(another guest post from Ali)
In the midst of a difficult, sad time, it is beautiful to think of the people all over the world praying for Patrick. There are folks in both hemispheres, people from various faith traditions, people who knew Patrick as a child and people who have never met him. We are united in our love and hope and grief.
Julie, Patrick and the rest of the Kelly family are so grateful for your prayers.
As friends of Patrick, we’re organizing a virtual prayer vigil to cover Patrick and his family in our love and prayers. You can sign up in thirty-minute increments on this google document:
Please just follow the link and put your name in as many prayer timeslots as you would like! It should be quite simple. You may also put your location, if you want to. How wonderful it will be for Patrick’s family to look at the list and see how people all over the world (friends, family and people they've never met!) are holding them up in prayer!
You can also write a prayer here in the comments section. These prayers can be an encouragement to Patrick and his friends and family. (I like the thought of reading them to Patrick when we visit him at NIH.)
For those who like to pray by name, here are the names of Patrick's immediate family members:
Julie --Patrick’s wife
Cecelia- Patrick’s two-year-old daughter
JoAnn, Christine – Patrick’s sisters
Claire- Patrick’s mom
Tim- Patrick’s dad
Lord Jesus Christ, the shepherd of your sheep, you gather the lambs in your arms and carry them in your bosom: we commend to your loving care Patrick. Relieve his pain, guard him from all danger, restore to him your gifts of gladness and strength. Hear us, we pray, for your dear Name's sake. Amen.
ReplyDelete(Ali praying from the Book of Common Prayer)
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11 NKJV)
ReplyDeleteBelieving with you,
Nicci
I don't know you- I know Caroline McCray Hutton who has asked her friends to pray for you. I am for you, your wife, daughter and family. I am a cancer survivor and lost my cousin, several dear friends to cancer, this hits home to me. So please know I know how scary this is and I am saying huge heartfelt prayers to all of you!!!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless You and may he give you all the strength to deal with this.
A Morning Prayer:
ReplyDeleteThis is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still,
help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit
of Jesus. Amen.
Psalm 103
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy Name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
He forgives all your sins and heals all your infirmities; He redeems your life from the grave
and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness;
He satisfies you with good things, and your youth is renewed like an eagle's.
You are surrounded by love and care on every side.
When the morning dawns on the farthest hill
ReplyDeleteI will sing his name, I will praise him still
When dark trials come and my heart is filled
With the weight of doubt, I will praise him still
For the Lord our God, he is strong to save
From the arms of death, from the deepest grave
And he gave us life in his perfect will
And by his good grace, I will praise him still
Heavenly Father.......
ReplyDeleteThis is the prayer I have been using and will continued to use in our vigil of prayers for Patrick. The prayer was provided by Father Larry J. Hess of Our Lady of Good Counsel Rectory in Bangor PA., who has successfully prayed over the sick with this prayer:
Heavenly Father, I call on You right now in a special way. It is through Your power that Patrick Kelly was created. Every breath he takes, every morning he wakes, and every moment of every hour, he lives under Your power.
Father, we ask You now to touch Patrick Kelly with that same power. For if You created him from nothing, You can certainly recreate him. Fill him with the healing power of Your Spirit. Cast out anything that should not be in him. Mend what is broken. Root out any unproductive cells. Open any blocked arteries or veins and rebuild any damaged areas. Remove all inflammation and cleanse any infection.
Let the warmth of Your healing love pass through Patrick Kelly's body to make new any unhealthy areas so that his body will function the way you created it to function.
And Father, restore Patrick Kelly to full health in mind and body so that he may serve You the rest of his life.
I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
With love,
C. Freeman
Pennsylvania
Wow! The Google document is filled up!! Patrick, you did not know me at JMU, but we have mutual friends. I will pray the rosary for you and keep the intention of your good health in my daily prayers. Julie, stay strong! I can't imagine the pain you must feel right now. The Blessed Mother knows your pain and is by your side along with God's Son. You both have a terrible cross to bear, but your faith will carry you through it. Miracles happen! Keep the faith! Embracing you with prayer... Kelly (Hynes) O'Neill JMU '99
ReplyDeleteHoly, Powerful Jesus, please rescue this family.
ReplyDeleteDear Heavenly Father, thank you for showing Julie and all Patrick's loved ones Your tangible love through the prayers of Your people. Thank you for being Jehovah-jireh, the God who heals, whether You heal through physical restoration or through resurrection. Please hold Patrick, Julie, Cecelia, JoAnn, Christine, Claire, and Tim close to You and let them feel your love directly as they walk together through this valley of shadows.
