www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Prayer Prayer for God's protection in the storm and cold

I see that all my fellow North Easterners are also snow bound and also couldn't make church.

I don't even know if my church is having services!

I remember the last snowstorm in Washington, D.C. where my son attends college. They were so unprepared for it that the Greek Orthodox Cathedral did not have services for the first time in thirty-three years. Kind of figures that my son actually decided to attend morning services that day with a friend! (--a somewhat rare occurence as his hours are kind of lopsided)

Anyway--I do pray that all my brothers and sisters and their families who are in this storm are safe, healthy and warm, and that they will stay that way through the freezing temperatures that will be with us for the next week.

Your sister in Christ,
Alice

On this long cold spell we pause, O Lord of love to give thanks for food, drink, warmth and shelter - and to remember those who do not enjoy these simple things we take for granted.

At Christmas we celebrate your coming to earth to feel our pain, our helplessness and homelessness. Even as there was no room for Christ to be born indoors in a warm inn, so there are many "for whom there could be found no room" - for one reason or another.

Open cold hearts, we pray, to give warm reception to the hungry, hampered and homeless among us. And open the purse strings of those with plenty that they may share - so there will be food, milk , water and a place to lay their heads - "be it ever so humble" so long as it can be called a home. Even if a manger or stable be the only habitat for humanity - let us recall, this season, that such a shelter served as habitat for divinity in the Christian perspective - and that the Christ of the manger has inspired many throughout the past several thousand years to be loving, caring, helping servants, who bring joy and hope to those starving and freezing.

In a world of war, jealousy, hostility and destruction - let us, O Lord of all peoples in all lands, build "twin towers" of peace and love - and a "pentagon" of hope from every angle.

Lead us to care for one another as you love us - to share our wealth as you share blessings with us, to forgive and eschew judgment on those who suffered this world's needs - even as you forgive us our sins, our failures, our mistakes, our shortcomings - and judge us all not by results but by motives and intent. Grant peace on earth - in this and all seasons of life, and grant all the bread of life, "chicken soup for the soul" earthly warmth and lodging , and a spiritual place prepared for us - that we may, whatever our race or creed, dwell in the "House of the Lord" forever! Amen.

In His Holy Name,
+Fr. Gregory

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy!

Prayers indeed for all those snowbound and for all those in the public service, be they firefighters, police officers, medical personnel, snowplow drivers, and all others whose duties require them to be out in the weather serving the needs of the public.

Prayers for the poor, needy and homeless, and all affected by this storm.

Lord have mercy,

james