loved ones locked in nursing facilities, gratitude for their caregivers
- Appalachian Service Project home repairs have been closed until August, a major blow to the poor who depend upon volunteers
Visit all our homes this day, bringing a ray of peace and bright blessing.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Hail thee, O Reason for the Festival, we know our Savior hears the pleas of even the smallest lamb, so we lift up all our prayers in your name, that we might live in the gladness and grace of Easter all our days:
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.
Have a prayer request?
Submit your request confidentially online, and our prayer team will be in prayer with and for you.
Join us for Easter Worship! Sunday, April 12 at 10 am
Join Church Street on YouTube at 10 am! An order of worship email will be sent prior to the service so you can follow along.
Prayer for Today – April 20
prayer for todayBINDING SOUL AND SOURCE
Daily Prayers of the Church Street family
April 20, 2020
Pastor Jan
Jesus, we remember, called out to Mary in her grief as she wept beside the empty tomb. This day, we ask that you might call out our names as well, reminding us that we are not alone. Perhaps you will speak to us through the whisper of the wind, the streaks of blue appearing in a cloudy sky or within the ripples of light on a puddle of rain. As we manage our present struggles, keep us poised to listen, as did Mary; and like that great woman of faith, also make us worthy witnesses to your Easter grace.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
All-knowing God, you know us, and you understand who and what we are. Before any words are uttered, you know already what it is that delights our hearts, and what saddens and disturbs us. You are aware of the harsh and bitter words we have spoken and the ways in which we have hurt others. Hear our private confessions which we now offer to your ear alone . . .
Jesus said: I forgive you; I love you; Go and sin no more. Write those words upon our hearts, we pray, that we might turn our backs on what is past.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of All Hopefulness, when we turn to our God who is the rock that shelters us, we know we are safe from all that threatens. And so, with hopeful hearts, we lay before you these prayers from our church family. For certain we are weakened and tense, but we believe in the One who will answer us in due time, and will turn our mourning into dancing:
May the Light of God keep us, the power of God sustain us, and the caress of God heal us.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy Lord, beginning today, increase our gratitude, erase our apathy, and deepen our commitment, that our very lives might become signs of the kingdom for which we 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.
Have a prayer request?
Submit your request confidentially online, and our prayer team will be in prayer with and for you.
Join us for a short live devotion today at noon!
This premieres live on our Facebook page at noon – see you then.
Prayer for Today – April 19
prayer for todayBINDING SOUL AND SOURCE
Daily Prayers of the Church Street family
April 19, 2020
Pastor Jan
As the sun rises, so does our prayer of thanksgiving to you, Loving God. With each new dawn, revive our trust in you. Watch over us this Sabbath, that we might be teeming with abundant gratitude for even the smallest thing we may take for granted: the aroma of freshly brewed coffee; the pet who jumps up to share affection; green leaves shimmering from overnight showers; loved ones who know our flaws, yet love us still; access to online worship and praise, the promise of better days ahead. For your ever-flowing grace, we praise you.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Faithful One, even in our virus struggle, you have offered us relief from our noisy and confusing existence; you have taught us that in the silence we discover you are breathing in us and for us. We long for the time when we may again gather with friends and engage in productive work. Still, what will we do with these gifts once the rushing pace begins anew? Will we leave them behind as we sprint to make up for lost time; or will we remember to set a daily hour to commune with you, to ponder your immeasurable love? O Wounded One, heal us. O Enlightened One, transfigure us. O Cleansing One, sweep through us — for Christ’s sake.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Forgive us through Christ, for whatever wrongs we have done, particularly these we now name . . .
Strengthen our souls to walk and serve you this day with pure hearts. And also we bring these most recent prayers offered by our brothers and sisters at Church Street:
Almighty God, continue to work within us to free us from anxieties over those things we cannot control. May we hold onto your assurance that, at your appointed time, you will turn our sorrow into joy.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Accept all these, our earnest pleas, for we lay them at your throne of grace in the name of your Risen Son, whose resurrection song still plays in our hearts:
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.
Have a prayer request?
