We pray first for the victims of trafficking, especially women and children, whose lot is slavery and whose future is despair.
As you rescued Susanna from a cruel fate at the hands of the elders,
so rescue the enslaved in our day and restore their rightful dignity as your beloved creation.

Leader: “Lo! the hosts of evil round us scorn thy Christ, assail his ways!
People: “Grant us wisdom, grant us courage for the living of these days.”

We pray for those who traffick in human lives that they may know at first hand the wrath of God and, knowing it, may fear God and turn from their wickedness and live.
As you touched and transformed the heart of John Newton with your amazing grace,
so break through the barriers of  greed and indifference and let their evil be turned
to good.
 
Leader: “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved;
People: “How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!”

We pray for the exploiters whose relentless demand for forced labor and commercial sex spells doom for the innocent in many lands.
As you brought judgment on Babylon, the great city,
so let your righteous will frustrate all who take part in this unholy trade.

Leader: “Fallen, fallen is the great city; for its sins are heaped as high as heaven.
People: “God has remembered its iniquities; for mighty is the Lord who judges.”

We pray for our governments who, having made a start, are left with much yet to do for the voiceless and wretched of the earth.
As you moved Abraham Lincoln to act on behalf of the enslaved,
so move our leaders to respond with conscience and compassion in this moment of testing.

Leader: “Shame our wanton, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul.
People: “Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal.”

We pray for the religious leaders in all our communities that they may bear a bold and faithful witness to discomfort and challenge those who rest easy in the face of evil.
As you moved the prophets of old and raised up Sojourner Truth to bear her witness,
so call forth prophets at the heart of our nation’s life that the impossible may be done in your strength and the undreamed of become real.

Leader: “God of grace and God of glory, on thy people pour thy power.
People: “Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour.”

We pray finally for ourselves and for all people of compassion and goodwill that we may respect the dignity of every human being, loving our neighbors as ourselves.
As you have brought us out of error into truth and out of sin into righteousness,
so by the witness of many bring the victims of trafficking out of death into life and rid the great city which is our world from these evils at work among us.

Leader: “Save us from weak resignation to the evils we deplore.
People: “Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, serving thee whom we adore.”

Amen.

Bishop Jeffery Rowthorn
Salem, Connecticut, U.S.A.
Copyright  ©  2008