Passing through the Waters An Episcopal Prayer Resource for Times of Social Isolation & Pandemic Table of Contents Faith 3 Health & Healing 5 Physical Health & Healing 5 Mental Health 7 Death & Mourning 9 Uncertainty, Guidance & Protection 11 Patience & Disappointment 12 Blessings & Loved Ones 13 Blessings & Thanksgivings 13 Homes & Families 13 For Children & Youth 14 Children’s Prayers 16 Birthdays & Aging 17 Those Who Are Not with Us or Live Alone 18 Rest & Leisure 19 Justice & The Vulnerable 20 Our World & Nation (Government) 22 Unity & Peace 23 Prayers for Each Day 25 In the Morning 25 At Night 26 Wilderness Devotions 27 Due to copyright prayers from Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People were not included, but can be easily ordered or downloaded. Prayers New & Old, Prayers for All Occasions, St. Augustine’s Prayer Book and The Anglican Family Prayer Book can all be ordered as well to support Forward Movement and Morehouse Publishing. 2 Faith Feeling Far Away from God: Prayer #15 in Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People Finding God O God, open our eyes to wider horizons than we have imagined. Unstop our ears to hear your voice in unexpected places, enlighten our hearts to know your presence, and grant us to find you everywhere and in all your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayers New & Old) Hope O God of hope, fill us, we pray, with all joy and peace in believing, that we may ever abound in hope by the power of your Holy Spirit, and show forth our thankfulness to you in trustful and courageous lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayers New & Old) Love for God O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into my heart such love toward you, that loving you in all things and above all things, I may obtain your promises, which exceed all that I can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayers for All Occasions) Philippians 4:8 Prayer Grant, O Lord, whether this day be outwardly joyous or sad, that as I go about my work, I may fix my thoughts and efforts on whatever is true, whatever is honest, whatever is just, whatever is lovely, and whatever is of good report; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayers New & Old) Sarum Prayer God be in my head, and in my understanding; God be in mine eyes, and in my looking; God be in my mouth, and in my speaking; God be in my heart, and in my thinking; God be at my end, and at my departing. (The Anglican Family Prayer Book) 3 Serving God Lord God almighty, we are yours and we would serve you. By the power of your Spirit, open our eyes to see the world as you see it; enkindle our hearts that we may share our love for it; enlighten our minds that we may understand our will for it; and grant us grace and strength so to live in it, that we may help to make it wholly yours; for the sake of him who lived in it and died for it, and lives forever with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Prayers New & Old) Serving God O God you are the light of the minds that know you, the life of the souls that love you, and the strength of the wills that serve you: Help me so to know you that I may truly love you, so to love you that I may fully serve you, whom to serve is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayers for All Occasions) Serving God O heavenly Father, you have filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that, rejoicing in your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayers New & Old) When You Cannot Attend Worship In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated. I desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. And since I cannot receive you today in the physical presence of my community, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and the life to come. Amen. (Prayer Book for the Armed Services, 1988) 4 Health & Healing Physical Health & Healing For a Sick Child Heavenly Father, who sent your beloved Son into the world in the form of a little child, and to whom all children are dear: Watch with us over _______________. In your mercy ease her suffering and restore her to health again. Bless those who minister to her needs, and give to us who wait the help of your grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayers for All Occasions) For Those Who Serve the Sick Blessed Lord, you went about doing good and healing all manner of sickness and infirmity. Bestow your blessing, we pray, upon doctors and nurses and all who work in hospitals and homes for the relief of human suffering. Give them skills and tenderness, cheerfulness and patience, and let them find their reward in grateful hearts and in the knowledge that they are serving you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayers for All Occasions) Healing O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to your servant ___________ the help of your power, that their sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer) Healing O God of heavenly powers, by the might of your command you drive away from our bodies all sickness and all infirmity: Be present in your goodness with your servant ___________, that their weakness may be banished and their strength restored; and that, their health being renewed, they may bless your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer) Healing: Prayer #54 in Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People In Pain Lord Jesus Christ, by your patience in suffering you hallowed earthly pain and gave us the example of obedience to your Father's will: Be near me in my time of weakness and pain; sustain me by your grace, that my strength and courage may not fail; heal me according to your will; and help me always to believe that what happens to me here is of little account if you hold me in eternal life, my Lord and my God. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer) 5 Readying for the Day This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer) Sick and Suffering Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son our Lord took upon himself our infirmities and had compassion upon all sick and suffering: Hear our prayer for all who suffer in body or mind or spirit; and especially we pray for ___________. Grant them relief from pain, strength in their weakness, light in their darkness and, if it shall please you, restoration to health. Enable them now to trust you though your way is hidden from their sight; and let them know that peace which is the gift of your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayers for All Occasions) Sickness and Pain O God my Father, hold me in your keeping. You have made my body and meant it to be whole. Be with me when I am bewildered by sickness and pain. Let me trust the power of your healing; and above all and through all let me trust your love that does not fail. Give me back, I pray, health and vigor, that I may set my hands again with gladness to the unhindered tasks of life; but if this may not be, then teach me still to serve as best I can with bent or broken tools. May any suffering I must undergo teach me sympathy for all who suffer, and may every gift of life renewed ne me forth with a thankful heart to greater consecration; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayers for All Occasions) Sickness of Mind or Body Almighty God, look upon those who are sick in body or in mind: on the handicapped and the infirmed and on all who suffer pain. Bless, O God, the ministrations of those who give them care; invigorate them with your healing power to restore them to health and alleviate your ills; let your loving kindness be their solace, and grant them the faith, the patience, and the valor by which the spirit serves the flesh and abides unconquered; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayers New & Old) Strength & Refreshment O God, in sunshine and rain, in work and rest, in friendship and solitude, in the common things of life you give us your very self, making bread and wine the sacrament of your sustaining presence: Strengthen and refresh us, that we may eagerly seek you, surely find you, and faithfully serve you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.