Week of November 5, 2025
Rev. Catherine Nance
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It is the day after election day, O God of All Days. You numbered the days as you were creating and called each one ‘good.’ We have other names ….
· The third day of “time change,” and we are exhausted at 6:30 p.m.
· My day for carpool; my day to pick up dry cleaning
· The day our garbage gets picked up
· The day after we got the news from the doctor
· The day before we go for the scan
· Two days before the funeral
· My cousin’s birthday
· Choir practice and Bible Study day
· A productive day; a long day; a bad day….
You gave us the gift of perception and language, O God who is the Word. On the day after election day, the beings you simply called human and good will be described in polling categories. Over or under 65, Latino or Black, employed or retired, evangelical (whatever that means) and no religion (whatever that means).
On this day we call Wednesday, we gather as a church family over email. Some have had supper, and some will not read this until just before bedtime. It is Wednesday night, and we pause to clear our minds and hearts. We need a reset from categorizing people and days and long to remember that you called each of us good. Each day is good. Remembering that you called us into being and you prepared a place for us to live and love, we take a deep breath and say that it is good to pray. To give thanks. To remember people who matter to us. To think of people we do not know but who are captured in headlines … the three crew members on that UPS plane and the 35,000 Knox Countians who receive SNAP benefits. We pray for the people whose job it is to figure out how to get federal dollars to translate into usable funds by the state. We pray especially for government leaders to be acutely aware of the people they represent and to hear the cries of their people.
We are grateful for opportunities to share offerings that will turn into Thanksgiving baskets for neighbors; we are grateful we can afford to buy extra cans of soup and bring them to church for food pantries. Move us to action as a community, a nation, to do something that ensures our neighbors do not have to worry about next meals.
We thank you for Wednesday evening, O God, when we remember our church family. We are a place at 900 Henley, we are a community of disciples struggling to do our best, we are connected through your Spirit, and this gift of prayer, as we remember those who have asked for prayer this week …
We pray for …
- A father who is in stage 4 kidney failure, awaiting an appointment with a specialist.
- Complete healing from cancer; please restore my body to health!
- A friend who is in the hospital with liver failure
- A member with congestive heart failure needing to make decisions after hospitalization
- Two good friends who have been diagnosed with cancer … one who just retired and has throat cancer; another who had overcome bladder cancer three years ago and now has spots on the liver. Prayers for healing as they begin treatments.
- Blessings for a good friend and blessings on her sons.
- A job; I need a job so I can get off the streets.
- A young man with schizophrenia, prayers that he gets the help he needs; thankful for a supportive family and community
- All those who come to Wesley House Food Pantry, prayers that there will be enough!
- One needing strength and confidence as she works to complete degree.
- All those who are anxious about federal shutdown and what it means for their families, especially those who receive SNAP benefits. Lord, in your mercy!
- Government leaders to move beyond creating division and bring stability to our nation and state.
We continue to pray for …
- All those who are grieving recent deaths and those who are remembering years gone by!
- Two daughters grieving the unexpected death of their mother.
- A couple who are grieving after IVF disappointment; prayers as they consider options for starting a family.
- Friends and family who are struggling and have special needs.
- A member continuing to deal with health issues related to congestive heart failure.
- Those dealing with addiction, especially those looking for treatment and not finding resources.
- So many in our congregation dealing with cancer treatments and caring for those with cancer.
We give thanks for ….
- New Stephen Ministers who will be commissioned this Sunday
- A new job
- A caretaker who has gone above and beyond
- Friends who take time to listen.
Until we gather again over email next Wednesday, we hold these prayers in our hearts and offer the prayer you taught us, praying …
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.
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