Prayer, Scripture, and Other Resources
Click one of the headings below to expand a section and find out more information.
- Chaplains will pray each day for our community and the world
- Please contact a chaplain to add prayer requests
- Updated regularly
PRAYERS
Prayer for Social Distancing
Loving and gracious God, who created us not to be in isolation but to live in community: guide us to find ways to interact in creative ways, finding new opportunities to be in relationship with others while keeping us safe; guard us from putting ourselves or others at risk, while easing our desire and need to be with others; we ask this through the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer for Anxious & Uncertain Times
Ever present God, who walks with us through all that life brings us:
ease our minds in these anxious and uncertain times; grant us your peace among the challenges of not having all the answers; guide us through our decisions and circumstances, as we keep ourselves, our families, and our community safe; and remind us of your constant and unfailing love for your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Prayer for World Disease (adapted from Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People)
\"For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, says the Lord.\" Jeremiah 30:17a
Our world is ravaged by disease.
Give strength to doctors, nurses, and all who take care of the sick.
Provide energy and determination to all who are looking for cures for HIV/AIDS and cancer as well as treatments and vaccines for the coronavirus.
Open the minds of all your people to learn new ways that will help them stay healthy.
Help our countries to work together to eradicate all diseases so that all children will know their parents and all parents can watch their children grow up.
Praying the Headlines (Center for Worship and the Arts)
A creative, visual way to practice prayer. Each week on Wednesday, CWA will release a 4-5 minute guided prayer activity for you to use personally or disseminate among your constituency. We believe this practice helps us channel our anxiety from the headlines into prayers of lament, confession, healing, and thanksgiving offered to God.
- What does the Bible say? Find scripture relevant to our lives today
- Updated regularly
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 121
Assurance of God\'s Protection
I lift up my eyes to the hills-
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and for evermore.
5 Verses when you feel anxious
From Bible Gateway
John 16:33 (NIV)
\"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.\"
Philippians 4:6 (NKJV)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Matthew 6:34 (ERV)
So don\'t worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Tomorrow will have its own worries.
1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Lamentations 3:57 (NET Bible)
You came near on the day I called to you; you said, \"Do not fear!\"
- Grief - This is a time of loss for so many of us - here are some grief resources
- The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos, Yale University
- Find other resources including videos, blogs, poems and other literature, Sunday services online, and other links
- Updated regularly
OTHER RESOURCES
Grief
\"That discomfort you\'re feeling is grief\" - Harvard Business Journal
https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief
Holy Week with the Diocese of Florida
Coming Together without Leaving Home
God has given us a unique opportunity to share in a virtual communal experience of Jesus\' final week. Join us each day from April 5-12 and engage in an online spiritual retreat. It will culminate with the proclamation, \"He is Risen indeed!\" live online on Easter Sunday with Bishop Howard from St. John\'s Cathedral.
https://www.diocesefl.org/holyweek.aspx
At-home Good Friday Service (with candles)
The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
Download her podcasts which include a bonus section with episodes for navigating through this time with the coronavirus.
\"Help Others to Help Yourself\"
\"Calm Can be Contagious\"
\"Rising to the Challenge\"
\"Beat Your Isolation Loneliness\"
Lenten Devotionals 2020
Georgetown University
https://missionandministry.georgetown.edu/lent-devotional/
Trinity Church Wall Street
https://www.trinitywallstreet.org/worship/lenten-meditations-2020
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry\'s statement on Coronavirus
https://episcopalchurch.org/posts/publicaffairs/presiding-bishop-curry-statement-coronavirus
Do Faith At Home: A lectionary-based readings and reflections
https://www.dofaithathome.org/
d365 Guided Devotionals: Pause-Listen-Think-Pray-Go
Resources for Daily Prayer: Praying the Daily Office
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nwW-m2Tv4_jnpAiWvVGKaEkhs5zLBL4Dl3XeMeGFe6I/edit?usp=sharing
Sunday Service online and on television
St. Johns Episcopal Cathedral, Jacksonville
Live stream services Sunday at 9am and 11am
St. Marks Episcopal Church, Jacksonville
Live stream services Sunday at 9am
https://www.stmarksjacksonville.org/
The Church of Eleven22
coe22.com (with expanded service times)
CatholicTV
http://www.catholictv.org/watch-live
Daily mass at 9:30am
First Baptist Church Jacksonville
Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and Wednesdays 6:30 p.m.
