Prayer for Today – March 24

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Daily Prayers of the Church Street family

March 24, 2020

Pastor Jan

 

O One of Infinite Mercy, the world of order and meaning that we cherish seems to be splintering apart. Shrill voices sound the alarm from daylight to dusk. Yet within this precarious era, we in your church are to stand firm; as we know it is your voice alone that claims us. So let us not trust solely in the pundits. Let us also fall at the feet of Jesus, for acknowledging our fear is the first movement of faith. And it is faith in our God that will see us through.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

We lay before you these particular situations that are on the hearts of the people of Church Street:

  • Gratitude for the beautiful life lived by a member who is buried today
  • A daughter & son-in-law working in the forefront of medical arenas
  • Reconciliation within a broken family
  • For Congress to pass legislation to provide financial help to small businesses & workers in our country
  • A dear elderly father in assisted living, for safety from illness
  • Patience for an ill brother waiting 6 more days for virus test results
  • Protection for healthcare workers who risk their lives to help others
  • Gratitude for technology that undergirds our sense of community

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

Hear us, Good Lord, as we recall the blessings we have recently received . . .

And hear our private confessions to you, in the silence of our hearts. . .

And as you sweep away the deeds of darkness within us, plant in their place seeds of restoration, that our works might take root and flourish. We shall then loudly proclaim your name, not with our words, but with the living of our lives.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

Gather up these prayers we bring this day, for we offer them in the name of the One who makes all things new, the Author of our Faith 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.

If you miss any of our worship moments or services throughout the week, head over to our CONNECT page of our website, and view all the videos in one playlist.

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Prayer for Today – March 23

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Daily Prayers of the Church Street family

March 23, 2020

Pastor Jan

 

Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure. May your Holy Breath remind us of your abiding guidance, we pray. You sent us Jesus, our Teacher and Guide, to model for us the way of love. Grant us grace to follow your Son’s example of honoring both your creation and our neighbors. All are sacred in your sight, O Love Incarnate, so quiet our harsh voices of criticism when others are doing the best they can. Quell our impulse to find fault and place blame when we are inconvenienced by detours of illness, stymied social interaction, and altered schedules. There are mercies yet to be unearthed in this precarious time; give us purity of heart to discover them.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

Breathe on me, Breath of God; fill me with life anew. We remember the hasty words that cannot be erased, the complaints uttered so often. Forgive these and other missteps, especially . . .

Also receive these offers of gratitude for your mercies which have come without asking . . .

Mend us, we pray, and redirect us toward your path of renewal.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.      

We also lift up to your arms these particular petitions on the hearts of our church family:

  • A beloved brother, an ill pastor awaiting results of test for COVID-19
  • A friend of decades who received disturbing news of a malignancy
  • All in our community who have lost their jobs
  • Thanksgiving for our youth who have hearts for caring service
  • That a nephew may enter rehabilitation for his drug addiction
  • Gratitude for all who are reaching out to others who are in need
  • A loving daughter – anxious about her father’s increasing confusion
  • Homeless & indigents in Knoxville & for those who minister to them

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

Breathe on me Breath of God, so I shall never die. We know that you have heard these cries of our hearts this day, and that your Holy Breath will strengthen us to stand straight and walk by faith. We depend upon you to shepherd us along that road to your eternal kingdom:

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 LIVE Devotions each Monday and Thursday at NOON on Facebook!

Go to Facebook.com/CSUMCKnoxville at NOON for a greeting, scripture, a short message and prayer each Monday and Thursday. You’ll have a chance to interact, send prayer requests, and just connect for a few minutes a few times each week with your church family. See you there!

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Prayer for Today – March 22

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Daily Prayers of the Church Street family

March 22, 2020

Pastor Jan

 

O Great Observer of the Universe, we remember that Jesus said your eye notes each time a sparrow falls to the ground. And so we are confident that you know the travails and worries that afflict each of us. There are losses we have already experienced, and there are losses yet to be borne. Still truly, our pain is your pain. In the quiet of these moments, may we feel your gaze upon us and sense your ready compassion. May we come to know you as the Great Physician who places your healing warmth within our troubled hearts.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

O Giver of Grace, in this time of limitation, there are those among us who feel we should be doing more to help our neighbors. We feel guilty because we are not useful. But calm our need to be actively productive, and help us to know you will lead us to action when the time is right. And also remind us that no prayer we utter is ever wasted; our daily petitions are also a means of service.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

