As churches and other groups offer moral, spiritual, material and prayer support to the people of Boston, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Church of the Covenant ― a union congregation with the United Church of Christ ― near the site of the Boston Marathon bombing tragedy is especially active this week.
Each day this week Church of the Covenant is holding a prayer vigil service from 12:30-1:00 in the church’s sanctuary.
“We will keep our sanctuary doors open each day from the morning until late afternoon for people to stop in and talk with someone, or simply be in prayer,” says the Rev. Rob Mark, the PC(USA) pastor of the historic, 110-member congregation.
Church of the Covenant is supporting two interfaith services: Tuesday at Arlington Street Church and Thursday at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
Mark said that, in addition to support from the PC(USA) and UCC, the congregation has been supported in its efforts by the United Methodist Church, the Massachusetts Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches, among others.
Mark posted the following prayers on the Church of the Covenant’s website:
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this day, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, O Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for love's sake. Amen.
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.