Prayer & Praise
THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY
Collect
Eternal Father, at the baptism of Jesus you revealed him to be your Son, and your Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove: Grant that we, who are born again by water and the Spirit, may be faithful as your adopted children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Isaiah 42:1-9
Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law.
Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;
I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
a light for the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
I am the Lord; that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols.
Behold, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth
I tell you of them.”
Psalm 89:1-29
My song shall be always of the loving-kindness of the Lord; * with my mouth will I ever be proclaiming your faithfulness, from one generation to another.
For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up for ever; *
your faithfulness shall be established in the heavens.”
I have made a covenant with my chosen one; * I have sworn to David my servant:
“Your seed will I establish for ever, * and set up your throne from one generation to another.”
O Lord, the heavens will praise your wondrous works * and your faithfulness in the assembly of the saints.
For who in the clouds can be compared unto the Lord? * And who among the gods is like unto the Lord?
God is greatly to be feared in the council of the saints, * and to be held in reverence by all those who are round about him.
O Lord God of hosts, who is like you? * Your faithfulness, most mighty Lord, is round about you.
You rule the raging of the sea; *you still the waves when they arise.
You have subdued Rahab of the deep, and destroyed her; * you have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; * you laid the foundation of the world, and all that is in it.
You have made the north and the south; * Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in your Name.
You have a mighty arm; * strong is your hand, and high is your right hand.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; * mercy and truth shall go before your face.
Blessed are the people, O Lord, who rejoice in you; * they shall walk in the light of your countenance.
Their delight shall be in your Name all the day long, * and in your righteousness shall they make their boast.
For you are the glory of their strength, * and by your favor you shall lift up our might.
For the Lord is our defense; * the Holy One of Israel is our King.
You spoke in a vision to your saints, and said, * “I have set the crown upon one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.
I have found David my servant; * with my holy oil have I anointed him.
My hand shall hold him fast, * and my arm shall strengthen him.
The enemy shall not be able to do him violence; * the son of wickedness shall not hurt him.
I will smite his foes before his face * and strike down those who hate him.
My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him, * and in my Name shall his horn be exalted.
I will give him dominion over the sea, * and with his right hand shall he rule the rivers.
He shall say to me, “You are my Father, * my God and the rock of my salvation.”
And I will make him my firstborn, * higher than the kings of the earth.
My mercy will I keep for him for ever, * and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
His seed will I make to endure for ever * and his throne as the days of heaven.
Acts 10:34-38
So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
Mark 1:7-11
And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Pray for my wife and her sister…my father-in-law will probably not make it through the night. He’s low on oxygen and not doing well…was diagnosed with COVID-19 last Sunday. Thanks family.
Dan, praying for your family. I’m in the hospital right now myself, so I have time. Checking if I had a TIA this morning…
Thank you Michael.
Dan, I’m sorry to hear this. Still praying.
Michael, praying for you too.
Dan AND Michael praying here, too
For you also, Captain K
Thanks Em and Captain Kevin!
Dan, I hope your father in law made it through the night and improves. I think I said here last week I went to CA and took my 96 yr old mother in law out of her home in an assisted living facility. She is safer living with the 2 of us than in her apartment, even with the lock down the employees go in and out.
My advise to any who have elderly relatives in such places – get them out.
Hi MLD, thanks. So far I have not heard anything new, so maybe that is a good thing. His oxygen levels were dropping last night, but then again his fever has been off and on as well. The nurse said that the oxygen levels may fluctuate also. I REALLY wish we could get him out of there, and maybe we should have done so a year ago, but there were some circumstances preventing that.
I got home late from the hospital and feel ok, but tired.
The probability is that I had a tiny stroke, though confirming that was made difficult as I couldn’t handle the MRI machine.
The CAT scan showed it wasn’t my first.
We’ll see where we go from here.
Praying for you my friend…
Thank you, Duane…just another speed bump.
Prayer continues here, too, Michael
” Speed bumps? ” They serve a purpose… So many of God’s servants get tested so severely. Getting the devil’s attention is risky…
Hope all pray for all our brothers and sisters in Christ… too often i neglect this
Prayers going up for everyone here.
My father-in-law passed away earlier this afternoon due to COVID-19. He was 77. Prayers appreciated for wife and I and my sister-in-law and her daughter. Thanks!
Dan,
Our hearts and prayers are with you and yours…
Dan
So sorry for your loss. Praying for you and your family.
Thanks Michael and Duane.
Praying God’s strength and comfort for Dan and his family now…
Thank you Em.
please remember in prayer
Dan from Georgia -My father-in-law passed away earlier this afternoon due to COVID-19. He was 77. Prayers appreciated for wife and I and my sister-in-law and her daughter.
Captain Kevin -Please continue to pray for my GI issues. Seems to be getting worse. Trying to get in to a clinic or a dr who will charge on a sliding scale. Many just aren’t taking new patients due to Covid.
Mike E.-May I ask for prayer for my daughter and her young family? There are four of them. They all have Covid. My grandsons, a13-year-old and a one-year-old have Covid, as do both her mother and father.
Duane Arnold -Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sir Brian Urquhart, a friend from New York days who has died at 101. A founding member of the United Nations, he was the intelligence officer who tried to prevent the Arnhem campaign in WWII. A lifelong and faithful Anglican, he lived out his faith in managing peace keeping operations around the world.
Duane Arnold – my mother is in assisted living. Current statistics
113 residents
56 recoveries from Covid
22 deaths from Covid
0 Testing positive today
The staff are heroic..
Martin Luther’s Disciple – my 96 yr old mother in law is in a similar situation in SoCal.
Jlo – my niece and her husband both have covid. My niece is recovering her case was mild. Her husband Aaron is having a tougher time of it. Has a persistent cough and fever. He has new meds today so hopefully he has a breakthrough.
Michael – Ray Garza is in the hospital with Covid 19
Michael – Tom Stipe is in the hospital with kidney failure from sepsis
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.
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
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
Father God, so many here are in pain for their loved ones who are sick, dying and dead. So many here are in pain from their own aliments and trials.
Father lay Your hand upon us. Show us Your grace and mercy. You said You would never give us more than we could handle, but we are at our breaking point, way past it…..save us oh God of mercy and might. Give us Your healing touch. Protect us. Heal us. Strengthen us. Surround us with Your mighty army to hold back the enemy. Help us please.
Jesus, our Saviour, pray for us. Cover us in Your healing blood.
Holy Spirit, give us utterance when we have no words. Work though us to help us to see God’s work, to see God’s plan for us in the midst of our trials. To praise Him when we cant see, hear, or feel, His mighty presence. Don’t let us lose faith. Give us encouragement in our spirit, heart and mind.
We bow before the Holy King, our God, we praise You no matter what.
Lord, praying with dusty… amen, amen amen!
Praying for everyone else on this list is keeping me going, as I feel like I’m floating slowly down a very uncertain stream….my Dec surgery was cancelled and rescheduled to January, and now due to continuing covid cases overwhelming the county, the January date has now also been cancelled and I was told it will be several weeks before they can talk about setting a new date….last fall, when I learned I needed surgery, I asked, “Can this wait until spring?” and was told that there were too many red flags for possible cancer for that to be a good idea. 🙁
May God hear the prayers of the entire Phx Preacher community here, and grant to us solace, wisdom, healing, and His peace which surpasses all understanding.
Dear Sarah, prayers continue here