Weekly Prayer – March 29, 2023

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Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family

Week of March 29, 2023

Rev. Tim Best

This prayer was originally offered on Sunday, March 26 by Rev. Tim Best after we read scripture from Ezekiel 37:1-14 … the valley of dry bones. Rev. Best has added to this prayer since Monday morning, following the deaths in Nashville. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, King of the Universe

We give you thanks for your mission and ministry in our midst. We praise you for your grace that seeks us out and works within us and within our communities. You do notice when our bones feel dried out, our lives feel parched, and the forces of the world crush and overwhelm us. In the midst of tragedy and violence, we feel crushed and overwhelmed. Jesus came amongst us to make your love known by healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, and freeing us all from the powers of sin and death. Thank you for transforming us by your great mercy and inviting us into your kingdom now and in the age to come. 

We are invited into your kingdom, we are invited to share in a living vision of dry bones being given new life. Breathe new life into us, that as our hearts are wrenched open by the senselessness of violence we might participate in your mission of new life and new creation. Though the world tempts us to wring our hands and accept that some things just “are”, we trust in the promise that in Jesus all things truly are possible. Let us live out your mission of peace boldly in our world, in our community, and in our relationships with one another. 

We do pray for those who are sick, those who suffer in body or mind, and those who are hungry. We pray for those who mourn, those filled with anger, for those filled with fear. We pray for friends who await for test results. We pray for families anxious about having enough. We pray for those who are lonely and long friendship and love. O God, our hearts ache for the communities in Mississippi which have been reduced to rubble. We know that your love, your Spirit, can breathe comfort and hope into the people of Rolling Fork and other towns.

Many of us joined together in service this past weekend. We packed boxes, put cleaning kits together, and offered ourselves in other ways as part of our “mission weekend.” It is good for us to gather together to serve and to work towards goals to help in our community and our world. But, we pray that you would shape our hearts so that when we hear the word “mission” we would think of the word “love.” Let our works be always done in love and with the purpose of making your love known. In your Spirit all things we do and all we say can participate in your mission of love in our world. Ezekiel had a vision of you giving new life in the face of death. Help us to share in that vision with our words and our deeds.

Just as Jesus acted for the good of the people he encountered, guide us to pray and work together to act for the good of our neighbors. Often our actions do not alleviate the suffering of our neighbors, and more than we care to admit likely contribute to it. 

Give us a vision of your kingdom, that we may live boldly as those who believe that the world will be set right, and that even the places of dry bones will know new life in Christ Jesus. 

We pray for …

  • Members who are in hospice care; may they know God’s peace and comfort. Prayers for family members who keep vigil.
  • An elderly family friend who is declining
  • A member’s brother and sister-in-law who are about to become parents!
  • Clarity in difficult situations
  • Prayers from a Sunday School class to strengthen members and deepen their discipleship
  • All of the people in Mississippi who are devastated by tornado
  • Direction for our state and federal leaders to make sensible changes to gun laws. 
  • All of the students, faculty, and families at Covenant Christian School in Nashville TN
  • The family of the shooter 
  • Seniors who are making decisions about future
  • A member who is hospitalized; praying her body can fight infection

We give thanks for …

  • A brother who is hiking the Appalachian Trail and taking a break at his 500-mile mark here with family.
  • Caring nurses in the ICU at hospital
  • Church leaders who offer words of encouragement and testimony
  • Police officers and EMTs

We continue to pray for …

  • A member receiving chemotherapy and his family
  • Those who are in rehab
  • Our nation
  • Peace and an end to conflict in Ukraine
  • A friend’s three-year old who is in ETCH; prayers for strength for parents

May we be shaped by his mission to us that we may live out that prayer that he taught us, as we pray it together, 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.

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Weekly Prayer – March 22, 2023

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Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family

Week of March 22, 2023

Rev. Catherine Nance

God who made the rain and sunshine, we give you thanks for both! We have mumbled a bit about cold air in March because it does not align with our understanding of Spring! You are the creator of seasons. We are the creators of calendars! You are the author of time. We are the makers of demarcations.

