Prayers on Thursday

It’s time for some prayers, I am always praying but I like to take this opportunity to write them all down here.  

Thanksgiving

That I am Canadian

That I am healthy and active

That we have means to travel

Petitions (for specific people)

Those who are being treated for cancer

Those who have lost a pet

Those who need to worry about their house - repairs, renovations that aren't going to plan, selling in this market

Those who have a tumultuous relationship with their children

Those who are recovering from illness

Those who are waiting for a diagnosis

Mark Carney, our soon to be new Prime Minister

Intercessions (for the wider world)

Ukraine 

United States

Lord, hear our prayer.

Prayers on Thursday

This month seems like it has been a little darker than other months - literally in terms of daylight, but also with world events.  I thought it was time for some prayers.  Please feel free to add your own in the comments. 

Thanksgiving 

The Eras Tour bringing joy to our city 

Friends

Playing Mario Kart 

Access to vaccines

The ability to workout on a regular basis

Having trips to plan

Petitions (for specific people)

Those who find the holiday season hard - missing family members or feeling financial strain

Those who are in the midst of uncertainty

Those who have mental illness

Those who are finding it hard to afford groceries and basic necessities

Those who are suffer from chronic pain

Intercessions (for the wider world)

Israel

Palestine

Ukraine

Taiwan

United States

South Sudan 

Lord, hear our prayer.

Prayers on Thursday

The last couple of weeks have seemed a bit heavier than usual so I thought it was time for a quick post for some Prayers on Thursday.  You can add your own in the comments if you wish.

Thanksgiving

Our good health
Fresh air 
Sunny days on the golf course
A safe school
Friends and neighbours

Petitions (prayers for specific people)

People who are living with health issues
People who have had their cancer come back
People who are in remission from cancer
People that lost their home to fire
People who have recently lost a loved one
People who are changing jobs/homes

Intercessions (prayers for the wider world)

People celebrating Pride
People who don't understand why we need to celebrate Pride
Forest firefighters
People being displaced by wildfires 
Teachers and school staff finishing up the year

Lord, hear our prayer.

Prayers on Thursday

We just celebrated Thanksgiving but I didn't get around to doing a post on all of the things I am thankful for so I'm doing that now along with a few prayers of petition (for specific people) and intercession (for the wider world).  I offer these prayers for things that are currently on my mind. 

Thanksgiving

Our good health

Loving family

Good food that we can afford

Cars that work and tanks full of gas

Our kids' safe school

Our peaceful and free country

The opportunity to travel and then return to a cozy home

Petitions

People living with cancer or who are in remission

People who are awaiting a diagnosis

People who have new babies

People who need to re-budget because of inflation

People who feel lonely

People in jail

Adnan Syed

Hae Lee's family

Intercessions

Ukrainians

Iranian Women

Pakistanis displaced and suffering due to the floods

Eastern Canadians and Floridians displaced and suffering due to the hurricanes

Hockey players who have suffered abuse

Indigenous families still dealing with the trauma of residential schools

Lord hear our prayer.

Friday Favourites

 

I had a small lunch on Monday at work so I picked up a cookie and coffee in the afternoon from Pilot Coffee in Union Station.  They are building a Sephora in Union Station so I'm looking forward to that being there so I can browse while getting a coffee. 

It snowed on Monday evening and everyone on my Instagram from Toronto was posting about it.  No thanks, we don't need anymore snow.  

I made some food for our church meal this week.  I may have written about this before - about once a month a group of us puts together a meal for about 25 seniors in the congregation. Some of us make the menu items at home, others put together the meals in the church kitchen, and then more people deliver them to the recipients.  This month I was making a salad.  Id didn't really make the salad, rather got all of the ingredients together so that when the people were putting the meals together, they could just build the salad then.  I did make the salad dressing, my mom's recipe for poppy seed dressing.  Then I brought spinach, strawberries, mandarins, and goat cheese. 

