Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of November 20, 2024
Written by Rev. Catherine Nance
We give you thanks, O God!
Many are “practicing gratitude” this month as preparation for Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. Gracious God who has given life to us, we are sorry that we must remember to give thanks and ‘practice’ saying thank you!
O God who gave us the ability to experience so many things, may it be our habit to say and “thanks be to God,” first before we utter any other words. May our spiritual discipline be to say “thank you,” so regularly that we do not have to be reminded to practice it.
So, we begin this evening, with “Thank you!”
Thank you for the beautiful sunrise this morning!
Thank you for a job to drive to or volunteer activities to do or tasks at home that give us meaning!
Thank you for the freedom we have to worship you!
Thank you for family members – all of them! The ones who are near and dear, the ones who cause us a little grief, the ones who have hurt us, and the ones who show love beyond all measure! Thank you for putting us into a community of family and knowing we have roots. Thank you for the ability to look objectively at our past and learn how we want to be now and in the future.
Thank you for friends and special relationships! We thank you for those people who are special in our lives; those who accept us as we are and encourage us no matter what. Thank you for strangers we have encountered today who brought a smile to our spirit. Thank you for surprises along the way … a scampering chipmunk, a toddler who waved at us while in line at the store, and the bonus French fry in the bottom of the fast-food bag.
Thank you for the gift of prayer! We thank you for the gift of sharing our deepest hurts, our fears, and our regrets to you. Thank you that in sharing with you, our spirits are nurtured and healed.
Thank you for hearing the prayers we offer on behalf of others ….
We share these concerns and thanksgivings from our church family…..
We offer prayers of thanksgiving for…
- Colleagues who are collaborative
- A wonderful SLA retreat for our youth. Prayers of thanksgiving for Pastor Tim and interns for planning such a great weekend!
- A promotion at work
We pray for….
- Our young adults and college students who are under so many pressures
- Young people struggling with anxiety and depression
- One who is grieving after the death of her pet; prayers for comfort as she misses her companion
- A church member who has had a stroke; prayers for family as they make decisions
- A member who is preparing for radiation treatments and meeting with oncologist
- One who has been in hospital with heart issues; prayers as doctors discern best medications and next steps
- A member whose husband is in hospice care
- Those whose parents are in hospice care
- A member as he adjusts to a new living arrangement
- A member waiting on results from PET scan
- Friends and family members who are going through a difficult time
- A member who will have open heart surgery early in December; prayers for peace as she waits
- A wife, mom, grandmother who has been hospitalized for over a month; prayers she can be released soon and begin cancer treatment
- The homeless in our community; especially those who were housed at Magnolia UMC and Vestal UMC
- Families who will be receiving Thanksgiving baskets this 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.
