BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE
Prayers for the Church Street Family
August 31, 2020
Rev. Dr. Jan Buxton Wade
God has said: “Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5b
At times, O Holy One, we come to you in prayer in the wrong spirit. Forgive us. Now and then we seek a guarantee that all our tomorrows will be safe, that little will be required of us, that misfortune will never block our future plans. We frequently ask that our strength alone will be sufficient to carry us through all the days ahead. But in your holy wisdom, you recognize that our own power is not enough; and through your support, you are teaching us in our human need. Grant that we might ask for sustenance for this one day only. May we envision Christ standing beside us at this one moment, inviting us to lean on his shoulder. And when we do accept his invitation, we find that there is strength enough – not ours alone, but power from on high.
O Constant One, hear our prayer.
This is another day, Faithful Companion, and with broken hearts, we admit that it is much the same as yesterday and the days before. You have created us for community, but our streets and neighborhoods are filled with hate and brutality, with mayhem and murder. The evils of racism and bigotry continue to eat away the soul of America. Heal us, Lord, before we destroy ourselves.
O Constant One, hear our prayer.
Companion, we pray, all those affected by Hurricane Laura, for each one working for their restoration. And, as we suffer the pandemic with our brothers and sisters across the globe, we give thanks for those working tirelessly on our behalf, for those seeking a cure. In your mercy, continue your watch, care over those in poverty-stricken regions everywhere who struggle with the illness, particularly in Spain, Brazil, and Iran. Give us your perseverance to continually work for the good of all who are in pain, depression, or suffering. And may we begin today.
O Constant One, hear our prayer.
O Voice of Silence, we sense your quiet ways and give witness to your hand of benevolence moving so quietly across our lives. Our hearts spill over as we recall those times when you have blessed us immeasurably . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ; and we are enveloped with solace as we recall the favors you have visited upon members of our church family. Receive once again our thanksgivings and our concerns, for you wait silently with open hands:
- Gratitude: Gallbladder surgery turned out well, prayers appreciated
- Thankful that one is recovering steadily from breast surgery
- Prayers appreciated: a father’s medical tests revealed no problems
- Praises: God’s diverse creation has paved the way for us to embrace diversity in humankind, that we might view & accept all others as we accept ourselves
- Thankful that promising new caretaker for Sterchi Lodge has been hired
- Grateful for prayers: cherished father died peacefully with family beside him
- Dear friend in ICU is improving
- Prayers for calm & courage to surround 2 members having surgery today
- Protection of daughter & husband living near violence in Kenosha, WI
- Hope & healing for 2 members with pain & nausea associated with cancer
- Prayers for one seeking peace from extreme anxiety & depression
- Prayers for healing: 2 fathers with Covid-19, safety for their families
- Young father searching for effective cancer meds, comfort for his family
- Healing of dear friend diagnosed with auto-immune disease
- Prayers for reconciliation between a daughter & ill father
- Continued healing of father recently divorced, for new doors to open
- Prayers for two babies in NICU; healing of one in ICU, multiple complications
- Close friend, healing of heart issues; healing for young burn victim
- Lifting of depression for a young mother-to-be
We are never sure why, but many of us carry great burdens. We do not wish to shift our load to any other backs, however, for they are ours alone to deal with. But we simply bring them to you, for we know you care. Help us to bear our burdens with grace, without self-pity, but always with trust in the One who will never leave or forsake us. In the spirit of friendship, demonstrated so perfectly in Jesus, we now offer his 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.