1 cup white sugar

2/3 cup vinegar (white or cider)

2 medium onions, roughly chopped

2 tsp dry mustard

2 tsp salt

2 cups oil (sunflower, canola, etc., not olive oil)

3 tbsp poppy seeds

Mix sugar, mustard, and salt.  Add vinegar and onions and place in blender or food processor.  Blend/process until the onion is chopped very finely and mixture is well blended.  While still blending/processing, gradually add oil in a slow, steady stream.  When thoroughly mixed, stir in poppy seeds and store in covered jar in the refrigerator. Stir/shake well before using.  Keeps for a month or more in the fridge.

Yield - approximately 1 quart

(I actually made 1.5 times the recipe)

We may have started a new tradition this week. We used to order food once every week or so but lately we have been getting bored with our choices. Ordering was fine during the past couple of years, but now going out is an option.  Yesterday we met at El Furniture Warehouse for supper.  It's between Spadina and Bathurst stations so Dave and the boys got off at Bathurst and I left work and got off at Spadina.  The food was good and cheap! Would highly recommend.  Especially as the weather gets nicer, Thursday night dinners may become a thing!

I meant to a Prayers on Thursday post yesterday but didn't get to it.  I am still thinking about the Ukrainians and praying for the rest of us that nuclear threats from Russia are hollow.  I'm also thinking about some people I know who are dealing with cancer treatments, including everyone's favourite Blue Jays announcer, Buck Martinez (and Jamie Campbell of Sportsnet).  I am also praying for the people making the decisions about banning books and the word "Gay" in Florida, and banning abortions and transgender care in other Southern US States (listen to the Daily podcast this week about the latter).  I pray that they can see the harm they are causing and I pray for the people that will be directly affected by those decisions.  

Linking up with Andrea and Erika.

Christmas Cards and Prayers

I've written about why I like to send Christmas cards here.  This year we got so many lovely cards and my very favourite thing is that it keeps us in touch with people even if it's only once a year.  We can feel pressured to constantly keep up with people because of social media and it can lead to feeling like you're not doing enough if you're not super in touch with all of the friends you've ever had from childhood to the new person you met at yoga the other day.  I remember helping my mom do her Christmas cards in the 1980s and 90s and that once a year card/letter was enough to keep the friendship alive.  So if my only contact with someone is once a year, that's okay with me.  (That said, it's not absolutely necessary to stay in touch with everyone, even with a card, some relationships fade away organically, and that's okay too.)

As I take down our cards this year, I decided to add one more aspect to this tradition, and that is praying specifically for each card sender.  This was an idea I took from Lauren, a blogger I started reading in the past couple of years.  I have enjoyed seeing our cards each day since they started arriving in December, so this is one more connection I can make with that person/family.  

Sending out some love!

Friday Favourites

I had full plans to do a Prayers on Thursday post yesterday but I did not get a chance to do that, all the same I wanted to send up some prayers for the people of Afghanistan and Haiti.  

My dad has been here visiting this week and is enjoying time with the boys.  I borrowed these photos from him.

Although I've got a bit of a habit of going into the office a few times a week now, I have not started bringing my lunch so I've been treating myself to meals out instead.  There are still only a handful of places open in the downtown core and my new favourite place is iQ.  I love a good bowl and they have lots of options. I also tried a fizzy grapefruit water (something I could totally make myself!) and it was a nice treat too. 

We are going to a cottage this weekend so I have made two pies, peach and blueberry, to bring with us as I would hate to arrive empty-handed.  Wild blueberries come at a dear price but the resulting pie is so worth it!!

Q went to his last summer camp this week at the Boulevard Club.  He has had a great time and they feed him lunch which is most exciting for me!

Happy Friday!

Prayers on Thursday

I am feeling like there are a lot of things swirling in my head to pray for so I wanted to organize it all here. 

This prayer list follows our church's (United Church of Canada) structure for Prayers of the People. First are prayers of Thanksgiving, where we give thanks for all of the blessings in our lives, then Petitions, which are prayers for specific people that we know need prayers, and finally Intercessions, which is a prayer for wider global concerns. 