Submit your request confidentially online, and our prayer team will be in prayer with and for you.
Join us for Sunday worship today at 10 am!
Worship premieres on our YouTube channel.
Prayer for Today – April 18
prayer for todayBINDING SOUL AND SOURCE
Daily Prayers of the Church Street family
April 18, 2020
Pastor Jan
How long, O Lord, how long? The cry of the ancient psalmist has become our cry as well. You ever call us to move forward, but the future seems dim and our steps are tentative. We need your hand to hold as we travel this shaded road, for in your light we see light. Move with us to steady us. Together we will lift our heads high, knowing that you will bring us through this valley to that place where we are a far more grateful, kind, and trusting people.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O One Who Bids Us Follow, sometimes in the quiet hours, we feel anew your gentle nudge to make a difference. We long to do so, but there are so many needs and causes made known to us, and new ones every day, that we become overwhelmed. Forgive us, Lord, and let us remember that Jesus did not touch or heal everyone, and yet he made an astounding difference. So give us strength to continue to pattern our lives after his, doing what we can. And all who see us reaching out in love will know we serve a Lord whose love knows no end.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
And now, on bended knee, as your church family, we ask that you hear these situations that dwell in our minds and hearts:
Bend low to also accept the private gratitudes we offer this day . . ..
and hear as well our private confessions . . .
Your grace is everlasting and your faithfulness is forever.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Grant that all our prayers uttered today may stretch up to heaven, for your safekeeping, for one day we shall all live there with our Savior, 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.
Have a prayer request?
Submit your request confidentially online, and our prayer team will be in prayer with and for you.
Prayer for Today – April 17
prayer for todayBINDING SOUL AND SOURCE
Daily Prayers of the Church Street family
April 17, 2020
Pastor Jan
We offer gratitude, Loving Lord, that you have called each of us to be part of your circle of life. And as such, you have counted one and all as your very own, and have excluded no one. How deep and mysterious is your affection for us. On this day, give us reminders that you are that great spiral of love in which we live and move and have our being.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Channel of Grace, even as you direct your love toward us, we confess that we sometimes feel frightened and abandoned; we admit we have placed our faith in ourselves and in the advice of others. We beg your forgiveness for our lack of trust in your promise that you would guide us always. Receive also the private regrets that we now whisper in these moments . . .
Wash away our doubt, we pray, and replace it with a river of quiet confidence.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Within our recent challenges, Renewing God, grant that we might cast our eyes upon the blessings we have received, rather than upon what we may have lost. Our purses may be slim, but the extra time we’ve spent with our families is beyond price. Travel schedules are slashed, but we’ve discovered the feast of spring colors at our own doorstep. Dining out is not possible, but we realize we have more than ample fare at home. We cannot worship collectively, but we can come together in creative ways, reminding us that we are one body, one family.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
And as family, we lift up the joys and concerns of our brothers and sisters in Christ, knowing you hear all who turn to you:
Hear us, heal us, and hold us close.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
These prayers and petitions we lay at your feet this day, for Christ’s sake, as it was he who long ago taught us to pray in this way:
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.
Have a prayer request?
Submit your request confidentially online, and our prayer team will be in prayer with and for you.
Prayer for Today – April 16
prayer for todayBINDING SOUL AND SOURCE
Daily Prayers of the Church Street family
April 16, 2020
Pastor Jan
O One Who Rises Each Dawn, rise within us today. Free us from the shroud of failures, from the power of doubt and fear. Outside our windows you have planted astonishing signs of hope – reminders that we are wounded, but whole, broken but made alive and vibrant through your love. This is the day that you have made. May we discover ways to be glad in it.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Steady Guide, you sent us your Son as our Master Teacher. But he did not require his earliest followers to reach great heights of learning before they entered his service. His expectation was that they take the talents they already possessed and put them to work for the kingdom. Just so, you call each of us to minister to our hurting world. In this time of isolation, only steps away someone is lonely, broken, ill, hurting. What gesture of hope might we extend? Help us remember that whatever offering we hold out to another, you will increase and make it perfect.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Sometimes we feel as if the winds have carried us to an uncharted territory, indistinct on any map, and we long for you to call us home where we recognize the familiar. You know the burdens carried by each of your children, O Caring One, but receive these most recent prayers—earnest thanksgivings and pleas which come from your servants at Church Street:
May each of us remember that the distance between ourselves and your undying love has vanished, for you have made your home in our hearts.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As we bring these petitions to you and offer them in the name of our Savior, give us strength to focus, not on what we have lost, but on the goodness you have brought us since the moment of our births:
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.
