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.
Click on the image above to download the PDF version of the prayers to use as bulletin inserts or distribute.
For Disagreement Without Contempt
God of truth, whose Son taught us to speak with courage and to love even those who oppose us, we pray for ourcommon life in times of political division. Guard us from propaganda and deliberate falsehood, from words meant to humiliate rather than persuade, and from anger that turns disagreement into contempt. Give integrity to candidates, leaders, commentators, and all who shape public debate, that they may speak truthfully and resist exploiting fear for advantage. Teach us to disagree without dehumanizing, to listen without surrendering our convictions, and to debate difficult questions with honesty and respect. When we are tempted to see political opponents as enemies, remind us that they are our neighbors. By your Holy Spirit, make our words instruments of understanding rather than division, and give us the courage to seek truth together, even when we disagree. Through Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Amen.
For Peace and Reconciliation in Myanmar
God of hope, whose Son Jesus Christ broke down the walls that divide us, sow seeds of peace in Myanmar and give its people strength to tend them toward justice and reconciliation. Where suffering is too often unseen, open our eyes and do not let us look away. Where brothers and sisters meet across battle lines amid long-standing differences of ethnicity, autonomy, and political division, open paths toward dialogue and unity. Where rare earths, jade, and other resources enrich armed actors, break the bonds between riches and the financing of war and help the people ofMyanmar to turn that wealth toward the flourishing of its people. Give wisdom and courage to governments and industries abroad whose choices shape these supply chains, that profit may never outweigh human life. Raise up peacemakers; protect those who labor for just peace; and lead Myanmar toward freedom and unity. Amen.
For Lebanon’s Children and Families
God of peace, whose Son gathered children into his arms and called us to the work of reconciliation, we pray for the people of Lebanon amid renewed violence. Receive those who have been killed, comfort those who mourn, and heal the wounded. Protect civilians living beneath the threat of further attacks, and remember especially children whose homes, schools, and sense of safety have been disrupted by war. Be near to families displaced again and again, including those sheltering in schools as a new school year begins. Strengthen all who provide shelter, education, medical care, and relief. Turn those who wield weapons from further violence. Give courage and wisdom to all working for a lasting peace, that families may return home, children may return safely to their classrooms, and communities may begin to rebuild. Through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
