Hi everyone! Marlene is posting on FB each day of this 1st week of Easter, the following Covid-19 prayer from Father Fugle, with the last paragraph specific to the day. I will add each daily prayer to the end of this blog, so they will all be together. We are continuing to pray these daily as a faith community. Thank you!
We are blessed to know a priest like Fr Jim with a gift for writing prayers. We asked Fr Jim to consider a parish prayer we could pray together , here on facebook, for this unprecedented time. He gave us this amazing meditation! There is a main prayer “Together” to be recited daily , then a secondary prayer for each day of the week. As we move on in our Easter Season journey, let’s become prayer warriors for those affected by Coronavirus! Won’t you join us? This will be the morning postings this week (on our Facebook page) , read to the bottom of the post for the specific intention of the day. And Thank You Fr Jim for taking the time and sharing this piece of your heart with us. God Bless you ! 🙏🏼
“TOGETHER ". by Fr Jim Fugle
Together, we ARE One Body in Christ. Together, we ARE many members. Together, we ARE facing a turbulent, unexpected storm. Together, we ARE in the same boat.
Together, we NEED not to feel lost. Together, we NEED not to feel afraid. Together, we NEED not to feel alone.
Together, we NEED to be healed.
Together, we CAN stand together, though far (or 6 feet) apart. Together, we CAN comfort one another. Together, we CAN create hope. Together, we CAN make a difference.
Together, we WILL suffer. Together, we WILL one day rejoice. Together, we WILL get through this, trusting Our Lord. Together, we WILL be One Body in Christ.
Lord, we are in need of your Spirit, Your Love, Your Wisdom, Your Protection.
Lord, we come TOGETHER as one Church in the same boat. We reach out to You for help during this turbulent pandemic. Strengthen those serving to protect us, cleanse us, & heal us from COVID-19. Keep us gathered in spiritual communion until we can gather again to celebrate the Lord's Supper. Amen.
Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. Amen. St Joseph, pray for us. Sts. Joachim and Anne, pray for us.
Each Monday:
Let's pray for one another, giving thanks for the gift of another day for the gift of countless blessings and for people who are infected with COVID-19 or facing quarantine; for the healing and care of people of all ages and stages in life from physical, mental, & spiritual ailments; for those who need the Lord's powerful & loving touch; for doctors, nurses, first responders, all working tirelessly to fight this war against COVID-19; for those who are afraid, those who feel lonely & isolated, those receiving treatment under quarantine; for those needing to feel a sense of purpose in pursuing health & protecting others, especially the most vulnerable, from exposure to the disease; for the protection of families & friends, & for peace to all who love them. Amen.
"Do do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with Thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6
Tuesday: Let's pray for one another, giving thanks for the gift of this day, for the gift of countless blessings & for people at higher risk of developing the disease; for those who are more likely than others to become severely ill from COVID-19: the elderly, people who live in nursing homes or long-term care facilities, people with chronic lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, people who have serious heart conditions, people who are immunocompromised including cancer treatment, people of any age with severe obesity or certain underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes, kidney failure, or liver disease, & pregnant women; for their protection from harm, for their comfort in this time of uncertainty; for the many using preventive isolation from loved ones.
"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7
Wednesday:
Let's pray for one another giving thanks for the gift of this day for many Graces and blessings that we receive and for medical professionals , caregivers and researchers responsible for fighting the new Coronavirus; for those people who are getting sick for healthcare workers, for First Responders who are working longer hours with fewer supplies and with more risk of Contracting the new coronavirus themselves, that their energy is renewed & sustains them during long shifts; for their protection as they work with patients; that their supplies be multiplied & available so they have the protective items needed to stay safe& healthy on the job; that research doctors may be inspired & invigorated while developing tests to diagnose the virus, create vaccines to prevent it, & identify protocols to eliminate the diseases spread.
"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me." Psalm 23:4
Thursday: Let's pray for one another, giving thanks for the gift of this day, for the gift of countless graces & blessings, & for leaders responsible for making decisions about COVID-19; for wisdom & mercy on people making decisions that affect the lives & futures of our families, our communities, our countries, & in our wider world; for these people to communicate clearly, truthfully, & calmly-with each other-& with the public- & that their messages are received and heeded; for truth & empathy to be the touchstones of people setting policies for our protection.
"He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, & He will Deliver us again. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us as you help us by your prayers." 2 Corinthians 1:10-11
Friday:
Let's pray together for one another, giving thanks for the gift of this day, for the gift of countless blessings, & for grocery store workers, pharmacists, cashiers, shelf stockers, delivery drivers; for business owners, restaurants offering meals, delivery & curbside service; for gas station employees, maintenance workers, washers & cleaners, dry cleaners, farmers; for families feeling financial strain, those overwhelmed with bills & the uncertainty of how to meet obligations, how to provide for their families; for those most grateful to those who continue to work, especially those at risk, those most vulnerable, those most in need of God's protection as they serve the ungrateful, the aggravated, the frustrated; for those who must work with supply shortages, those who make extra efforts to take necessary precautions just to keep everyone safe, protected & clean; for those most in need of healthy bodies, those who carry, unload & stock boxes of supplies; for schools & places offering meals for children in need; for those who make deliveries--that their cars, vans, & trucks continue to run smoothly on safe streets, roads, & highways as they deliver needed supplies, groceries & food ordered online or phoned in. Lord, provide for us in our time of need.
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
Saturday:
Let's pray together for one another, giving thanks for the gift of this day, for the gift of countless blessings, & for the virus to stop spreading; for a cure for COVID-19, that it will stop spreading & destroying people's lives; for people in all countries worldwide that have suffered, watched a loved one suffer, or die from this pandemic; for those who travel, for safe arrivals, safe departures; for those staying home, those who only make necessary trips; for those who wash or sanitize their hands often, for those who wear masks, personal protective gear, those who keep a safe distance; for the elderly & those most vulnerable, those who are at high-risk.
"God is our refuge & strength, an ever-present help when in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea..." Psalm 46:1-2
Sunday:
Let's pray together for one another, giving thanks for the gift of this day, for the gift of countless blessings, & for families adjusting to new ways of reality and life; for families still adjusting to everyone being home, for teachers & parents teaching their kids at home in this present reality; for spouses who need grace, strength to be there for one another; for worn-out parents, that they may be prompted to speak words of kindness & encouragement to their kids; for all children to find creative ways to experience the beauty of all that God has created & may they continue to learn; for families of loved ones who are sick, those who are suffering or who have died, for those who care for their needs, for those who worry or mourn. Lord, defend them all from illness & despair; may they know & recognize your face.
"Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed." Psalm 57:1