The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Lord, we keep many things near at hand. Some of them are good things: blessings, honors, every kind and every sort of stuff. Some of them are not as good: fears, sins, even sheer indifference. But you call us here to remember that you are truly the God who is near, and so we bring our petitions to you with renewed awareness.
First we pray for the violence on all men’s lips—the devastation and pain being dealt in Israel. The land you made to flow with milk and honey now flows in blood. Save the Christians caught in this conflict. Both sides claim to worship your name; let them come to know you in truth so that they may bow their necks, together, before the God of peace.
Next we pray for those who continually ask for healing from your hand. Their temptation is always to let their pain push your presence away. Instead may it push them closer, and when they are as close as they can bear, heal their weaknesses. Even in our little community there are too many to name, so take these named few as our representatives. May peace guard their hearts and minds.
And last we pray for the affairs of our churches. We thank you for the peace we and many others have found in the CREC. We ask your blessing on expanding that communion, on the expansion of our church, and on the leadership of our elders. We make this supplication with thanksgiving, for what good to us is a God who is near, if He does not continually give us so many good things? And what good are we to Him, if we do not give Him thanks for them?
So, anxious in nothing, we make these requests known to You. Remember us.