Spring takes its time as it sheds winter’s gray and cold. We do not change overnight – you know that! Why do we expect a full-blown spring on the day after the equinox? Forgive us, O God, when we do not marvel at your creation and the majesty of planets and orbits and the phases of the moon. Forgive us, O God, when we do not offer thanks for umbrellas, windshield wipers, raincoats, dry socks, and heaters. “Thank you, God, for umbrellas,” sounds like a children’s prayer to us. May we be like children, Father God. May we take delight, Mother God, in the gifts of each day.

So, as we come to the close of this day, before we check the weather for tomorrow, we thank you for the gift of right now. A time to pause and give thanks, to marvel at the small but cheerful glimmers of hope, love, and grace we have experienced: Homemade cookies, an unexpected but encouraging text message, seeing a co-worker from years past, laughing along with the radio host this morning, speaking with a child who wanted to share, looking forward to hot tea before bed.

O God who made the moon and ordered the seasons so that they do not startle us but remind us that we, too, weave and grace and saunter and stall our way through our own seasons! Bless all of our days … whether the weather is pleasing to us or not! May our response to you and our delight in your love for us be pleasing to you!

As we give thanks to you, we also remember our loved ones who have asked for prayers. We think of strangers we met today who seemed to want connection. We offer prayers for them and trust your Holy Spirit to connect. We want to rest well tonight so we will set aside the things that are worrying us and the things we do not have control over. Thank you for creating us in a way that we can care about things … and, also, set things aside. What a gracious God you are!

We offer prayers alongside our church family…

We pray for…

  • A friend’s three-year old who is in ETCH; prayers for strength for parents
  • People who do so much for others who are in need themselves; thankful for their joy-filled spirit
  • A member’s dear friend who is like a sister to her; she is experiencing so much pain from cancer. We pray that she can be released from hospital and can spend her last days at home with her precious family.
  • A church member who is in assisted living while recovering from a fall
  • A church member hospitalized with pneumonia and cardiac concerns; prayers for infection to be eradicated
  • A church member in hospice care in her last days; prayers of thanksgiving for a loving and devoted family.
  • Parents who are dealing with so many things…

We give thanks for… 

  • Members who have been able to return to church after hospitalization
  • A baby girl and her parents, grandparents, aunt, and all who love her!
  • A renewed spirit after vacation.
  • A good report from doctor after follow up visit
  • A dear mother celebrating her 90th birthday!

We offer prayers of thanksgiving for… 

  • Couples who are wanting to have children and have not yet been physically able; prayers for discernment
  • A member receiving chemotherapy and his family
  • Those who are in rehab
  • Our nation
  • Peace and an end to conflict in Ukraine

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.

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Reminders

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Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Sunday, March 19, 2023 — Evening

By Sophia Thompson

Reminders

Read: Hebrews 2:18

“Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.”

During Lent, we are asked to reflect on Jesus’ suffering. Our resolutions are intended to point us to our need for a savior and how Jesus shared in our temptations and suffering. Often, our world can feel overwhelming. There is hardship and loss that is difficult to comprehend. We often struggle to reconcile our suffering with the belief in a good Lord, who is full of mercy and love for his people. Although we ultimately believe in a good plan, we are unsure of where feelings of grief work into this.

However, during Lent we are offered a space to reflect on the suffering of Jesus, to be reminded that there is space for our suffering as Jesus stands beside us. We remember that there is perfect understanding in Jesus as he endured suffering and temptation for our sake. Most of all we are reminded that this ends in hope and glory. At the end of Lent we are met with the news of Easter. We are reminded that even though the darkness in our world cannot be denied, there is a light and a hope that have already overcome it.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this time of reflection. We pray that as we walk through this season of lent we will be reminded that you are a kind companion that stands with us through all. Most of all, we pray that we will be reminded of the hope and glory that are to come. Amen.