Have a prayer request?
Submit your request confidentially online, and our prayer team will be in prayer with and for you.
Prayer for Today – April 15
prayer for todayBINDING SOUL AND SOURCE
Daily Prayers of the Church Street family
April 15, 2020
Pastor Jan
O Beloved Portrait of Grace, we marvel still that you chose to send your cherished Son as a suffering servant to redeem the world. In Eastertide, we remember that you love us more deeply than we can ever imagine. We know that the nail prints remain; but we also know that beside those marks our names have been written upon the palms of his hands. For this act of grace, too wondrous to fathom, we offer our most humble thanks.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Dear and Glorious Physician, you are the Savior of our souls; yet we often forget that you are also the Savior of our minds and bodies. We have loved ones whom we lift up to you for physical and emotional healing. Hear us as we whisper their names in these moments . . .
We ask for your comfort and for your healing work within them. Also, may your hand of mercy work within these situations on the hearts of members of our church family:
Through your grace you created us, in your mercy you saved us, and in your love you are holding us close until our present pain and isolation are past.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Steadfast Hope, surely your face brightens when we call your name. And today we indeed call upon you. So bind us, we pray, with all those around the globe who also turn to you to offer the words your Blessed Son taught us:
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.
Have a prayer request?
Submit your request confidentially online, and our prayer team will be in prayer with and for you.
Prayer for Today – April 14
prayer for todayBINDING SOUL AND SOURCE
Daily Prayers of the Church Street family
April 14, 2020
Pastor Jan
Life has a way of wounding us, sometimes within an inch of our lives. We need only sift through our life’s memories to count the mistakes we have made, the hurts we have suffered, the pain we have inflicted upon others. But in this Easter season, we celebrate the extraordinary power of God that redeems what has been shattered, mends what has been torn apart, and brings new life to what has become lifeless. We rejoice, O Living One, that Jesus’ glorious resurrection previews what awaits each one rooted to him.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God, our Most Holy and Remarkable Friend, we are here again before you, admitting that we have often missed the mark; but in other ways, you know we are doing the best we can during these complicated times. And because the living Christ has gone on ahead and waits for us, we know he welcomes all our prayers that come from our hearts:
O One Who Waits, we know you hear us, but in your own way, give us a sign that we shall make it through.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord of All That Is, continue to bind us together into one resilient body, that we might join as one mighty voice to sing your song of hope and to pray together the words taught us by our Savior:
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.
Have a prayer request?
Submit your request confidentially online, and our prayer team will be in prayer with and for you.
Prayer for Today – April 13
prayer for todayBINDING SOUL AND SOURCE
Daily Prayers of the Church Street family
April 13, 2020
Pastor Jan
O Love Ever Blooming, these April showers cannot dim the marvelous story of Holy Week. The love you planted in the garden took root at Calvary, ripened as the stone was rolled away, and blossomed with sweetest perfume in the hearts of your followers everywhere. May we who live today continue to tell that story by the way our spirits grow in reflection of your love and grace.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God of the Empty Tomb, as your days were troubled, you know that our past days have been difficult. We have been unable to visit our loved ones, hug our parents or grandparents, play with our grandchildren, gather for worship, work, celebrations. Some of us have lost our jobs, and our nerves have become frayed. But there are lessons to be learned from this time apart; may we search for them with hungry hearts. And let us not grow weary, for we know that better times are ahead, as spoken by the Lord through the prophet: Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Patient Listener, we confess there are many instances in which we have not lived up to your dreams for us, so hear us as we make our private confessions . . .
