Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of February 5, 2025
Written by Rev. Catherine Nance
Gracious God,
We need your steadfast presence and a sense of your calm more than ever it seems!
Breaking news every few minutes about changes in how government is being handled is unnerving.
Heartache amidst the Potomac crash, the Antioch school shooting, and mass shooting in Sweden weigh our spirits down.
People are saying they are angry or confused or frightened!
We need this moment on Wednesday evening to pause, O God.
As we read this prayer together, let us realize that we are together in you.
Your love is what binds us together and it is in your love that we find peace and comfort.
When we feel frantic, may we feel your calm.
When we feel anger, may we seek your righteousness.
When we feel afraid, may we find refuge in you.
Help us to focus on what is near; what is close to us.
There are people in our church family who are praying for one another. God is near.
There are people who care about their neighbors. God is near.
There are librarians who welcome the homeless during the day. God is near.
There is a school principal who is taking time enouraging teachers who feel overwhelmed. God is near.
There are acts of kindness that we have done today and acts of kindness that we have received today. God is near.
Sometimes, O God, we just need to remember that you are not far away.
You do hear our prayers.
You do hear our prayers.
You do care about the orphan, the widow, and the stranger in our midst.
You do care.
In a world that seems to have forgotten to care for one another, it has been good to pause and to remember that you are the One who breathed Life into us. And you do care.
Having felt your love and care, O God, may we have the strength to face tomorrow with a loving and caring spirit to those we encounter.
Thank you for the gift of our church family who joins us in prayer! It means so much to know we are here for each other and that we pray for one another.
Receive these prayers that have been offered ….
We offer prayers for….
- Two daughters who are in the process of moving their mother to a new home.
- A preschool teacher who has had a child’s mother opt to leave the program for fear of ICE coming to the school; prayers for this child who is missing her teacher and friends.
- Parents of adult children who ask for help in navigating hard conversations.
- Those in our church family who are undergoing radiation treatments; keep them strong during such a fatiguing process;
- Those in our church family who are caring for those with cancer; the waiting between treatment cycles and tests to show if/how the treatment is working…. Prayers for patience and strength while waiting.
- A wife as she prepares for funeral of her husband this week.
- Those who have been affected by violence in their homes.
- A member who is caught in the middle of federal government changes; uncertain of job security….Prayers for all of the stress it is causing among colleagues.
- A nephew who was in a special education program funded by federal grants; the anxiety that has been caused due to threats of cuts or freezing funds.
- An eleven-year old who has just been diagnosed with leukemia; has already started chemotherapy and a four-week hospital stay at Children’s Hospital.
- A friend diagnosed with stage 3 kidney cancer; prayers she will not be fearful.
- Knox County Schools students, faculty, and staff.
- Friends and family going through difficult times.
- Those dealing with medical records pertaining to health and insurance will do so with confidentiality and honor the privacy of patients.
We continue to pray for…
- A father and two little boys whose wife/mother was killed in collision; prayers for cousin as he prays and cares for extended family;
- Immigrants in our city – even those who have documentation – who feel so fearful and feel targeted.
- Those who are starting new jobs.
- Young adults who are struggling with anxiety and other mental health issues. They are under so much pressure! Lord, let them know you care!
- A father who is undergoing tests to discern next steps for heart health.
We offer prayers of thanksgiving for…
- Rev. Rick Isbell and those leading confirmation retreat this weekend; the seven sixth-graders and their parents who are attending; may it be a time of deep commitment.
- The birth of a great-nephew.
- Successful surgery for brother.
- The doctors and surgical team who have completed surgeries for newborn grandson.
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.
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!