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Come Unto Him All Ye Who Labor

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Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Sunday, March 19, 2023 — Morning

By Bill Terry

Come Unto Him All Ye Who Labor

Read: Matthew 11:28-30

I tend to judge music by one highly-scientific criterion: does it give me chill bumps? Right at the top of my list is the duo near the end of Part 1 of Handel’s Messiah. “Come unto him all ye that labor, and he will give you rest.” I recommend finding a recording on YouTube or your favorite music streaming service. Sit comfortably in a quiet room and allow the music to pour over you. The melody is very calming and the verses reassuring, both of which are greatly needed in our world.

Prayer

Dear Lord, we thank you for the message of tranquility that this music provides. May it guide us through our busy lives with great comfort.

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Weekly Prayer – March 15, 2023

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Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family

Week of March 15, 2023

Steve Richardson, Lay Leader

God in heaven and in our midst, thank you for these moments to turn our thoughts to you and pray. 

In just a few days, our season crosses the threshold from winter to spring. Like so many events in your realm, God, the change will happen quietly, without fanfare or sudden surges. In the silence of space, our peculiarly-tilted planet will proceed along its path around the sun. Daylight hours will continue to lengthen. And your diverse creation around us will re-awaken to newness of another cycle of life. Inspire and help us to be entrusted caretakers of your bountiful earth, seas and sky. 

For many children, youth and their families in our community, this has been a week of “spring break.” We pray that their opportunities of added time together with loved ones, other family members and friends will be meaningful, uplifting and spiritually enriching. We pray, too, for their safety as well as physical and mental wellbeing. 

Even though your grace and love abound around us, we are so easily distracted by brokenness we see — and sometimes experience — daily.  Disparities can be overwhelming: health concerns, broken relationships, grief, social injustices, financial uncertainties, loneliness, natural disasters, ecological disruptions, abuse, war, oppression, violence (just to name a few). Despite the challenges that may kindle discouragement, remind us of your promise that you will steadfastly continue to be with us. May your ultimate will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Further, give us the courage, confidence and wisdom to do things that enable your will being done – even when we might feel such actions are inadequate and wonder instead, “Will it really make a difference?” 

We pray with gratitude for our clergy and church staff, whose daily commitments to service for your church provide a safe, welcoming, sacred space and community for worship, mission, learning and spiritual growth.   

During our journey through this Lenten season, help us sense and share your unconditional love. Move us to respond with grace to others, just as you do for us.  And humbly we ask you, God, to receive and respond to these important prayer requests from congregation members and neighbors: 

We pray for…

  • A couple whose precious dog died last week; Buster was a special gift to help bring comfort and hope after a tragic loss of a child.
  • A church member receiving treatment for herniated disc; prayers for relief from pain!
  • A couple who is wanting to have a baby and cannot physically; prayers for direction and answers and options and joy!
  • Friends and family of a man who died after suffering a massive stroke.
  • Members of a Sunday School class pray for one another to have increased wisdom and thinking as they study the Bible.
  • A daughter who has struggled with pneumonia and other complications after hospitalization; prayers that new meds and treatment will bring healing
  • A couple who just got married last week.
  • Friends and family who are dealing with so many stressors
  • Our mission outreach in Willow, Alaska
  • Those with COVID; may they all be mild cases and not infect others!

We continue to pray for… 

  • Those waiting; so many waiting on hearing back from doctors, labs, and appointment desks! Lord, in your mercy, we pray for our healthcare system!
  • A church member who is still struggling to feel better after surgery
  • Senior high youth as they make decisions about ‘next year.’
  • A couple with a high-risk pregnancy
  • Those who are looking for a job that will bring meaning

We offer prayers of thanksgiving for… 

  • The ability to travel to see family during Spring Break! 
  • A successful job search – finally! Praise the Lord for a member’s niece and her finding the right job!
  • A grandbaby!