We feel your stream of mercy washing us clean and we know you accept us as we are, just as you accepted the thief upon the cross.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Hear also, we pray, these sincere offerings from your people in our own congregation:
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Even when our doubts begin to surface, they are always subdued by the underlying knowledge that we are rooted securely to the Living Vine, who supports, strengthens, and sustains us. It is in his name we 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.
Have a prayer request?
Submit your request confidentially online, and our prayer team will be in prayer with and for you.
Join us for a live devotion at noon today on Facebook!
Join Church Street on Facebook.
Prayer for Easter Sunday – April 12
prayer for todayBINDING SOUL AND SOURCE
Daily Prayers of the Church Street family
Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020
Pastor Jan
Hail thee, festival day! Blest day that art hallowed forever;
Day wherein Christ arose, breaking the kingdom of death!
O One who set the sun in the heavens to light up the earth by day and the moon by night, you sent Jesus Christ to shed light into our broken world.
When you shattered the darkness of Calvary, we learned that love and light can never remain buried; we learned that nothing can ever separate us from the flame of your eternal love. Shine your light over us, in us, and through us, we pray, that we might shine all our days as Easter people.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Hail thee, festival day! Blest day that art hallowed forever;
Day wherein Christ arose, breaking the kingdom of death!
O One of Peace, your resurrection is a daily celebration over fear, our greatest enemy. For when we are afraid, we do foolish things: we turn our thoughts inward; we take more than our share; we obsess about the future. Beginning this day, O Risen One, we pray you would give us the peace to live with uncertainty, with questions and doubts. Then the world shall know we are believers in the Son who displayed no alarm, even when his ghastly sentence was pronounced. Let us place our hope in the resurrection of our Lord!
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Hail thee, festival day! Blest day that art hallowed forever;
Day wherein Christ arose, breaking the kingdom of death!
Because of the miracle of the cross, O Author of New Life, we know that nothing is impossible with you, so bend your ear close and receive with kindness these petitions offered by our faith community:
Visit all our homes this day, bringing a ray of peace and bright blessing.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Hail thee, O Reason for the Festival, we know our Savior hears the pleas of even the smallest lamb, so we lift up all our prayers in your name, that we might live in the gladness and grace of Easter all our days:
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.
Have a prayer request?
Submit your request confidentially online, and our prayer team will be in prayer with and for you.
Join us for Easter Worship! Sunday, April 12 at 10 am
Join Church Street on YouTube at 10 am! An order of worship email will be sent prior to the service so you can follow along.
Prayer for Holy Saturday – April 11
prayer for todayBINDING SOUL AND SOURCE
Daily Prayers of the Church Street family
Holy Saturday, April 11, 2020
Pastor Jan
O Lord, today is a day of holy silence, as Jesus rests lifeless in the tomb, and as the sentries keep vigil. Help us also to keep vigil as the world mourns the heinous crucifixion of your Beloved Son. And when the silence completely envelops us, may we become aware of our own brokenness and weakness. All the while, may we grow in our belief that death never has the last word.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Eternal Hope, today we remember Mary, who mourned but did not despair. She may have sensed something stirring deep within the silent earth. And given our present circumstances this Holy Saturday, she reminds us that it is never too late for a new beginning. So when our work is deemed “nonessential,” when our purses are almost empty, when a virus stalks our neighborhoods, when our loved ones are shuttered away, when we long for a human embrace, when the expected becomes the unknown, we turn our eyes toward the One who loves us and is already preparing a new road for us.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Great Restorer, we reflect upon our recent misdeeds . . .
and again seek restoration.
We also remember the graces you have showered upon us . . .
Thank you, Good Lord. Now receive also, we pray, these earnest petitions from our church family:
Embrace all who watch and wait for your promised deliverance.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty One, whose only Son rose from the silent grave to glory, grant that all of us, who were buried with him in baptism, might also be raised to eternal life.
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.
Have a prayer request?
Submit your request confidentially online, and our prayer team will be in prayer with and for you.
Join us for Easter Worship! Sunday, April 12 at 10 am
Join Church Street on YouTube at 10 am! An order of worship email will be sent tomorrow morning so you can follow along.