A Prayer for the Headlines for Wedensday, January 9th

Good Morning, God,
The headlines have been about "Mainstreets U.S.A.," in particular, our Main Street, 4th Street, in Huntingburg. The story is about how the Chamber of Commerce is considering re-joining the national organization that encourages the presentation of an excellent "Main Street," especioally in smaller towns.
However, Lord, we all need to take pride in whichever street we are on in whichever town. We need to make sure only good things happen on our streets - neighborliness, cleanliness, safety, recreation and beauty.
Why, Lord, many of us don't even know the names of our neighbors who hve lived next door for many years!
Lord God, who created us to live in families, tribes, towns and cities and to share common interests and businesses and neighborliness, may we work to make our Main Streets the best they can be - and our neighborhoods the best places to be.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

A Prayer for the Headlines for Monday, January 7th

Good Morning, God,
The headlines have told us of a change in leadership at our local hospital--Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center.
Mr. Snowden has taken on an additional role as Chairman of the Board, as well as being the President and Chief Executive Officer. We ask that you continue to give him the strength and wisdom to guide.
Of additional significance, Mr. Bennett has been promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer, now responsible for the day-to-day operations of our hospital.
And, Mr. Russell is now the Chief financial Officer and Vice-President of Finance.
Lord, we thank you for the gifts you have given to each of these men to be used to hone the skills necessary for their individual responsibilities. We ask that they exhibit wisdom and grace as they lead the hospital that is so important to us in this area.
Lastly, Lord, we are thankful for the foresight and love of all tho those have gone before in making our hosptial such an excellent, caring facility.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

A Prayer for the Headlines for Friday, January 4th

Good Morning, God,
We are grateful this Friday morning to be able to breathe easier.
We don't have to worry about falling off a cliff! We don't have to worry about an immediate plummeting of our stock portfolios. We don't have to worry too much about our taxes increasing, although our Social Security withholding taxes will go back up the 2% they went down two years ago. And, for now, we don't have to worry too much about losing any services or benefits, at least for two months.
Wow, Lord, it is good to be able to breathe easier for a weekend!
Lord, it would be very nice to breathe easier all year long.
So, Lord, may those who have the input and power to govern the rest of us do so with energy, imagination, intelligence and a great deal of care, doing justly, giving mercy and walking humbly with you, Lord.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

A Prayer for the Headlines for Wednesday, January 2nd

Good Morning, God,
Lord God, amid all the headlines of 2012 and those that will be in 2013, help us to keep perspective with your words:
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time for war, and a time for peace.
You have made everything suitable for its time; moreover, you have put a sense of past and future into our minds, yet we cannot find out what you have done from the beginning to the end. Help us to know that there is nothing better for us than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we live; moreover, it is your gift that we should eat and drink and take pleasure in all our toil.
May we.
In, Jesus' name, Amen.