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.

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Weekly Prayer – March 8, 2023

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Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family

Week of March 8, 2023

Rev. Catherine Nance

O God who created the world, how beautiful is your creation! 

How good it has been lately to look up at the night sky! 

The full moon last night was so bright! We know the cycle will begin again …. Less light, more shadows, then the reflection and then brightness again. Thank you for the reassuring rhythm of the night sky.  

Venus and Jupiter have twinkled so brightly! The clear skies at night have given us a glimpse of your glory! When things ‘down here’ do not make sense, we look up! 

We thank you O God, for the gift of creation. When we feel the world is closing in on us, we simply look up at the cosmos. We look around at the spring colors! We notice the chirping of birds and pay attention to the outline of the mountains. 

How blessed we are to live in such a beautiful part of the world.  

We join our prayer with the hymn writer… 

This is my Father’s world: he shines in all that’s fair; in the rustling grass I hear him pass; he speaks to me everywhere. 

This is my Father’s world: why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! God reigns; let the earth be glad! 

Thank you, O merciful God, for this time of prayer. A pause in the day to give thanks, to praise your majesty and to offer prayers of thanksgiving and petitions. We offer the concerns of our church family …. 

We pray for…

  • Good health for all as a family awaits arrival of first grandchild
  • Those recovering from surgeries; thankful for good friends and family
  • A member’s father who is dealing with mobility issues in addition to dementia; prayers for the daughter’s health
  • An elderly in-law who has stage 4 cancer and is in a lot of pain; prayers for him and all of the extended family.
  • A co-worker who had heart catheterization and a stent put in this morning; may she feel a renewed energy and hope!
  • Medical students who are waiting to hear where they will serve their residencies
  • Children who are having to go through medical tests; prayers for parents.
  • Those attending grief group; give solace as they share their stories

We continue to pray for… 

  • A friend who is in rehab after a stroke; prayers for the boyfriend and family who are with him.
  • Those who are waiting on medical tests to give answer
  • Families who are feeling economic strain
  • Caregivers
  • A church member recovering from surgery

We offer prayers of thanksgiving for… 

  • Safe travels for family who came to visit!
  • A special nurse at ETCH
  • A niece who received good news about a job!
  • Clear scans
  • Friends in my Sunday School class who have responded so lovingly

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?

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Weekly Prayer – March 1, 2023

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Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family

Week of March 1, 2023

Rev. Catherine Nance

O God who shaped us from the dust, it is hard to believe that Ash Wednesday was a week ago. We had good intentions. We have good intentions. Forgive us for not following through or not truly paying attention to the intentions we set! We make the focus on ourselves instead of simply being with you. May this time of prayer tonight be a time of quiet… 

Pause for a few seconds before reading ahead …. 

Thank you for letting us start over, Gracious God! We are so grateful for your love! We look back over our day and remember the times we felt a sense of your presence, or experienced the graciousness of a stranger, or enjoyed conversation with a friend …. 

Take time to remember moments from today …. 

As we give thanks for your goodness today, we thank you specifically for sunshine and the bursts of yellow we see in yards and along greenways. The flowers are reminders of your creative powers and your abiding grace. It has been good to see people out walking and enjoying being outside today. 

Take time to think of those who may be homebound or are not able to get outside….. 

We thank you for all of the folks who gathered today for the Downtown Noonday Lenten Worship service. How wonderful it was to be at First Baptist with friends from other churches who call downtown Knoxville ‘home.’ May we be a powerful force of positivity and unity in a community that often seems divided. Let us use this time as an opportunity to pray for our downtown neighbors – those who work here, those who live here, those who go to school …. 

Take a moment to imagine the streets surrounding our church …. Main Street with the government buildings … Henley with new condos and new hotels for tourists …. Cumberland with all of those students … across the bridge to Chapman Highway and the new growth that is happening .. 