Thanksgiving

Vaccine choices and availability 
Warm weather
My kids' teachers
Opportunities for summer camps and sports 
Our continued good health
Loving family that we will get to see soon
Friends that keep us smiling

Petitions

People with anxiety who have found the pandemic particularly hard
People who have moved in the last year or are moving now
People in senior's homes 
People who are counting the days until the borders open

Intercessions

Indigenous People reliving the trauma of the residential "schools" as we find more bodies of children buried on these sites.  And I pray for those little souls, I hope they know they were loved by someone. 
Muslims in London, Ontario, but also around the world who face persecution and hate.
The LGBTQ community who are also still facing persecution in many parts of the world and for whom Pride is more than just a parade.

Lord hear our prayer.

I haven't attended YouTube church since Easter but I will be checking in this weekend (either live or on the saved video) because the children's church is playing a part in the service and E had a small contribution.  Photos and artwork done by the children are also being shared.  If you check it out, keep your eye out for Q's and E's pieces, see below.  Search for "Royal York Road United Church" on YouTube, live service starts at 10:30 EST on Sunday morning. 

Thursday Prayers

Before I got into my current prayer list, I wanted to extend an invitation to "attend" our church's online services.  Now that the Christmas season is coming up, you may want to join us.  Now is the perfect time since you can just watch on the YouTube channel live at 10:30 am on Sundays or catch a past recording.  Check out their page here (or just Google "Royal York Road United Church YouTube").

I feel better when I am able to connect to the music, bible readings, and the message in the sermon, so maybe you will too. 

This post follows our church's structure of the Prayers of the People. First are prayers of Thanksgiving, where we give thanks for all of the blessings in our lives, then Petitions, which are prayers for specific people that we know that need the prayers, and finally Intercessions, which is a prayer for wider global concerns.  

Thanksgiving

Our safe and cozy home
My good health - I do question every sniffle and beginnings of a sore throat, but so far I have remained healthy.
My healthy family - both my immediate and extended family
Stable jobs - Especially now when the economy is so unstable, I am grateful that Dave and I are both able to continue working uninterrupted.

Petitions

People who won't be able to be with family this Christmas
People in hospital and long term care homes
Health care workers
Educators 

Intercessions

Countries that are really struggling with Covid, including our own
The countries that were recently affected by Hurricane Eta, especially our own favourite place to visit, Jamaica
The people of Ethiopia
Victims of violence against transgendered people
Our politicians and public health officials - they are working hard to balance all of our various needs, it is not an easy job and I pray they make the good choices.

Lord hear our prayer.

Positive Action

So aside from speaking up, and recognizing our white privilege, what's next?

Thoughts and prayers are great, but action is required (I wrote about that here). Don't just pray for change, be the change.  Don't hope that the next generation will do better, make changes so our own generation is better.

So here are some ideas - please add your own in the comments:

Make donations to charities that support the cause (bail relief, legal aid, food banks, social programs in low-income neighbourhoods)

Speak out to friends and family that still hold racist views. This can be difficult and awkward, but it needs to happen.  I'm getting good at doing this for gender related issues, so I need to expand for racist comments too. They aren't always as evident, but they are there.

Vote for progressive ideas. For those Republicans down in the United States who are all tweeting and posting about this issue, can they really vote for Trump in October? Watch this video, because I don't know how they could be sincere with their posts and vote for him again. And I know that you can take those comments and match it with any video you want and people can say that wasn't want he meant, but whether he did or didn't (and I think he knows exactly what he is saying), that is how some people hear it and words have power.

Read about the black experience. (Some I've read: An American Marriage, The Nickel Boys, Scarborough, Americanah)

Diversify your social media feeds with people of colour. (Twitter: @sarahcpr, @wkamaubell, @karnythia; Instagram: @torontoshay, @sashaexeter

Watch videos of current events with your children and talk to them about it.  You can do that even with small children.  I was watching this video and Q was beside me ,he asked about if they where bad guys, so even though the topic is way more complicated than that, I could explain that no, they weren't the bad guys. I will be gradually watching a few videos with E as well.

And if you're in Canada, think about how the indigenous experience has been in this country and learn about it as well.  We pat ourselves on the back because we aren't like the US with its various problems, but part of that white privilege is ignoring what happens in our own country.

And yes, pray - my prayer is for people to see all human beings as such, human beings.  To feel the pain of others even if you have never and will never experience that same pain.

