Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Prayer, and Preparing for Bed
Evening Prayer is a comforting way to prepare for bed. Tonight, I had some situations on my mind. Some people who I am praying for. Just in case anyone is new here, I am a small church pastor. And, I love to lead others in prayer. I pray on prayer teams, too, as well as pray for myself. All of the above.
I love the fact that Evening Prayer (as well as Morning Prayer, too!) has some specific space in which to remember our friends and loved ones in prayer. Thanks, Vicar Josh, for providing us with such excellent prayers each day at www.dailyoffice.org !
The sentence in the Prayer that reached out to me today is: “Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night.” This part of the prayer comes near the close of the brief Compline service.
Yes, I could remember when I often worked through the night. As a chaplain in the hospital, the pager kept on paging. People kept dying. Traumas kept happening. Ambulances kept coming in to the Emergency Department. But, just because I was often awake through the night, I thought of all those who also work an overnight shift. Not only police, firefighters, and EMT’s, but just think of all of those in a hospital. Doctors, nurses, CNA’s, therapists. All of the support personnel, no matter where they work. (Including chaplains.)
Dear Lord, gracious God, bless all of those I just mentioned. Not only at the hospitals where I worked, but also at care centers throughout Chicago. In all fifty states. Gracious God, guide their hands, guard their hearts, protect them, their loved ones and families. Dear Lord, in Your mercy, hear all of our prayers. Amen!
Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.
Visit the website http://dailyoffice.org/ to find out more about Morning and Evening Prayer!
Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind. @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er
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