With a National Emergency called, churches have responded more and more by cancelling Sunday services. There is, of course, an abundance of online options. For someone sacramental, and one who has just simply enjoyed the fellowship of believers on a regular basis, this has hit me hard. Our own church is saying the next service will be Palm Sunday. (We can adjust back, of course.)
The Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America offered these prayer points to coincide with a National Day of Prayer (March 15), which will ironically simply be individuals praying…
This Sunday, let’s pray and fast for our nations:
- repenting of our sins and asking God’s forgiveness
- asking God’s intervention to stop the spread of this virus
- asking God for healing for those who are sick
- asking God to use us, his people, as agents of love and compassion
- asking God to draw people to himself through the saving power of Jesus on the cross.
Let us remember the words God gave to Solomon:
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)
It is the first time in my lifetime I remember having church cancelled in this manner. We live in times that desperately need prayer. In a time when we are struggling with unity of any sort, we are having physical opportunities to unify being ripped from us. This is not an accident.
More than ever, this is a time of prayer. This is indeed a time of repentance.
Hear our cry, O Lord.
Apprentice 2 Jesus 