This day we offer our personal thanksgivings . . .
And also we name those thoughts and actions that fill us with regret . . .
Wash us & accept us.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

We also lift up to your throne of grace these particular situations expressed by our church family:

  • Prayers for a member stationed aboard ship in the Arabian Sea (USN)
  • Relief of anxiety of member (expectant mother) living in NYC, that hospitals may be safe & open at the time of her delivery
  • Safety for a daughter who just returned to China for work
  • Gratitude- a daughter & family’s safe return from a trip outside U.S.
  • All in Middle TN dealing with both tornado recovery & virus threat
  • Protection for all who work on the front lines to combat COVID-19
  • Small business owners & workforce suffering great economic stress

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

Remind us that the Lord walks with us; and that nothing in all creation, either what we have done or left undone, can ever separate us from the love of God, made known to us in Jesus Christ, 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.

Join us for LIVE Devotions each Monday and Thursday at NOON on Facebook!

Go to Facebook.com/CSUMCKnoxville at NOON for a greeting, scripture, a short message and prayer each Monday and Thursday. You’ll have a chance to interact, send prayer requests, and just connect for a few minutes a few times each week with your church family. See you there!

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Prayer for Today – March 21

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Daily Prayers of the Church Street family

March 21, 2020

Pastor Jan

 

O Master of Time, we confess that we spend our days anxiously fretting about what tomorrow will bring; yet in truth, anxiety is the invader of the future. We cannot know what the future holds, but the Great Shepherd takes every step with us. In these present hours we are given, let us pause to breathe and ponder the gifts all around us: the neighbor who calls to check on us; the church member who lets us know he is praying for our safety; the lady wearing protective gloves who brings nourishing food to our car window; the researchers working overtime to provide a vaccine; the pharmacist who calmly answers our questions; the friends who express their love. In the quiet of the present, may we breathe in holy peace and breathe out gratitude.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

During this restless week, we have truly received personal blessings. These we acknowledge now in these moments . . .

And we also confess those thoughts and deeds that have wounded ourselves and others . . .

Forgive us, we pray, and free us for joyful obedience.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

We now lift up this day to your mercy these situations most recently expressed by our church family:

  • Protection for all who must travel today
  • Thanksgiving for a sister whose cancer tests were negative
  • A diabetic sister & her husband with cancer; for wisdom & healing
  • Bereaved family members who bid farewell to a cherished son today & for his fiancée; for Pastor Palmer as she leads the memorial service
  • For results of a recent COVID-19 test to be negative
  • Safety for all healthcare & sanitation workers & their concerned families

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

O Lord, you are our Shepherd; some day we know that you will lead us once again to green pastures, and we shall also rest beside the cool waters.

Until then, hear these ancient words which continue to seal our faith in you:

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 Online Worship this Sunday!

Go to ChurchStreetUMC.org/Connect at 10 am (or later) on Sunday and enjoy greetings, prayer, scripture, homily, children’s moment, and beautiful music as we celebrate our loving God.

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Prayer for Today – March 20

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Daily Prayers of the Church Street family

March 20, 2020

Pastor Jan

 

Holy and Glorious Creator, the beauty you have sent to us is often too much to absorb. The green and flowering landscape of spring takes our breath away. And we are blessed in so very many ways. We have access to warm water for bathing, cool water to quench our thirst, safe homes, food and clothing, technology to help us connect with family and friends, freedom to speak out, and freedom to worship our Lord. Forgive us, we pray, when we focus on our present inconveniences. Help us remember that our gifts come, not because we have earned them, but because you are the God of Benevolence. You intend, in turn, that we also become a people of grace. During these uneasy days of confinement, assist us in living lives that pour out mercy and  kindness upon others in whatever ways we can.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

This day we offer our personal thanksgivings . . .and also we name those thoughts and actions that fill us with regret . .  . Bind us and heal us.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

We lift up this day to your arms of mercy these particular situations expressed by our church family:

  • Relief for a faithful member enduring great pain due to a malignancy
  • A friend recovering from knee replacement, that all may progress well
  • Those who worry about their loved ones isolated in nursing facilities
  • A family experiencing increasing distress as their business declines
  • All whose incomes are in jeopardy due to the economic strain
  • Constructive activities for young people confined to their homes

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

Constant Friend, look with favor upon each one who calls upon your name in this hour, for we know you hear even the smallest prayer said in earnest. Renew our waning spirits as we again offer these words of 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.

