BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE
Prayers for the Church Street Family
September 22, 2020
Rev. Dr. Jan Buxton Wade
O One From Whom All Blessings Flow, your goodness pours over us afresh each morning. Even our first intake of air comes at your behest – your invitation to walk these hours ahead with you as our companion. And as we travel together, surprise us with the radiance of your creation, point out the places where your grace is already taking firm root, lead us along wisdom’s narrow path, and teach us your song of autumn joy. Whisper your will for us this day, that it may become our heart’s desire.
Hear us, Lord, for your mercy is great.
God of Life, we lift up our present brokenness to your heart of healing. Our minds and our bodies have been battered by virus and disease, violence and bloodshed, imprisonment and disaster. From Covid-19 to tropical storms, from oppressive heat to devastating wildfires, your children are struggling to breathe. We know that the time you have given us in our bodies is not up to us; but how we choose to honor them surely is. Help us tend to and care for those who are suffering emotionally, those who are in pain, those who are oppressed, those who are hungry or homeless. Forgive us when we think the wounded ones exist far from us. But what if they live in our own homes, in our own neighborhoods? May our work of reparation begin within our own families, then move ahead to help mend our riven world.
Hear us, Lord, for your mercy is great.
You have created us for community and, as your apostle teaches, we are members of one body. When one falls, we all hurt; when one is ill, we all are weakened; when one is anxious, we all share his unease. Thank you for our church family, the body of Christ, which joins with your Holy Spirit in praying with us and for us. Our cares, but also our joys, are many, and we lay them before you this new day, trusting that each will be suffused in your love:
- Grateful for prayers: son in NV recovering well from surgery
- Friend celebrates her final chemo treatment today
- One is thankful that depression is lifting
- Thankful that a biopsy was negative
- Gratitude: Friend w/ grave heart issues now home from hospital
- Prayers for member recovering from kidney surgery
- Comfort for member & family — mother died on Sunday
- Clearing of smoke for families in CA & WA, breathing difficult
- Prayers for family grieving the death of beloved wife & mother
- Prayers for 3 young persons studying for the bar exam
- Wisdom for leaders to lead the U.S. to healing of brokenness
- Comfort for a faithful member in physical & emotional pain
- All dealing with loss due to wildfires & tropical storms
- NICU baby is stronger, but pray his heart will heal
- Prayers that hunger will be eliminated in our community
- Healing mercies for friend: full recovery from rectal surgery
How blessed we are that you welcome us, Lord, when we come with our arms full of questions and sorrows. We thank you for your presence in our midst, and for your son, Jesus Christ, who lived with us, died for us, and taught us how to pray when he said:
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.
