PRAYERS AND DEVOTIONS:
Below you will find some links to online resources for prayers and devotions. Try Pray As You Go, which is a Prayer App for daily prayers, or check out Luther Seminary God Pause for daily devotions and prayers. Never under-estimate the power of prayer.
Below you will find some links to online resources for prayers and devotions. Try Pray As You Go, which is a Prayer App for daily prayers, or check out Luther Seminary God Pause for daily devotions and prayers. Never under-estimate the power of prayer.
Click on the link below for resources on COVID-19 for churches from the National Council of Churches.
PRAYER FOR A PANDEMIC:
May we who are merely inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake. May we who have no risk factors remember those most vulnerable. May we who have the luxury of working from home remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent. May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close remember those who have no options. May we who have to cancel our trips remember those that have no safe place to go. May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market, remember those who have no margin at all. May we who settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home. As fear grips our country, let us choose love. During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors. Amen. - Bishop Michael Rinehart |
INTERCESSORY PRAYER IN THE MIDST OF THE SPREAD OF COVID-19:
* O God our Healer, show your compassion for the whole human family that is in turmoil and burdened with illness and with fear. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. * Come to our aid as the coronavirus spreads globally, heal those who are sick, support and protect their families and friends from being infected. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. * Grant us your spirit of love and self-discipline so that we may come together, working to control and eliminate the coronavirus. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. * Make us vigilant, attentive, and proactive in the eradication of all diseases, malaria, dengue, HIV & AIDS, and others [may be named out loud or in silence]… that create suffering and often result in death for many people. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. * Heal our self-centeredness and indifference that makes us worry only when the virus threatens us, open ways beyond timidity and fear that too easily ignore our neighbor. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. * Strengthen and encourage those in public health services and in the medical profession: care-givers, nurses, attendants, doctors, all who commit themselves to caring for the sick and their families. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. * Inspire, give insight and hope to all researchers focused on developing a vaccine. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. * Sustain all workers and business owners who suffer loss of livelihood due to shut-downs, quarantines, closed borders, and other restrictions… protect and guard all those who must travel. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. * Guide the leaders of the nations that they speak the truth, halt the spread of misinformation and act with justice so that all your family may know healing. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. * Heal our world, heal our bodies, strengthen our hearts and our minds, and in the midst of turmoil, give us hope and peace. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. * Hold in your gentle embrace all who have died and who will die this day. Comfort their loved ones in their despair. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. * Remember all your family, the entire human race, and all your creation, in your love. Amen! |