 

Join us for Online Worship this Sunday!

Go to ChurchStreetUMC.org/Connect at 10 am (or later) on Sunday and enjoy greetings, prayer, scripture, homily, children’s moment, and beautiful music as we celebrate our loving God.

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Prayer for Today – March 19

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Daily Prayers of the Church Street family

March 19, 2020

Pastor Jan

 

O Believer in Humankind, the green earth outside our windows speaks of your hand of creation and re-creation. Even within the solemnity of Lent, blossoms, berries, and birds in flight paint the vivid story of your renewing grace. How welcome are these signs of eternal hope! Still, there are those among us whose burdens prevent their gazing upon your spring. Attend especially, we pray, to those who battle illness, those who care for the sick in mind and body, those who are overwhelmed with work, family, or financial pressures, the unemployed, those who cringe behind locked doors, and for all of us who are lost in one way or another. Help us to find our way back to our pure faith of former times, we pray, for indeed, you do believe in us.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

We lay before you this day these petitions on behalf of our church family:

  • Thanksgiving for a sister’s successful colon surgery yesterday
  • Safety for caregivers who work in nursing & retirement homes
  • Gratitude for all who serve our Soup Kitchen guests today
  • A longtime companion undergoing painful cancer treatments this week
  • Friends grieving a dear friend’s death; he succumbed to cancer Monday
  • Guidance for all whose weddings are being postponed due to COVID-19
  • Wisdom for government officials making decisions to protect the health of populations across the globe

Hear now as we recall those wonders you have brought about in our individual lives in recent days . . . . . . . .

and accept our confessions for our private misdeeds and regrets . . . . . . . .

Forgive us and free us for Christ’s sake.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Great Protector, let all our prayers join with all those offered to you around the globe this day; and may they be received by the whole company of heaven, and especially by 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.

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Prayer for Today – March 18

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Daily Prayers of the Church Street family

March 18, 2020

Pastor Jan

 

O Master of Life, the ground beneath us seems to be shifting these days and we strive to regain our footing. Just when we think everything is under control, we feel ourselves slipping again, inch by inch. How unsettling it is when answers come so slowly. Still, we remember our Lord Jesus lived courageously in a time of great danger and uncertainty. He remained the calm amid the storm. Grant, O Holy One, that we might also reflect such inner calm that comes from our trust in you. For we know in our hearts that nothing can separate us from your love. And this day, may we practice courage by reciting the words of the psalmist who sang:

The Lord our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea. . . The Lord of Hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge! (Ps 46:1,2, 11)

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

We lift up this day to your holy gaze these particular situations expressed by our church family:

  • Gratitude from a member who recovers from successful surgery
  • A mother who worries about an ill adult son in California
  • Healing for a father grieving his broken marriage
  • All who are devising plans to help the needy in our community
  • Protection for healthcare workers who risk their lives to help others
  • Thanksgiving for safe travel of family members returning home

Hear now our private confessions and concerns . . . . . . . .

and also our praises for the joys you have brought about in our lives . . . . . . . .

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Receive our prayers this day, O Eternal One, for you indeed are our Source and Center; and all these we offer in the name of our Lord Jesus, 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.

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Prayer for Today – March 17

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Daily Prayers of the Church Street family

March 17, 2020

Pastor Jan

 

O Holy Mystery, the prophets tell us that you search for us. And we long for you as well. We search for you, yet you often seem hidden and elusive. Perchance you know that we have sought you in unlikely places. We wait for lightning to flash when we are most in need. We fashion harried schedules, then expect to hear your booming voice break in upon our crowded lives. In this Lenten Season, and particularly in this time of inordinate stress, help us to learn that you are with us already. You abide in the shadows of our souls, and you live within the very beating of our hearts. Amid the cacophony of voices around us and our frantic pace to remain safe, may we become still and know that you are God – ever loving and ever faithful.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

We lift up this day these particular friends in our church family who have asked to be remembered:

  • a young woman whose fiancé tragically perished in a fire
  • a member who sits by her dying father’s bedside
  • three women who have been widowed in recent weeks
  • our homeless friends in need of food and shelter
  • an adult son in desperate search of work

Hear now our private confessions and concerns . . . . . . . .

and also our praises for the joys you have brought about in our lives . . . . . . . .

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

These petitions we offer this day, remembering the Son who loves us more deeply than we can understand, and it is in his name we make our prayer:

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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