Daily Prayers and Scriptures: Thursday, April 9

As the whole world is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, we are posting Daily Bible Readings for your inspiration and encouragement. Texts for Monday through Saturday are selected in support of the Sunday lesson in the Uniform Lessons Series, Spring 2020. A daily meditation written by faith leaders who are friends and partners of the NCC accompanies each day’s Bible reading. Do you know someone that would benefit from these emails?  Please forward this link to friends, family, and your church. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, NRSV The Dead in Christ Will Rise       4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. 15 For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. A prayer for the healers among us From Rev. Lee Hull Moses, Chief of Staff, Office of the General Minister and President, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Gracious and merciful God, we lift our prayers today for the healers among us. We pray for hospital staff, nurses, doctors, and chaplains. We pray for first responders. We pray for janitorial staff who keep our healing places clean. We pray for scientists who are working on a cure and a vaccine. We pray for caregivers who bring meals and medicine. We are grateful for them, O God. Give them strength to do the work they are called to do. Amen. You can follow our daily readings, prayers, and meditations on our website at http://nationalcouncilofchurches.us/topics/daily/.  Be safe, healthy, and blessed during this time.

Serving as a leading voice of witness to the living Christ in the public square since 1950,  the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) brings together 38 member communions  and more than 40 million Christians in a common expression of God's love and promise of unity.  http://nationalcouncilofchurches.us