Prayer & Praise
Collect
O Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise make ready your way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient toward the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world, we may be found a people acceptable in your sight; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
For I the Lord love justice;
I hate robbery and wrong;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their offspring shall be known among the nations,
and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge them,
that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to sprout up before all the nations.
Psalm 126
When the Lord overturned the captivity of Zion, * then were we like those who dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter * and our tongue with shouts of joy.
Then they said among the nations, * “The Lord has done great things for them.”
Indeed, the Lord has done great things for us already, * whereof we rejoice.
Overturn our captivity, O Lord, * as when streams refresh the deserts of the south.
Those who sow in tears * shall reap with songs of joy.
He who goes on his way weeping and bears good seed * shall doubtless come again with joy, and bring
his sheaves with him.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
Brothers, pray for us.
Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
John 1:6-8, 19-28
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight[h] the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
please remember in prayer
Michael – Miss Kitty has a UTI and may have the beginning of kidney failure. She also has cataracts and possibly feline senility. They gave her fluids, antibiotics, and eye drops. They also noted that she is sweet and patient …and she is. We may not have many days left, but they will be good days and I will be thankful for them.
Captain Kevin – job related difficulties, housing situation, pain everywhere, depression, Please continue praying for me. My GI issues are getting worse. Not sure if the symptoms are related, but I’m also having low back and pelvic floor pain. I’ve lost 26 lbs in the last 5 months, and not because I’m trying. I had been wanting to lose weight, but not this way. Honestly, I’m afraid. There are a few free clinics around here, but most are not taking new patients due to Covid. I’m calling a nurse practitioner tomorrow. A friend recommended her and thinks she’ll only charge $80 for a cash-pay visit (Most are $150). Of course if labs are ordered, I’ll have to pay cash for those as well.
sarahmorgan – would greatly appreciate prayers from this community; my surgery is scheduled for mid-December, I won’t know if I have cancer until after the surgery, and all of the local news says that time will be the height of the pandemic here, so there’s a chance my surgery will be delayed…trusting God is very difficult right now, sigh.
Em – Victoria, homeless with a cat, shelters won’t allow the cat in and the cat is all she has.
Erunner- Our brother in law who is in his early 50’s has learned that his carotid artery is 70% blocked. It appears he will be undergoing surgery. They have also found an issue with his heart. He’s a believer with a gentle and wise spirit.
Please pray for him, his wife, and their three grown children.
filbertz -praying for POTUS & FLOTUS and others around them as they’ve tested positive for Covid-19
London – My brother, a healthcare provider, and SIL tested positive for covid
Raina R.-Please pray for my sister-in-law. She has been having horrible headaches and is recovering from surgery
Em – Would appreciate prayer for my nurse daughter. The company she works for have scheduled her for 11 days straight 12 hour shifts and many of the critical care dialysis patients are covid positive from outside the area… Humanly speaking, this schedule is impossible. .
jtk – I request prayer for our outreach to the university. 25% of those 18-23 have considered suicide in the last 30 days. This is so urgent in my heart and spirit.
Em – Prayer for my daughter on city council would br appreciated, received 24 plus threatening Emails demanding that they disband their police department
Our Phoenix Preacher family, health, healing, joy, peace
Kelly -I have a real need to continue to see my counselor. In addition to the other reasons I see him for I have been having day long panic attacks, on top of the depression and PTSD-C symptoms.
Alissa-My sweet husband has Autism and was let go from his job yesterday.
Patrik -Pray for me, an ER nurse in Indianapolis.
Dan form Georgia- I work in aviation/transportation. We are getting hit HARD as many of you know. I am not even confident when I go into work everyday that it will be my last day (layoff or termination). Also struggling a lot with anxiety.
Chris -My wife started her second career as a nurse this week on the hospital floor that they treat the Covid patients.
Linneia – joint and muscle aches
Nancy – prayer for her discernment of an unexpected opportunity to become a more public advocate for the homeless,
Em – daughter is healing from fracture spine
Michael – I would appreciate prayer as well…life is pretty overwhelming right now.
Linnea – Would you pray for Greg? He was treated for an aggressive brain cancer and thought he was clear, but it has roared back. Please pray for healing and that he and his wife come to know the Lord. Thank you!
Xenia- Pray for the churches of Sri Lanka
Paige – Asking for prayer for a family issue… God knows…. and the silencing of a lying gossip who is spreading slander about me to family members and others. It’s an on going issue that is quite perplexing, and apparently demonic. Twisted, delusional and strange.
cash – depression , PTSD
David H – I could use a prayer. I was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy . Right side of my face is paralyzed. Prednisone and an antiviral.
Michael – heart aneurysm and a bad valve, bad back and neck issues.
JD – Marshal whose mother told him that she doesn’t love him
Linnea – Jon and Sarah. Please pray that they would know God’s love and would follow Him out of horrible lifestyles to freedom.
Michael, Rick, Joel, Dan, capt. Kevin, Owen – wand to hear from God in their prayer life
JTK- ongoing back issue.
David H – Aunt Ramona has Adenocarcinoma primary lung cancer.
Victor- chronic back pain
Linnea- sister salvation
Paige- 4 boys to be pleasing to God
Just “aquired” an elderly, sweet French bulldog found abandoned or lost in the middle of our icy mountain road
If you read this, could you ask the Lord that we locate owner ASAP? Thank you! ! !
Elderly bulldog owner found – thank you, Lord – advantage of living in am area where everybody knows everybody…?
His name is Hershey and comes from waay downriver
Sure his name wasn’t UGA XI or something?
Em,
If you don’t know who is Uga, here is a link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uga_(mascot)
CM, I didn’t see anything in that wiki link about Uga gone missing, but I have heard that it happened…I work with a rabid UGA football fan.
CM, had an uncle who taught there years ago…. Before he went on to some hush hush government project…. 😏
This dog was a sweetie, but was headed for the shelter, if we hadn’t found his owner …. 2 nice bearded guys in a fancy new red pickup came to get him.. . Beards aren’t yayhoo adornment anymore
Still i thank God (He knows) for getting the word to his owners quickly. .