O God of all people, we do not want to be just a building on a corner but a place where ministry is inspired and all are welcome. May our neighbors and all who pass by know that we are praying for them. Open our eyes that we see opportunities to be neighbors. 

Take a moment to imagine what evening looks like at the corner of Henley and Main … lights from inside buildings and lights on the streets 

As nighttime comes, we pray for those who do not have a place to sleep indoors. We pray for those who are working third shift at hospitals and police stations. We pray for the safety and health of our downtown. 

Thank you, O God who knows all of the people who drive and walk past our church each day, thank you for this opportunity of prayer for us to pray for your children near this corner. 

Now, we offer prayers for our church family …. 

We pray for…

  • A six year old boy who has been hospitalized in Kentucky;  low platelets and sores on his body. Current treatment has raised the platelet count. He is home with restrictions. Prayers for doctors as they determine what is wrong.
  • A member’s 13-year old nephew struggling with auto-immune issues and low platelets. Prayers for him and for doctors at ETCH who are searching for answers.
  • A church member’s mother community affected by tornado and storms in Oklahoma. Prayers for safety.
  • Family, friends, co-workers of an individual who committed suicide last week. May God’s Spirit be with each of them. Praying for peace of mind and spirit in the midst of great grief.
  • Church members who are walking alongside their aging parents through life transitions; prayers for clarity and peace
  • A couple whose marriage is breaking apart.
  • A church member’s brother-in-law died Sunday; prayers for family as they remember him and give thanks for his life this weekend.
  • For church members and family members who are living in assisted living centers and are experiencing loneliness. 
  • Prayers for continued healing for a church member who had heart surgery yesterday morning; thankful for supportive family and friends!
  • Successful surgery for a church member tomorrow. Prayers of thanksgiving for a helpful Sunday School class.
  • A dear family friend is fighting stage 4 cancer. Please pray for strength for her and her family as she suffers with the complications of chemo, radiation, and the disease itself.
  • A brother-in-law who has liver problems and in declining health; not a candidate for a transplant. Prayers for healing and encouragement.
  • A family member having a defibrillator put in; prayers for restored health
  • A couple preparing to move to Illinois. Prayers for strength and clarity as they prepare house to sell. Thankful for the opportunities that await them.

We continue to pray for… 

  • Those in rehab
  • Those undergoing cancer treatments
  • Those who have Covid
  • Family members and friends going through difficult times
  • Strained family relationships to be healed
  • Those waiting on diagnostic tests

We continue to pray for…

  • Monthly caregiver support group that meets at our church. Prayers for wisdom and strength for leaders, volunteers, and caregivers.

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.

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Weekly Prayer – February 22, 2023

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Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family

Week of February 22, 2023

Rev. Catherine Nance

As we bow in prayer together tonight, O God, we cannot help but call you Scooper of Dust. That doesn’t quite sound so holy, but yet, that is how you are described in one of our Sacred Stories. You are the Creator, the Scooper of Dust! You scooped up dust in your hands and then breathed into it and here we are. Your people. Your creation. From dust we came, to dust we shall return. 

On this Ash Wednesday, some of us are more aware than others of the dust to which we will return.  Some have tired bodies, sick bodies, broken bodies, and death does not elicit fear but peace of mind. Others believe they will live forever or, at least, death is a long way off. No need to be concerned about that! It seems odd to be reminded of death in the middle of week, but here we are on Ash Wednesday. Perhaps we heard from a minister today, “from dust you came, to dust you shall return.” A black smudge on our forehead to show the world we are aware of mortality. But also, aware of forgiveness. Aware of reconciliation. We know about the death of Jesus who brings us life. 

O Scooper of Dust, only one who loves the earth and the gardens would scoop dust. Someone not as careful and thoughtful would claw or grab at dust. You scoop us up so many times.  

