If the Lord had not been my help,
my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
When I thought, “My foot is slipping,”
your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.
When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:17-19)
Join us each week as we share new prayers for the vulnerable among us facing challenges, fears, and threats. We will name many of the harms unfolding and acknowledge what is being erased, lost, and threatened.
These prayers are not a replacement for action; they are meant to offer space for grounding and discernment as we seek to bear one another’s burdens in the love and way of Christ.
Join by Zoom each Monday at 11:45 a.m. ET to hear the prayers aloud, in the context of a simple liturgy, prayed by members of the Community of Francis and Clare.
For Our Trans and Nonbinary Siblings
God of truth and justice, who uplifts the vulnerable and disinherited, we stand before you grieved by the recent decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that permits the government to force transgender and nonbinary applicants to use a sex marker on their passport that does not match their identity. We hold before you our siblings, your beloved children, who continue to face heightened risk of discrimination, violence, and feelings of erasure when their ability to declare their identity is denied. Empower advocates, uphold dignity, and dismantle the systems of injustice that marginalize your people. Especially as we approach Transgender Day of Remembrance, help us be faithful agents of your justice and love, so that your church and the world may be places where every person is seen, affirmed, and honored. Through the saving power of your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
For Safe and Sustainable Mining Practices
Creator God, who entrusted us to guard the Earth and care for your children, we lift up the communities around Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo where a dam collapse at a copper-cobalt mine owned by a foreign company has spilled contaminated water into homes and waterways. We lament the reckless behavior of extractive industries and corporations—when profit is pursued at the expense of vulnerable people and fragile ecosystems. We recognize our part when we hold cellphones in our hands that contain some of these resources. We pray that business leaders, corporate boards, and regulators may be inspired by your Spirit to embrace responsibility and to refine their practices so that they honor both human dignity and creation. Be with those working on the ground in Congo who face the trauma of polluted streams, flooded neighborhoods, and threatened livelihoods. Grant them courage, and help us everywhere to live up to our calling to be just stewards of our common home. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
For All Burdened by Rising Healthcare Costs
Healer God, whose son, Jesus, healed many wounds on his way to the cross, we lift up the millions of Americans who face rapidly rising health insurance costs. We pray for older adults, those self-employed, small business owners, and all individuals and families vulnerable to losing access to affordable coverage as enhanced tax credits and subsidies loom toward expiration at the end of this year. Grant a spirit of responsible care to our governing authorities, so that this nation might not leave anyone behind. Above all, be with the most vulnerable among us—those uninsured, those sick, those forced to choose between care and other necessities—and ensure that your children may find healing where they need it. In your loving mercy, sustain us in our hope for a healthcare system that is just, compassionate, and able to care for all, so that no one is left without the healing they deserve. We ask this in the name of Christ, the great balm for all our wounds. Amen.