Prayers on Thursday (but Monday)

I thought it was time for a Prayer post but didn't want to wait until Thursday. I wrote here about the types of Prayers for the People that our church does.  First we speak about our blessings, then we make petitions for specific people (although I won't name them here), and then ask for intercessions of a more general nature for global concerns.

Although our church has been putting together a weekly worship we have not done Prayers for the People so I wanted to do it here.

Prayers of Thanksgiving:

My safe home
My health
My family members are are in their safe homes and are healthy
My job and Dave's job
E's teachers who are sending school work for him to learn and engaged
Our hospital workers, all of them, who are there to care for us always but especially now
The people who work in our stores and keep things clean and the shelves stocked
The opportunity to connect with friends remotely
My country and its leadership at all levels of government and from our health authorities

Petitions:

The victims of the shooter in Nova Scotia yesterday, their families, and other community members who had to live through that trauma
People living in nursing homes and their families who can't go and visit them
People who are feeling anxious and afraid
People who have new babies and can't share them with their family and friends
People who have lost all or part of their income
People who live alone and have been without a hug or other human touch for several weeks

Intercessions:

People who do not live in safe homes
People with the coronavirus
People who are dying alone
People with other health concerns that are afraid to seek help
People who are working and do not feel safe
Government leaders, so they can make the right decisions


Lord hear our prayer.

Prayers on Thursday

With the holiday season approaching I wanted to do another edition of Prayers on Thursday.  Today and throughout the next few weeks, I will keeping these people in my prayers:

People who are spending Christmas without their loved ones, either because they can't make it to them, or because someone has died.  And not just those people who are spending the first Christmas without someone, but those who have missed many Christmases with them. It doesn't get any easier.

People who feel anxious and stressed about Christmas, for whatever reason.

People who are trying to make the best of it even if their heart isn't entirely in it.

Retail, warehouse, and delivery people - they work hard and don't get a lot of credit.

Parents who want to buy all of the things for their kids but can't afford it.

And also parents who think they need to buy all of the things, but really the kids only want time.

I also pray that people who celebrate Christmas take some time to think about the reason why we celebrate this holiday.  Maybe that will give them some comfort and relief.

Thankful!

Thanksgiving is coming up this weekend. Last week I talked about prayers for petitions and intercessions and this week I am writing about the things I am thankful for.  I am so fortunate and there is no shortage of things for which I am thankful.

At my workout class on Saturday morning, our instructor said that we should celebrate ourselves, rather than think about the things we want to improve on, and so in honour of being thankful, I am highlighting the things to celebrate and be thankful about myself (and you should do the same!).  

I successfully changed jobs this year. 

I am eating well and feeling and looking better.

I have two well behaved, healthy, happy children.

I married a really good man. 

I complete about three really good workouts per week.

I am a good cook and baker. 

I am smart and a good writer.

I can see beauty in the world every day and I appreciate it. 

I am good at talking to old people.

I am really good at sleeping, haha.  I mean it, that is a good skill to possess.

What are you thankful for this year?

Prayers on Thursday

Each week at church we have the Prayers of the People and there is a brief pause for silent reflection, but I find there is never enough time to get to everyone I want to pray for, so I thought I would do that here. I know "thoughts and prayers" get a bad rap, but I really do pray for these people on a fairly regular basis.

The Prayers of the People is structured into three sections - the first is to thank God for our blessings, I will be doing a post on what I'm thankful for next week (#thanksgiving) so this post focuses on petitions and intercessions.  Petitions are specific prayers for people that we know that could use some extra love and care.  Intercessions are prayers offered for the local and international communities, more general that petitions.

So this week my petitions are for:

(I would typically name individuals in my head, but will not do that here)
People who are living with an illness.
People who are dying.
People who are helping those living with an illness or who are dying.
People who recently lost someone.
People who are struggling to get pregnant.
People who are pregnant.

And my intercessions are for:

Our world leaders and my hope for them to focus on what we need to do for the future, not just ways to get back to the "good old days".
People in our city that live on the streets or in precarious housing.
Those poor dear children (and their parents) at the Mexico/US border.
Parents who don't know how they will feed their children.
The people who have been involved in the various shootings in our city over the past few weeks/months - both the shooters and the victims.

Lord hear our prayer.