Prayer Newsletter

Congregational Prayer Requests

Do you have a prayer request or a praise / thank you? Call your Pastoral Elder or Pastoral Care Assistant, leave a message on the church office phone at (616) 455-5120, or send an email to prayer@covenant-crc.org.

Please pray for wisdom for the doctors and grace and peace for Clare and Marly Baar as they await the next report from the doctors. (Elder: Vander Weide)

Ann Cool went to the heart doctor on Friday, December 5, to find out if she will need to have surgery. Please pray that this appointment went well and for peace for Ann as she awaits the appointment and the results. (Elder: Brinks)

Gord DeBoer thanks the congregation for all the prayers, cards, and concern shown to him. His labs looked good at his last appointment and his kidney function is normal. He was able to resume his chemo treatments the first week of December. Give thanks that Gord was able to resume his treatments, pray that they are successful and for minimal side effects. (Elder: Patterson)

Thank you for all the prayers and many thoughtful texts. Matt DeVries’ recovery is going well and he’s feeling good following surgery. We really appreciate the support. (Elder: Patterson)

Please pray for God’s presence and leading in Pay Gai’s life. (Elder: Jammal)

Berdena Ham’s heart surgery went well in November and she is doing as well as can be expected. She hoped to return home the first week of December. Please continue to pray for healing and strength for Berdena. (Elder: Padding)

Please pray for peace, patience, and healing for Hussein Hasan. (Elder: Jammal)

Please pray that God continues to surround Pat and Steve Hirdes and Amy, Mark, Kyleigh, and Taylor Rottman with His comfort and peace after the passing of their mom, grandma, and great-grandma, Muriel Hooyer.    (Elders: Jammal, Brinks)

We praise God with Gerry Hoekema that no new lesions were found and that some of the other lesions are healing. Please continue to pray for healing. (Elder: Jammal)

Virginia Huizenga is experiencing a lot of abdominal pain. Please pray for relief from the pain and for healing. (Elder: Padding)

Russ Jansen is doing well following his surgery. Please continue to pray for renewed strength and healing. (Elder: Vander Weide)

Millie Lanser has been moved to the Oaks in Byron Center for rehab. Please pray that her therapy goes well and that her move to assisted living can happen soon. (Elder: Brinks)

Muriel Moelker has been moved to the Oaks in Byron Center. Please continue to pray for strength and that she is surrounded with God’s peace as she continues her cancer journey. (Elder: Brinks)

Michele Neuberg will have a doctor’s appointment on December 18 to check the results of her MRI and hopefully schedule her face surgery. Please pray that the MRI shows favorable results for Michele. (Elder: Padding)

Please continue to pray for James Ngabonziza as he struggles with dialysis, fatigue, and ongoing physical limitations with his kidney disease and kidney failure. He is in the long, emotionally draining process of possible kidney replacement surgery and the many challenges that this brings. Please pray for James, that God provides peace and strength in this process. (Elder: Padding)

Evelyn Pegmans’s hand surgery went well. Please continue to pray for complete healing. (Elder: Brinks)

Amy Rottman had a doctor’s appointment in late October that showed the swelling in her optic nerves has returned. At her follow-up appointment in November, testing showed that the medication she is on is working and the swelling is going down. Please pray that the medication continues to be effective, for reduced side effects, and for healing. (Elder: Brinks)

Thank you for your continued prayers for Jeff Todd, the stepson of Bev and Bob Vander Heide. Please pray for strength and peace for Jeff and his family as the next steps of treatment are determined. (Elder: Jammal)

Becki Vander Molen had a trial Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted on December 4. She will have this until the 9th when it will be removed, and she will have to decide whether or not she wants a permanent one implanted. Please pray that it will be clear to Becki and her doctors what the plan moving forward should be. (Elder: DeVries)

Please keep the members of our congregation who are fighting cancer in your prayers. 

Please keep our shut-ins in your prayers. Many of them struggle with loneliness and/or other health concerns that we are unaware of. Please keep them in your prayers.

Pray for the members of our congregation who struggle with the colder temperatures and season changes. Pray that God provides them with safety and good health during these winter months.

Please keep the students, mentors, and prayer partners who are part of our Kids Hope program at Southwood School in your prayers as they are meeting weekly.

Pray for our Hand2Hand program. Pray for the students who receive food from this program. Give thanks that we can help provide weekend food for kids in our community.

Pray for the Furniture Ministry that they will have enough volunteers to continue to serve the people in our community who need furniture.

Pray for the Covenant Church college and university students who are finishing up their semester and preparing for their exams. Pray for Dawn at Alma College; Alyssa, Ashlyn, Caleb, Christian, Daniel, Ellia, Ellie, Gracie, Jack, Jordan, Kate, Sam, and Sophie at Calvin University; Natalie at Dordt University; Malachi at Florida International University; Alayna at Hope College; James at Kettering University; Sydney at Michigan State University; Elijah at Valparaiso University.

This month, during this Advent Season, focus some of your prayers around the four main Advent themes:

HOPE: Pray for those you know who are feeling hopeless right now. Pray for those whose hope is in something besides the grace and forgiveness of God. Pray that your own hope in God would increase. Pray other prayers of/for hope.

PEACE: Pray for those living in places, situations, or circumstances full of conflict and strife. Pray for peace within our families, our communities, our nation, our government, and around the world. Ask God how you can be an agent of peace within your circles of influence. Pray other prayers of/for peace.

JOY: Each day, multiple times throughout your day, pray and ask the Holy Spirit how you could bring joy to those you encounter as you go about your daily routine. Act on what the Holy Spirit tells you. Pray for the joy of the Lord to be your strength and the strength of your family members, neighbors, classmates, and co-workers. Pray other prayers of/for joy.

LOVE: Pray and ask God how you can be an ambassador of God’s unconditional love at home, at work, at school, and in your community. Pray for those you know who struggle with feeling loved. Pray other prayers of/for love.

Pray for our elders and deacons as they seek to follow God’s will as they make plans for our church.

Pray for our staff that they will remain energized and encouraged in their daily work here at Covenant Church.

Pray for all the churches in our Classis, Classis GR South.

Pray for the various ministries of the Christian Reformed Church using the guides found HERE.