ReplyDeleteWhere there is darkness, give them light.
Where there is cold, give them warmth.
Where there is sorrow, give them joy and hope.
Where there is doubt, give them faith.
Where there is grief, give them comfort and your peace beyond measure.
And as You continue to accomplish your will for Patrick, please give them spiritual eyes to see that your will includes Your love for Patrick, which surpasses all other loves and all love by others.
I pray these things in the name of your son, Jesus, and through the power of your Spirit.
Amen.
Love and continued prayers from Jeff and Sharon Bjorck
God thank you that You are “…the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.” (Romans 4:17) We ask you boldly to heal Patrick! Please Father. We thank you and praise you that nothing is impossible for you! (Luke 1:37)
ReplyDeletePs 57:1 “Have Mercy on Patrick, O God, have mercy on him, for in you his soul takes refuge. He will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until this disaster has passed.”
We ask you Father to have mercy. We praise you God that “It is you who has made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you!” Jeremiah 32:17
I pray for the whole Kelly family, that you would be sustained through this hard time...
Is 46:4 “I am HE, I am HE who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you, I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
Lauren (Knupp) Wells (a friend of Patrick and Christine's from JMU and Richmond...)
I am praying that Doctor Jesus places His healing hands on Patrick. That He reaches inside and takes out all disease. For guidance in the doctors and nurses. For Your presence to overflow in that hospital room. Our God is a God that CAN DO the impossible and I ask you Lord, that you please heal Patrick. Make him free from diseases, God. I ask this Your Name, I pray. Amen.
ReplyDeleteO holy Father, heavenly Physician of our souls and bodies, who hast sent thine Only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to heal all our ailments and deliver us from death: do thou visit and heal thy servant Patrick, granting him release from sickness and pain, and restoration to health and vigor, that he may give thanks unto thee and bless thy holy Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
ReplyDeleteOur Merciful and Loving God,
ReplyDeleteYour healing power and love is beyond our understanding. If it be in your will, I ask You to heal Patrick. Please reveal Yourself mightily to Patrick, Julie, Ceci, and everyone around them. Please give Julie and the medical team great wisdom and peace and strength. I thank You for Your endless love and faithfulness, and Your perfect plan.
Elizabeth Brill (From Kairos years ago)
O come, O come, Emmanuel
ReplyDeleteAnd ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Come, Lord Jesus. Christ, have mercy.
Standing with you and the beloved community in sorrow, hope, faith and love,
Naomi, Michael and Molly Skena
Praying for all of you right now from over here in China!
ReplyDeleteGiff & Ashley Ransom and the boys
I've never even met you all yet my heart is entirely with you tonight. A dear friend forwarded me a prayer request and I have just been so moved by your faith and love. I'd love to offer a prayer for yall:
ReplyDeleteHeavenly father, we know you love us. Yet in times like this we sometimes struggle to see it. I ask that you lay your healing hand upon Patrick and that no matter what the days ahead have in store that you bring a peace unto his heart. I ask for Julie, strength. That she might remain steadfast in her love and devotion to you. And of course I pray for Cecilia. That she may from even this young age, be yours. Lord please be with JoAnne, Christine, Tim and Claire. Guide them. Protect them. Shower them with Love.
I have to share quickly with you an anecdote our pastor shared last Sunday that I believe is so poignant now. He said that the only house his wife and he ever owned was in suburban philly on the side of this small mountain. And that while they were so proud of it, the basement was always so incredibly damp. If it rained, the basement was flooded. Yet the most perplexing matter was when there was a drought and it was 100 degrees outside the basement still stayed damp. No matter the season or weather. He then said years later they met a neighbor who had lived there his whole life. As it turns out, the realtor never told them there was an underground, hidden river that flowed through the mountain regardless of drought or flood. So this is like our faith. Because of what happened on Christmas day, our Lord, the Word, who was there in the beginning, came to us in the Flesh. On Christmas morning, Joy came into our world as He came to give us what we couldn't give ourselves - redemption. And through this redemption he's offered to us a hidden, subterranean river of joy that no matter what life's seasons bring - sun, rain, blue skyies or a drought - there's a hidden river of joy that always, without ceasing,
without qualification, sustains.
My deepest love to Patrick and the entire family tonight.
Peyton
NY, NY
Amazing! No more "open slots!" We'll pray tomorrow am as we're in the car together commuting to Baltimore.
