This is a month I have been looking forward to for such a long time. However, the joy and anticipation in my spirit as we celebrate nurses has also been barraged by feelings of loss, sorrow, and lament. It has left me adrift – without words and at times without comfort. Trying to be “present” in what I am feeling has led to many questions of God and a pain that comes (as my brother reminded me) as part of “the incarnational change Jesus wants to create in me.”
Will we be still and listen? Will we pause to ask what you are doing in us, Lord? We recognize so many things are being stripped away. How do we begin to embrace the unfamiliar? How do we deal with the grief we are experiencing? Teach us to trust, Lord. Remind us of the hope we hold as believers. Help us to recognize your presence during our day. Give us strength. Renew our sense of purpose and calling.
To the many men and women who are learning and serving as nurses at the bedside, in the community, in academia, or in research … my words feel hollow as I look at what I am witnessing on campuses, hospitals, skilled nursing and long-term care facilities, and in each of our communities. I find myself humbled, quiet, and filled with a deep sense of gratitude for the sacrifices being made.
Recently, my three-year-old grandson presented his mother with the most precious of gifts – the first flowering dandelion of the spring. He recognized the color and the simple beauty. His face had so much pride as he held out this “flower” to his mother. He gave what he had. My gift to each of you is just as simple and what I have – I give you my thanks, my gratitude, and I surround you with my prayers. Know that you are seen. You are heard. Thank you for making this celebration of nurses so much more. I pray you sense the power of these prayers and the Lord’s presence with you in all you do.
On behalf of Nurses Christian Fellowship … we are here to support, encourage, and be present with you in your journey. May you experience the richness and fullness of your faith and your practice from a cup that overflows.
Prayers and blessings as we move forward in this journey together!
Christy Secor RN, DNP, CDWF, NCF Professional Ministries Director
You can download the May Prayer Calendar here.
May Prayer Calendar
- May 1 – Pray that students, faculty, and nurses across the United States would feel loved, cared for, and appreciated especially during our month-long celebration of the Year of Nurse. May they know their service to our world and our Lord is not unnoticed.
- May 2 - Pray for the end of the semester for students and faculty members as they finish up their finals.
- May 3 – Praise God for the incredible NCF/JCN team who have put in countless hours to make our month-long celebration of nurses a success! They are amazing! We are grateful for each person’s commitment, focus, authenticity, and faith through the ups and downs of ministry.
- May 4 – Pray for the computer system transition that’s taking place across InterVarsity and will be going live today. These changes impact our membership system. Pray for the transition to take place smoothly and for any glitches that come up to be quickly found and resolved.
- May 5 – We ask God to move and work through our spring letter outreach to provide the prayer and financial support needed for NCF as we approach the end of our fiscal year.
- May 6 – We celebrate today the beginning of National Nurses Week. We lift up and recognize students, faculty and nurses who are serving others in a variety of settings where they work and live. We ask God to provide strength, encouragement, and the resources needed as we continue to care, teach, and lead. May they recognize their value to the profession and to the Kingdom.
- May 7 – NCF joins with other believers across the country as a part of the National Day of Prayer. We ask for wisdom for our leaders at the local, state, and federal level. We ask for peace and healing within our country. May we as believers draw closer to you and be a light to others.
- May 8 – Pray for our professional nurse groups as they transition to virtual environments. Pray these will be times of support, encouragement, and connection with others and with The Source of our faith.
- May 9 – Pray for wisdom for college and university campuses across the country as they make difficult decisions about onsite or virtual learning environments for the 2020-2021 academic year.
- May 10 – We remember today the start of both National Hospital Week and National Skilled Nursing Care Week. May the nurses who serve within these areas of practice be encouraged, supported, strengthened and protected especially now.
- May 11 – Pray for NCF student chapters as they finish their semesters and prepare for next year. Pray for strong finishes to their ministry year, and abundant leaders and vision for the year to come.
- May 12 – We pray for all nurses and members of the healthcare team who are on the front line as we continue this battle against COVID-19. We ask for healing for our colleagues and team members who have contracted the virus and for comfort and peace for those who have died.
- May 13– We praise God for the new authors and manuscripts the Journal of Christian Nursing is receiving. Pray for a continuing flow of new authors and manuscripts. It is such an encouragement to see the results of these prayers as it also adds to the literature for our profession!
- May 14 – We lift up faith community nurses as they provide insight and feedback to their churches and parishes for caring for their communities and providing knowledge in how to best move forward with worship and other church activities.
- May 15 – We are grateful for Jen Wojtysiak, our Student Ministries Director, as she continues to invest so much into NCF’s student leaders and their faculty advisors. Jen’s openness and approachability gives others a safe place to land during times of stress. Pray for God to continue to provide her with wisdom and discernment.
- May 16 – We pray for the families of nurses and others working in healthcare who are concerned about the health and safety of those who are working. We ask for them to have a real sense of God’s presence in the day-to-day of their lives.
- May 17 – Pray for nursing faculty as many are juggling nursing careers, teaching, and home life in these unusual and stressful times.
- May 18 – We remember the individuals who have been isolated as a result of the pandemic – those in hospitals and in long-term care facilities. Pray for comfort and for those who face uncertainty. Pray for nurses and those on the healthcare team who provide care, comfort, and presence.
- May 19 – We pray for those who have been furloughed by their healthcare organizations. May God move to meet their financial needs and give them peace in these uncertain times.
- May 20 – Pray for wisdom and discernment for NCF leadership as we continue to push forward through the technological battles we encounter. Pray for God to provide wisdom as seek long-term solutions to maximize our ministry, work, and outreach.
- May 21 – We are grateful for each person who supports, prays for, and gives to the ministry and work of Nurses Christian Fellowship. We thank God for the way they encourage us in the work we do.
- May 22 – Pray for Kathy Schoonover-Shoffner as she nears the final weeks of her sabbatical. May she see and experience who you are, Lord, in new and meaningful ways. May she be reminded of your truth each day. Give her wisdom as she seeks your will.
- May 23 – We lift up our graduates who are dealing with so much change and loss right now. Pray for success for them as they take their boards. Pray for healing for their spirits as they grieve the loss and delay in being with their peers, pinning ceremonies, and graduations.
- May 24 – We pray for the Journal of Christian Nursing editorial team to stay healthy during COVID-19 as they serve and work in different parts of the country.
- May 25 – We remember today veterans who died while in service to our country. We are grateful to them for their sacrifice and lift up their families who grieve. May their families and friends know comfort and peace. May any financial needs they are experiencing be met.
- May 26 – Pray for wisdom, discernment, and encouragement for Christy Secor, NCF’s Interim Director and our Professional Ministries Director, as she leads NCF. Pray for daily quiet time that’s needed with the Lord and time to also rest.
- May 27 – We ask God to provide insight and breakthroughs for our scientific and research communities as they seek answers for the pandemic.
- May 28 – We are grateful for the nurses who have traveled outside their own communities to provide care to patients and residents in hospitals, skilled, and long-term care facilities. Pray for strength and encouragement for these men and women.
- May 29 – We recognize God is at work and is teaching each of us new things through this pandemic. Pray our hearts are open to what He is teaching us and showing each of us in our lives and our practice.
- May 30 – We are blessed with the new Bible studies that have been written for students, faculty and nurses. May God use these studies to encourage others in their faith and practice.
- May 31 – Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to care for and support others. Give us purpose in what we do. Help us to be your hands. Give us eyes to see you in those we care for. We lean on you when the shift is too long, and we experience pain in our spirit. Thank you for being our comfort, our rock, and our refuge.