North Jacksonville Baptist
Sundays 8:30
Channel 432
Youth Ministry in a Pandemic
Institute for Youth Ministry, Princeton Theological Seminary
Resources geared toward adults who work with teenagers, but there\'s a little bit for everyone here: http://iym.ptsem.edu/resources/youth-ministry-in-pandemic/?fbclid=IwAR1uc5M2q-APkZRwEcoTfLCahkmo7uLLspvzPJf_y_R0puqwsA2Ta78JeYo
- Chapel will be pre-recorded every week and made available by Wednesday at 12:05
CHAPEL
Chapel will be pre-recorded each week. You may access these recordings from the links below.
April 1 Chapel - Be Where We Are
April 1 Student performance - Music video \"Who Am I\"
The sound for the music did not work on the chapel video
April 8 Chapel - Holy Week: Stations of the Cross
April 15 Chapel - Easter: Hope is Alive!
Videos
To view a video of this presentation at any time, click the link below:
The Psalms of David Bible Study video
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mdmO0VHwvnVm8oT4dD6XqpelEtFRwbpv/view?usp=sharing
- Find social distancing service opportunities
SERVICE
Social Distance Service Opportunities
Just because nonprofit organizations and local businesses have suspended or modified their activities and canceled events does not mean that community service cannot be done. In fact, it is exactly because of these cancellations, modifications, and suspensions of activities that many organizations and individuals in our communities need our service and support more than ever. Below you will find some suggestions for ways that you can serve our community during this unprecedented time:
The Sanctuary is an awesome place for the children of Springfield to enjoy after school activities and summer programs. It's a great organization that has been in Jacksonville since '92. They have had to close doors due to COVID19. The Sanctuary is continuing to provide for their families by offering them donations on Fridays. These donations primarily consist of food staples. See here for a list of items they are needing.
If you would like to donate, please drop the items at the residence of Dawson and Sissy McQuaig (1847 Naldo Ave, 32207) or call the McQuaigs at 904-673-1827, and we can figure out how to get the items. You're welcome to drop them on the front porch.
Use your free time to cut out images and words from magazines for Hope at Hand to use for projects. See this slideshow for more information.
Write Letters to Nursing Home Residents
During this time of social distancing and increased restrictions on who may visit those in nursing/retirement homes, the residents of these facilities might feel especially isolated and fearful. You can help to relieve these feelings by writing a simple note of encouragement. You might also draw a picture, paint a watercolor scene or some flowers, write a poem, or share some scripture or a prayer. Let the residents of nursing homes know that we care about their emotional and spiritual wellbeing in addition to their physical wellbeing.
There are many nursing homes in our area. Reach out to the one closest to your home, or try these communities:
Starling Living (Two locations in the Jacksonville area)
It is best to contact a representative of these communities before writing or sending letters so that they can tell you whether letters would be welcomed and how best to go about writing and sending them.
Helper Helper-recommended Projects
Helper Helper has put together a great list of a variety of ways to continue serving. Use this list to research some possible volunteer opportunities, or draw inspiration from it to find similar opportunities in the Jacksonville area.
Some ideas include:
Giving blood through the American Red Cross, and pet fostering (Remember: our policy allows up to 2 hours per day regardless of number of animals fostered).
Of course, there are many, many other needs in our communities. This list is not a complete or exhaustive list. If you have an idea -- especially if it\'s innovative and mindful of virus spread mitigation strategies -- please run your idea by Father Chris, who will be glad to provide guidance and support as needed.