Morning Prayer on COVID-19

Lord God Almighty,

The birds sing this morning, their songs of praise reminding us that you provide.  You care and provide for them.  You will, of course, do nothing less than that for us.  Help us today Lord to remember our adoption, that we are your children, loved and taken into your care.  Let us remember your sovereignty.  You will not forsake us.  You have not forsaken us.  You are with us today and every day, every moment.

We beg for your mercy Lord.  God have mercy.  Jesus have mercy on us.  Hear our pleas that this virus would kill no more, that it would disappear entirely, that this plague would be lifted from us.  In the meantime, keep our hearts light and our hope fixed on you.  May your people be generous in spirit.  May we be the first to share, to run into danger to help because we care not so much for our own lives, because we believe in the resurrection, because we have died to self to be alive to Christ.  Strengthen those on the front lines, our health care workers.  Provide for them the basic necessities.  Cover them in protection, for we know that your mighty hand can shield them from this pestilence.

We pray for our leaders, may they be wise and steady.  Give them rest to be of sound mind.  Cause them to seek you.  Give them grace to endure this season.  May they be an example to us.  May they do what they must to save many lives.

We pray your rebuke on those who would exploit this situation for their own gain.  You are a just God.  You will repay their iniquitous oppression.  May the nations know and see that you are a just God, that you hear the cry of the poor and oppressed and that you will deliver them.

We pray for those who are losing their income and livelihood through closures and illness.  May your church unite in providing material support for these.  May your people be generous, more generous now than ever before.  May we answer the call to love our neighbor in this way.  May the world be baffled at our utter lack of selfishness in these difficult days.

We pray these things in Jesus' name.  Amen.