Insomnia Prayer — Praying Night Watch Prayers With Deacon Matthew — Click Here To Open The Liturgy For This Important Prayer Time In Support Of Caregivers

 

 

We invite you to pray with us for frontline caregivers.

The 2020 coronavirus pandemic has brought into stark relief the courageous, ongoing, and whole-self sacrifice of frontline caregivers, those who care for the sick and their families in hospitals and the community.

The pandemic has multiplied the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual risks and stressors and is jeopardizing the health, and often the very lives of these dedicated caregivers.

The Diocese of Pennsylvania lay and clergy members have come together to address these realities. Our mission is to provide prayer and support for Frontline Caregivers.

 

Office of the Night Watch

Based on “The Night Offices” by Phyllis Tickle

 

The Call to Prayer

 

Lord, you have been our refuge*

            From one generation to another.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or the land and the earth were born,*

            From age to age you are God.  -Psalm 90:1-2

 

O God make speed to save us,

O Lord make haste to help us.

 

Greeting

 

Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked,*

            Nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful!

Their delight is in the law of the Lord,*

            And they meditate on The Law day and night.  -Psalm 1:1-2

 

Psalm

 

You shall not be afraid of any terror by night,*

            Nor of the arrow that flies by day

 

God is our refuge and strength,*

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved,*

 And though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea;

Though its waters roar and foam,*

though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,*

 the holy habitation of the Most High.

God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;*

 God will help it when the morning dawns.

The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;*

 he utters his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord of hosts is with us;*

            the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Come, behold the works of the Lord;*

see what desolations he has brought on the earth.

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;*

he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with

fire.

“Be still, and know that I am God!*

I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.”

The Lord of hosts is with us;*

the God of Jacob is our refuge.

 

You shall not be afraid of any terror by night,*

            Nor of the arrow that flies by day

 

A Reading from The Gospel according to Matthew

 

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.  Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’  Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?  And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?  And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’  And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’  Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;  for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,  I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’  Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’  And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

 

The Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

 

<silence for reflection>

 

The Litany

 

For the peace from above, for the loving-kindness of God, and for the salvation of our souls, we pray to the Lord

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the Holy Church of God, and for the unity of all peoples, we pray to you, O Lord.

 

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

 

For the leaders of the nations and for all in authority, we pray to the Lord.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, we pray to you, O Lord.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them. We pray to the Lord.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

 

At this time, in the night watches, we pray for all first responders, all healthcare workers, all patients suffering from Covid, for all social workers, and for all teachers.  We especially pray for

 

Nursing Staff at 5 Lenfest West – Abington Cardiovascular Unit

Patients with Covid and their family members

Phil, Deacon Cop and Street Ministry to the homeless and addicted

Wendy, Nursing Admin in NJ diagnosed w/ Covid-19

Jim & Sallie, Married couple; he is caring for her 24/7

Bonnie, Family caregiver placing parent in assisted living

Martha, Caregiver in a North Carolina nursing home

Billy, Nurse on Covid floor in Manhattan

Callee, Nurse on a medsurg floor

 

<silence>

 

For all who have commended themselves to our prayers, for our families, our friends, our neighbors, for else should we pray <silence>; that being freed from anxiety, they may live in joy, peace, and health, we pray to you, O Lord.

 

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

 

For all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, and for all the departed. We pray to the Lord.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

 

O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us,

in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront

one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work

together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he

was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer

for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them

from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them

from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from

despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their

witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be

cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus

Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen.

 

Now guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep, we may rest in peace.

 

Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; for these eyes of mine have seen the Savior whom you have prepared for all the world to see:  A Light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.  Amen

 

Now guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep, we may rest in peace. Amen.

 

+The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

bless us and keep us.+ Amen.