ReplyDeleteDear Lord, we beg you for the peace that passes all understanding for the Kelly's and all who know, love them & who've been touched by their journey. Amen.
Lord Jesus, who knows us each by name...we ask you to provide comfort amidst the chaos, the uncertainty, and the pain that has confronted the Kelleys and all who know and love Patrick, Julie, and Cecilia. We ask you to heal him from head to toe. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.
ReplyDeleteWe love you, and continue to pray with all the others here... and many more spread across the world.
-Miles & Catherine Honeycutt, All Saints, Durham, NC
The prayer vigil was all filled up, which is most excellent, and so I am praying any slot. :) I also created a facebook page where people can write a message, post a photo or write an encouraging word. I don't know you, Julie, so I hope it's ok that I did this. I figured someone else would soon anyway and I'd just get one moving. Here is the link!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/pages/We-Love-You-Patrick-Kelly/262575373804378
I just prayed that God's power and glory would be made manifest through Patrick. The welcome mat is set for God to work and claim all the glory. If it's His will to heal, I know he can, and I am praying this His Kingdom purposes will be advanced through Patrick and his family.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Trent
Southwestern Alumnus, California
Am adding my prayers for Patrick and the entire family & friends!! God is good all the time and all the time God is good!!
ReplyDeleteI am praying for the family during this diffifult time and will ask St. Jude to grant a miracle for Patrick tonight. I know first hand how difficult it is to have a critically ill loved one during the holidays. You all are in my thoughts and continuous prayers.
ReplyDeleteKisha Salters
As I have been praying for Patrick, the story of Lazarus's death and resurrection keep coming to mind. Jesus took His time in getting to him, because He knew that the sweet miracle He was going to perform would draw people to Himself. I'm praying for a sweet miracle, all for His glory! I know that whatever happens, people will be drawn to Jesus. They already are. Look at all the people praying. On behalf of Pratrick, Lord hear our prayers. John 11:25 Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.
ReplyDeletehi, you don't know who I am but I guess we have a mutual friend and she was listing your blog and asking for prayers so I clicked on it and I started to read. My name is Patrick as well and reading about your struggles and the toll it is taking on your family, I want to pray for all of you. I have a 2 and half year old son and I'm seeing my name in your blog, I'm getting so sad at your turmoil and I couldn't imagine what you're going through.
ReplyDeleteI am not a religious man by any means and I only recently started accepting God back into my life. Throughout my life the one thing I have always believed in was the power of prayer. Whether God exists or not, whether the will of the universe is answering, or some mystical being of another world comes into our lives, i see the power of prayer doing miraculous things. So I want to pray for your family and I hope with all of my heart that miraculous things happen with Patrick.
Like so many others here, I am praying for a healing miracle. That God would restore Patrick to his full health and allow him to continue serving God in all that he does. Praying for strength during this difficult time. You have an army of prayer warriors surrounding you.
ReplyDeletePraying for you all at this moment here in the UK We all send our deepest thoughts , wishes and prayers to you. From the bottom of our heart.
ReplyDeleteSouthwestern alumni. London England
Be assured of prayers from the monks at St. Anselm's Abbey in Washington, D.C.
ReplyDeleteCome, Lord Jesus! Come with your healing and peace.
My prayers have been sent up for you and I will continue to keep you in my prayers. May you feel God's loving arms around you.
ReplyDeleteKyrie eleison...
ReplyDeleteJulie,
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to post a quick comment to tell you that our fervent prayers are with you, Patrick and your family right now. Our family is in a similar situation: I'm 35, my husband is 41, we have a 3-year-old little boy, and my husband is battling brain cancer. He's also a patient at the neuro-oncology branch at NIH. I wish I could drive down right now just to give you a hug. We may never have the privilege of meeting in person, so I pray that instead of mine, you will feel the comforting arms of our Savior wrapped around you right now.
In Christ's Love,
Trish Stevens
Waynesboro, PA
Kelly, I don't know you or your family, but I am praying constantly for your husband, Patrick. I'm also lifting up you and your sweet daughter in my prayers. I also have an almost 2 year old daughter and my heart just goes out to all of you. May the Lord of peace rest upon each of you. Big hugs from North Carolina.
ReplyDeleteFor the Lord your God is living among you.
