Prayer List
If you could see the journey whole
you might never undertake it;
might never dare the first step that propels you
from the place you have known
toward the place you know not.
Call it one of the mercies of the road: that we see it only by stages
as it opens before us,
as it comes into our keeping
step by single step.
There is nothing for it but to go
and by our going take the vows the pilgrim takes:
to be faithful to the next step;
to rely on more than the map;
to heed the signposts of intuition and dream;
to follow the star that only you will recognize;
to keep an open eye for the wonders that attend the path;
to press on beyond distractions
beyond fatigue
beyond what would tempt you from the way.
There are vows that only you will know;
the secret promises for your particular path
and the new ones you will need to make
when the road is revealed by turns
you could not have foreseen.
Keep them, break them, make them again:
each promise becomes part of the path;
each choice creates the road that will take you to the place
where at last you will kneel to offer
the gift most needed—the gift that only you can give—
before turning to go home by another way.
*"For Those Who Have Far To Travel" - poem by Jan Richardson
This week we pray for:
Stephen and Matt Kridel, sons of Dawn Kridel
Prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving upon the release of the mental health app Mettatune that they developed to help improved focus.
Henry Darden, son of Gracie and Frank Darden
We give thanks that baby Henry's cranial surgery went well and continue to pray for full healing.
Sandy and Dave Schmidt
Prayers for continued healing and comfort as they are recovering from a Covid breakthrough infection and as Sandy begins PT on her arm.
Gabbriel, goddaughter of Gayle Walker, friend of Pastor Enikő
Prayers for Gabbriel to make the needed decisions regarding crucial medical treatment.
Friends of Mary-Marie Deauclaire
Prayers for healing for friends of Mary-Marie living in California who are recovering from Covid.
Csongor Ferenczy, brother of Pastor Enikő
Prayers for healing for Csongor who had hernia surgery today in Romania.
Dorothy, Dawn Kridel's mother-in-law
Continued prayers for comfort for Dorothy, mother of Dawn's husband Mike, as her health continues to deteriorate.
As temperatures drop, we pray for those who do not have a safe and warm place to call home. We pray for all in our community who are supporting the operation of the Severe Weather Shelter at the Salvation Army. Special thanks to members of Westminster who have been preparing and serving meals at the shelter on Mondays during the month of January.
We pray for the lingering challenges at the US southern border, and especially for the many around the world seeking asylum, help, and care.
We pray for the people struggling for freedom, peace and justice; for places torn by conflict, famine and violence. We give thanks for all who work to make this world a more peaceful place.
As the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus spreads across the world, we pray for wisdom so that all will do the right thing to protect the wellbeing of our communities. We pray for exhausted medical staff who care for the sick; for people in countries with no access to the vaccine.
On Monday, January 17, we commemorated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, who dedicated his life to the work of creating a world where economic and social justice is the experience of all people. Dr. King reminded us that “change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom." We pray for wisdom and courage for our wider community here in Wooster to continue to join together with renewed commitment to share gifts and resources in the work for justice and freedom for all our neighbors.
Here are a couple of images from the commemoration at the City Square organized by NAACP and the Wayne County Racial Justice Coalition:
