Renew: An Evening of Prayer for Everyone Who’s Exhausted
A bonus email + a free gathering for all of us
I’ve read a hundred think-pieces from people who feel neglected by the pandemic: teachers, doctors, nurses, parents.
I’ve heard the cries of friends who are disabled, sick, immunocompromised, or struggling with mental health crises: doesn’t anyone care about us?
I’ve watched public discourse explode and divide over every new surge and variant, more energy wasted on insulting each other than caring for the suffering.
I’m tired. You’re tired. We are bone-weary.
By now it’s been two long years of survival mode, a pale comparison for living in ways that feel healthy, sustainable, or hopeful.
From the beginning, I was convinced that to get through Covid we needed the best of human creativity and compassion. But compassion has dried up like an empty well. Creativity shrivels when basic needs aren’t met.
What now? What next?
We don’t know. But when we reach the end of our limits, we find God waiting for us.
So let’s pray together. Let’s bring our weary selves, all our disillusion and burnout, into the light of Scripture.
On February 2, we’ll gather on Zoom from 7:30-8:30 p.m. CST—on the feast of great light of Candlemas, when we remember Jesus’ presentation in the temple.
We’ll pray for all who are sick, suffering, or anxious, and for all who care for them. We’ll pray for those who feel too weary, angry, grieving, or burdened to pray right now.
Our focus for the evening will be Isaiah 40, which cries out with words of comfort and hope. We’ll follow the virtual retreat model: we’ll read Scripture, I’ll offer perspectives and questions for you to reflect on, and we’ll share prayers and silence together.
You can make a free will offering if you’d like, to support my ministry. But this is open to all, to anyone who needs it—for free.
The least I can do is offer any creativity and compassion I’ve been given to share. (I’m still convinced that if we all did this, our world would be transformed.)
At this point, participation will be limited to the first 100 who register here. You’ll receive the Zoom details via email before the event, so mark your calendar for 2/2/2022. As always, I’ll record and share the session if you can’t join us live.
I hope you’ll share this with a weary friend who might need a word of hope: a health care worker, an educator, a parent, a caregiver, anyone who’s exhausted.
No strings attached, no preparation needed. Simply show up and receive whatever comfort God is waiting to offer you.
Renew: An Evening of Prayer for Everyone Who’s Exhausted. See you there.
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:28-31)
Peace,
Laura
Find my books here: Everyday Sacrament | Grieving Together | Prayers for Pregnancy & Birth | To Bless Our Callings | Living Your Discipleship