As we prepare for a restful evening, prepare our hearts for the second Day of Lent. We will have rubbed off the smudge by morning, but may we always be marked by your love and grace and scooping. Whatever discipline we have made a point to observe this Lent, may it remind us that we are yours, we came from you and we will return to you. And in the meantime, we are with you. 

In that confidence and contentment, we offer prayers for our church friends and family …. 

We pray for…

  • A member who suffered a fall and broke bones in wrist; prayers that surgery will be scheduled soon and will be successful
  • A member whose mother died; thankful for loving relationships
  • One who is awaiting prognosis and treatment reports for oncologist tomorrow; prayers for husband and other family who are waiting
  • President Jimmy Carter to feel the love and prayers of so many who admire his work with Habitat for Humanity and showing us how to love our neighbor!
  • Young children who have lost parents … those in our own communities through illness and those in far away places like Ukraine and Turkey. May there be networks of support for all of these precious ones.
  • A member’s mother who is going through difficult health situation
  • One whose sister is ill; may her adult children care for her in loving ways.
  • A mother who wants the best for his adult son
  • Those who are grieving death of a pet
  • Two sisters who do their best to care for and make good decisions about their mother
  • A daughter anxious about tests while pregnant
  • A colleague who is having cataract surgery tomorrow
  • A friend having CT scan tomorrow; prayers for answers

We continue to pray for… 

  • Those receiving radiation and chemotherapy treatments
  • Those in rehab recovering from stroke or surgery
  • A member waiting for heart surgery
  • Peace in Ukraine
  • The people in Turkey and Syria
  • Those whose depression or other mental health concerns keep them isolated
  • Families in Ohio and Pennsylvania affected by derailment

We continue to pray for…

  • New members who joined Sunday! 
  • A job
  • A couple getting married

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?

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Weekly Prayer – February 15, 2023

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Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family

Week of February 15, 2023

Rev. Catherine Nance

Today’s lectionary reading from the Psalms is from Psalm 119:10 -16 … 

119  10 With my whole heart I seek you;
    do not let me stray from your commandments.
11 I treasure your word in my heart,
    so that I may not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
    teach me your statutes.
13 With my lips I declare
    all the ordinances of your mouth.
14 I delight in the way of your decrees
    as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts
    and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
    I will not forget your word. 

O Lord who hears our every heartbeat, you know that we come to you longing for a pure heart. But the Psalmist promises you the WHOLE heart. You know our hearts, O God, and you see how we have divided them in sections. There is only a portion for you. We love you with the part of our heart that adores creation and loves our family. We love you with the part of our heart that experiences joy. 

You know our hearts, O Lord … and yet, you welcome us into your sanctuary of prayer. We humbly bring our broken hearts, our bitter hearts, our tired hearts, our apathetic hearts; we bring them all. The heartache, the heartbreak, and the heartsick.  

So, we pray again with the Psalmist: we seek you with our whole heart! May our hearts be a place where we treasure your word and make room for your spirit. May we trust in our hearts that you know the brokenness we have stored there and are anxious to heal and to make new.   

Having spent time meditating on your love for us and your openness to us, we can truly say now that our whole hearts are before you. We bring you the joy and the hope, the thanksgiving and the concerns, the regret and the looking ahead. Thank you for seeking after us with YOUR whole heart, O Lover of Our Souls.  

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ who taught us to pray …

We pray for…

  • A child in our congregation whose classmate’s father died suddenly. Prayers for the family and all the children in this boy’s class as they support him.
  • A friend who suffered a stroke while in Florida; prayers for healing and for his boyfriend and family.
  • Several in our church family who are waiting on medical test results; prayers for patience and clarity!
  • Those for whom Valentine’s Day was a hard day. So many expectations and so much hype make it a difficult day to maneuver for those who are single (and happy!), or who are longing for a relationship, or who have just ended a relationship. 
  • Families who have strained relationships
  • A member’s parents who both have health issues
  • A member dealing with heart issues and MS
  • Friends going through struggles
  • A sister looking for answers as to source of pain
  • A couple moving into a new home; celebrating a new beginning but also grieving the death of their young son
  • A member’s mother in cardiac ICU 
  • The Michigan State University community
  • Parents struggling during a difficult period
  • A friend looking for meaningful and sustaining employment
  • The friends and family of a young mother; those who are remembering her in hometown service and those celebrating her life in Knoxville

We give thanks for… 

  • Doctors and healthcare personnel who understand addiction issues and provide care with compassion
  • Support services for those receiving cancer treatments
  • The uplifting worship service led by our children last Sunday!