ReplyDeleteHe is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.
from Zephaniah 3
I don't know your family, but I am a friend of a friend who has been silently following your story and joining in the prayers. Please know that there is at least 1 family as far away as Naples, Italy thinking of you and sending our strongest prayers and thoughts for peace and joy in this holiday season.
ReplyDeleteMy Christmas wish is that your family has as much more time together as possible and that the rest of us remember to cherish every moment we have with our families as well.
Holy Father we call on your grace and mercy. Cover patrick and the entire family with your healing and peace. Comfort only as you can.
ReplyDeleteAmen
The prayer team of Union Church in Seattle, JoAnn & Heath's faith community, are praying continually for Patrick's healing & restoration and for Julie, Ceci, Tim, Claire, JoAnn & Christine. Last night at our weekly prayer gathering we prayed especially for you. Those on the team who are able will join me on the prayer vigil tomorrow night as Christmas Day begins our time. Our love to you, JoAnn, and to your family.
ReplyDeleteCathy Thwing
Prayers for health to Patrick and family, prayers for peace to all and prayers for rest and recovery during this difficult time!
ReplyDeleteJulie: Tim Clayton and all of us of St. Paul's Charlotte are following this regularly and holding you up in prayer. I know the grace of God in the Holy Spirit is sustaining you. May you continually be reminded of God's unimaginable goodness.
ReplyDelete"For this I bless you, as the ruin falls, the pains you give me are more precious than all other gains."
~ fr. the poem, "As the Ruin Falls" by C.S. Lewis on his wife Joy.
Praying for health and peace!
ReplyDeleteKelly Harris baxter
Emily and I are praying for all of you. May you find His mercy tonight.
ReplyDeleteMay God bless you and keep you,
Brad and Emily
Please read/listen to the following and call Help Line: (719) 635-1111 any time fir immediate and urgent prayer. God wants Patrick well.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.awmi.net/extra/article/wants_well
http://www.awmi.net/extra/audio/1036
Almighty, loving heavenly Father, we cry out to you on behalf of this precious family... Thank you that you love them, and thank you for your perfect will in their lives. Please, we beseech thee that includes healing Patrick in this life, today, or tomorrow or the next day, in the powerful Name of Jesus we humbly beg of You. Please wrap your loving arms around them in a tangible way. Fill them with your comfort, strength, and your peace that passes all understanding every second of every minute. Amen. Steve and I continue to pray and pray and pray... Wendy Lane
ReplyDeleteThank you Lord Jesus for wrapping Your arms around Patrick and his family. For lifting them out of despair and bringing comfort where there is hurt. I continue to pray for healing and know that Your word alone is sovereign. None of this is a surprise to you, Lord, though it not make sense to our mortal minds. Please fill this family with strength and let your love for them be overwhelming and a beacon of hope. In Jesus Name we pray all of this...
ReplyDeletekristin merwin
Heavenly Father - I had the wonderful privilege of working with Your son Patrick at Touchstone for a few years. Thank You for Patrick's kindness and generosity as an example of one alive in Christ to all who know him in this world. Patrick loves You so much and his friendships in Christ overflow into all corners of Your creation. Please continue to hold Julie and Cecelia, his Mom and Dad and sisters in Your hands. Give Patrick Your merciful healing, Your radiant peace and Your magnificent love.
ReplyDeletePsalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God"
Chris Ritter
i am a single mother to several children, including a two-year-old daughter. i do not know you, but my prayers are with you and your entire family.
ReplyDeleteCreator of all and lover of our souls,
ReplyDeleteNothing is hidden from you. You are vast and incomprehensible yet you whisper to our hearts. Whisper to Patrick the wonders which await him---the reality of being in your presence..so real that life here will be like a dream which stays in our hearts. May he feel your love in his inner being, apart from the broken body and brain. May he communicate to those who love him the reality of your presence. Be peace in him and through him. Give Julie a sign of your goodness and presence with her...let her know that while she cannot understand why she can be grounded in WHO you are...that those who hope in you will not be disappointed. Strengthen her feeble arms and give her rest. Let Cecilia know that her Daddy is always with her at every moment and will be closer to her than she realizes. Let Patrick's family know the depth of his love for them and help them to remember the source of his joyful smile. Communicate your depth of purpose through his love and life. Help them to know his heart is with them more strongly in death as now he knows and is perfectly known. Help them all to HOPE in you, as Patrick did and so desired of all of them. Jesus, bring Patrick gently home in your arms and soothe his pain. We trust you Lord even though we see faintly as in a mirror. We trust we will see you face to face one day and so will Patrick. Amen