“Health officials in the state of Washington reported the first coronavirus death in the U.S. on Saturday, as the White House imposed additional international travel restrictions.” – The Wall Street Journal, 03/01/2020
“The country is better positioned than most but still could face critical shortages of respirators and masks. Hospitals have triage plans in place. State and local governments have broad powers to quarantine.” – The New York Times, 03/01/2020
“So far, about 82 percent of the cases…have been mild, with symptoms that require little or no medical intervention.” – The Washington Post, 02/12/2020
Dear Friends,
I ask you to pray with me again this week about coronavirus spreading rapidly across the globe, impacting many people’s health and the world’s economy. Please pray with me for all those suffering. Let us pray for those who have already been infected, those who are ministering healing to them, the families of those who have lost loved ones, protection from the virus for everyone else, and for those working to find a cure.
Blessings,
Pastor Basile
“Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (1 Chronicles 16:11)
A Prayer
We pray for healing for those who are infected, in China and in all the places where the virus has spread.
We pray for all who already have lost loved ones to the illness and those who will yet suffer such loss.
We pray for doctors, nurses and aides providing medical care, for insight in their caring, and for their health and well-being.
We pray for wisdom for the medical and scientific experts who are desperately seeking ways to control the spread of the virus.
We pray for public officials who must make the hard decisions about the quarantining of those who may have been exposed to the virus; and we pray for all those for whom those decisions feel like unjust imprisonment.
We lift up the Christian church in China and our partners throughout the region as they seek to bring Christ’s healing presence and peace.
We pray for God to keep us alert to the threats posed by such a worldwide crisis, remembering the millions of God’s children who live in places where the availability of medical care is meager or nonexistent.
May God open our hearts, our financial resources, and our political will, so that the vision of a better future can become a reality for all of God’s children.
In the Providence of the God who created us, in the Passion of our Savior Jesus Christ who redeems us, and in the Power of the Holy Spirit through whom God’s will is done. AMEN.
J. Herbert Nelson, II
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
“Praying with the Pastor” is a resource highlighting prayer needs in our community, nation, and world. Names of Zion members and friends requesting prayer are listed in the weekly church bulletins, and monthly Messenger Newsletter. May God’s blessings abound as we consistently lift up the world, including our own church family, in prayer!