We continue to pray for…

  • The survivors in Turkey and Syria; those responsible for rebuilding
  • Members and friends who are in rehab health facilities after surgery and/or illness

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.

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Weekly Prayer – February 8, 2023

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Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family

Week of February 8, 2023

Rev. Catherine Nance

Over eleven thousand dead … 

We close our eyes to pray about the world but we cannot even fathom eleven-thousand people. 

But you know, O Lord; you know each one. Thankful for your tenderheartedness, we look at the map, find Syria and Turkey, touch the outline of the borders and pray. Praying reminds us you are the creator of all. 

We pray for rescue workers, for children who are now orphans, for parents looking for children. We pray for those who are in charge of clearing the debris, for the agencies trying to get relief to the people. We pray for those who are thirsty to find water. For those who are inconsolable to find some rest. For those who are in shock to find something to hold on to. 

We hold on to the miracle stories … a baby born under the rubble and taken to medical personnel … a teenage boy slowly pulled out from between two slabs of concrete … the sound of a voice after hours of drilling through debris. There is life! There is hope! There is light! 

These miracles do not diminish the devastation but they offer hope. A baby’s cry calls up compassion from people around the world. The determination of a few rescue workers crouched for hours inspires us to persevere.  

Over eleven-thousand dead and the count will go higher. We cannot begin to count that many people, O Lord. But, we can count one. Then two. Then one more. 

Help us to see the people in our own community, O God. There are many who feel like they are being buried by social earthquakes. Safety nets and agencies that once offered help are crumbling. Transgender teens, adults with HIV, neighbors with addictions … may we see them and hear them calling out for help. Help us take the time to see one. Then one more. Then two. Our children. Our nephews and nieces. Our neighbors. Your children. 

We thank you that you have created us in such a way that we hurt when others hurt; that we can imagine what it is like to be someone else. You have made us in your image, O God. A disaster on the other side of the world can shake us loose from our fears and prejudices and prompt us truly to pray for one another. We pray for those who feel trapped and for those who feel forgotten – here, there, and everywhere. May we crouch down in prayer; may we persevere in prayer. Perhaps, being empowered by prayer we can offer hope, light, life! 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

We pray for…

  • The family and friends of a special friend of downtown nonprofits and downtown neighbors who died this past week.
  • A young couple spending two weeks in Guatemala on mission trip; prayers for their safety and health as well as prayers for the people they are serving
  • A friend who has had many changes in her life recently; especially for the new job she started this week
  • A member beginning radiation treatments this week at Vanderbilt; prayers for healing and for prayers for his young family
  • The people of Turkey and Syria
  • People affected by the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio
  • Families who are grieving
  • A member waiting on results of medical tests
  • A family who is grieving the death of one who held them all together

We continue to pray for… 

  • Those who are in rehab after surgery or stroke or illness
  • Those who are battling addictions
  • High school juniors and seniors who are under pressure to make decisions
  • A couple wanting to have a child
  • Members who have been recently diagnosed with chronic illnesses; seeking support and treatment

We offer prayers of Thanksgiving for… 

  • A beautiful funeral that celebrated a good friend
  • A meaningful confirmation retreat
  • For rescue workers
  • For those who feel a call to ministry
  • Family
  • A new grandson!
  • A sister who received special recognition for her years of work
  • Doctors who listen and take time

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.

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