In recent months, we have received several questions and concerns about how prayer requests are handled. Since it is important to us that you feel supported whenever you submit a prayer request for someone you care about, we want to explain how prayer requests are managed at Bethany.
When we receive a prayer request via the tall bulletin insert, it is added to what we call our Prayer Chain for two weeks. This is an email list containing all prayer requests presented to us over the past week. Only members of the Prayer Chain Group—a small group of Bethany volunteers who have committed to praying for others—have access to this list. Since not everyone wishes to have their prayer requests shared publicly, the list is considered confidential. Therefore, we do not announce these requests in church, in the bulletin, or in Sundays @ 6.
If a member experiences a death in the family, is undergoing medical treatment, or has a celebration to share, we (with their permission) add their name to what we call the Pastoral Care Board. Their name is then listed on the board in the main office area and included in Pastor's announcements, the bulletin, and Sundays @ 6.
While we wish we could share every prayer request publicly with the congregation, limited worship time and privacy concerns make this impossible. However, if you feel so moved, there is time reserved each Sunday during the Prayers of Intercession when you may speak your loved one’s name aloud at the appropriate moment.
The best way to ensure that your prayer request for a family member is included on the Pastoral Care Board is to call or email the office.
We hope this explanation reassures you that your prayer requests are handled with the utmost respect, privacy, and care. Please do not hesitate to contact us if there is anything we can do for you during a time of personal or family difficulty.
Contact
