A general prayer chain is a network of individuals who will receive prayer requests and thanksgivings, forward them to the next available person in the network, and will pray immediately for each request.
| Lord help me
to remember
that nothing
is going to happen
to me today
that You and I
together can't handle.
Amen. |
The prayer chain is the spiritual alarm system which communicates and takes prayerful action on the needs of the congregation, community and global needs. This network of people who are committed to prayer take action on behalf of the congregation on Jesus' words to "ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened," (Matthew 7:7). The importance of the prayer chain is that it faithfully intercedes on behalf of others in need by lifting up specific requests, concerns and emergency situations.
| One of the metaphors used in the New Testament for the Church is that it is the body of Christ. Jesus is described as being the head of the body. The prayer ministry of the congregation, which includes the prayer chain, is the circulation system of the body. It is a prayerful network which communicates with the head and the whole body feeding it with needed nutrients, activating the power to fight external viruses and bacteria, and bringing healing by bathing wounds and infections with the prayerful commitment of white blood cells. | |  |
The prayer chain is the life-blood of the congregation! Oftentimes, because this work is behind the scenes, the prayer chain, like our blood, is taken for granted and forgotten. It is not until you have some hurts or needs that you remember and are thankful for the prayer chain. The chain participants can become anemic due to inactivity, lack of spiritual attention, and by coming under spiritual attack. Chains that have been in existence for longer periods of time or are in a congregation that has much transient activity may need new prayer chain participant transfusions.
St. Joseph's Prayer Chain
We are accessible at ALL times for special
and individual prayers.
To ask for prayers, place a person on the prayer list
or for more information
call the Parish Office
352-472-2951
or
email Linda Ireland, Parish Administrator