Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of August 21, 2024
Written by Rev. Catherine Nance
What a difference the cool air made this morning, O God!
The cool breezes last evening were such a gift!
O God of changing seasons, we know that there will be hotter days ahead, but what a lift to our spirits “fifty-eight degrees” brought! We stood still for a moment and closed our eyes and said, “Aaaahhhhh.” Please hear the pleasant sighs as “Thank you, God!”
Our brain knows that you do not sit at a weather desk in heaven and change the weather on a whim. We have watched meteorologists long enough to know about patterns, waves, heat indices, and currents. But we are thankful for cool breezes that catch us off guard and come to us as a joyful surprise. A simple reminder that you are the creator of the universe. It was you who set the moon in place to converse with the oceans. It was you who stirred up winds to carry seeds and life across the life. Forgive us when we forget that this earth, the whole cosmos is yours. What a gift it is!
Lord, we want to carry that cool breeze with us throughout the day. Open our spirits and eyes to be aware of your surprises. Remind us of your goodness and sovereignty when we find ourselves pausing for a moment and saying, “Aaaahhhhh” in relief and joy. We want to be a people who lives out of gratitude. We offer to you a promise to remember to say, “Thank you, God,” when our instinct is to say Ahhh….
……. when a stranger exchanges warm greetings as we wait for the pedestrian signal to give us permission to walk
….. when the goldfinch stays a little longer on the telephone wire and seems to wink at us.
….. when a child at the store makes faces at us and giggles
….. when the human-interest story on the news causes us to tear up and truly feel connected
….. when we catch ourselves singing along with the music at the store and another person in the aisle says, “I love Karen Carpenter.”
O God of little things and surprises, we are listing big items in our prayer concerns. Prayers for healing, for jobs, for reconciliation, for world peace. Sometimes, we offer these prayers and sit back and wait. Forgive us O Lord, for thinking that is how you work. As we wait for outcomes, may we see your work in the process. Make our spirits active in receiving cool breezes and smiles from strangers. May we know these are ways we can feel your presence and feel the gratitude we have for all of your good gifts. We pray that as we practice gratitude, you give us strength for the big things. That even in the big things, we see your mighty power at work in subtle ways.
Now Lord, we offer these prayers of concern and prayers of thanksgiving on behalf of our church community ….
We pray for…
- A member who is having surgery early tomorrow morning to repair broken vertebrae.
- A member who is having an ultrasound tomorrow morning after mammogram reading this week found a spot.
- Good health for everyone as COVID cases pop back up!
- A niece who had a liver transplant on Tuesday at Vanderbilt; prayers for healing and good recovery.
- A daughter-in-law who is in an intense one-year nurse practitioner program while also working full time. Prayers for strength and stamina.
- 93-year old who has been moved to rehab facility after bout with COVID
- A friend whose father died this summer; and then, her mother died unexpectedly this past weekend. This was weekend of moving daughter to campus! Pray for strength in all of the grieving.
- For a family who has member in hospice care.
- Family grieving from a recent death of husband/father.
- A friend who has cancer.
- Friends and family members who are going through difficult times with health issues.
- A new resident to Knoxville who is looking for the right medical care for her chronic pain.
- Newborn nephew who is having surgery this week at Vanderbilt.
We continue to pray for….
- A son and a daughter-in-law who are both looking for meaningful work.
- A member who is consulting with pulmonologist after chest x-ray showed a spot. Prayers for clear diagnosis and a healing path forward.
- A young couple beginning fertility procedures to start their family.
- Those who have cancer.
- Grandchildren who are hurting because of divorce of parents. May the extended family be a source of healing and comfort.
- Couples who are wanting to start a family.
- All of the men and women in the military.
- Those who are caring for family members who have dementia.
- Members who have cancer and are going through the ups and downs of treatments.
- All those whose grief is compounded by suicide; may they know the assurance that loved ones are in God’s eternal peace and love.
- Our Staff-Parish Relations Committee as they see the right people for positions here. We are so thankful for their wisdom and good work.
We offer prayers of thanksgiving for….
- A clear – NO CANCER – pathology report! Prayers for healing and strength after surgery!
- Third graders who received Bibles this past Sunday!
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.
