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)
We invite you to join us as we share new prayers each week for the vulnerable among us facing challenges, fears, and threats. We will name many of the harms unfolding around us and acknowledge what is being erased, lost, and threatened.
Please join us in prayer and share these prayers with your dioceses and parishes.
We are one church united in prayer, naming reality in the face of lies, creating space for grief in the face of denial, and freeing space in our souls for hope. We gather to be the body of Christ for one another—bearing one another’s burdens—and pointing the world to the cross and its redemptive power already at work through our witness (even when it may not feel like it).
These prayers are not a replacement for action; they offer grounding and space to discern what actions each of us feel compelled to take. We may feel called to meet with or contact our elected officials, participate in community organizing, provide services to those in our communities, or join in protests or acts of civil disobedience.
As a church, our advocacy continues, and we invite you to join us. The Episcopal Public Policy Network has weekly action alerts, resources, webinars, and trainings. Learn more here.
Prayers for the week of September 12
For an End to Political Violence
God of mercy and peace, we grieve for all lives lost to political violence. Comfort all families who have experienced such loss and those who experience threats of violence. Grant us self-control in political discourse, that anger and fear do not lead us into harm. Stir our hearts toward compassion, and bless us with the gift of understanding, that we may listen and not judge. Lord, guard us from the pride that built the Tower of Babel, and unite us in patience and humility—building together for the good of all. We trust in your justice and your steadfast love, through Jesus Christ our Prince of Peace. Amen.
For Equal Rights and Protection of Freedoms Under the Law
O God, our creator, you have made all people in your image and redeemed us in Christ. We lament that due to a recent Supreme Court order, federal immigration agents are able to target neighbors without reasonable suspicion by race, ethnicity, or economic standing. Forgive us when we treat the other as less than ourselves. Protect our neighbors from harm and guard us from using privilege and power to deny justice to others. Lead us to repentance and reconciliation and rekindle in us the desire to love and serve all your children as we love and serve you. Through Jesus Christ, who makes us one human family in his body, we pray. Amen.
For Layan Nasir and All Who Are Unjustly Detained
God of love and justice, we lift before you Layan Nasir, our Anglican Palestinian sister, and all people who have been and are in detention. We bring to you our protest for all who are sentenced without a fair trial. Though hidden from our sight, they are visible to you. Grant humane treatment and swift, fair justice. Surround them with your angels, as you did for the Apostle Paul in prison, that they may know your presence. Strengthen the voices of advocates who cry out for their release, and soften the hearts of captors, that they may see all people as your children worthy of dignity and belonging in your kingdom on earth. Through Jesus Christ, who came to set the captives free, we pray. Amen.
For Restoration of Wisdom and Renewal of Our Call to Care for Creation
God of wisdom, you made us to delight in and tend your creation. We give you thanks for the ability to study and steward its wonder. We lament all the ways that scientific research has been affected by funding cuts and uncertainty, especially research that would help us address climate change and protect biodiversity. Forgive our shortsightedness, our greed, and the falsehoods and confusion that lead to harmful decisions. Enlighten our paths with your mercy, compassion, and truth. Give us boundaries that enable us to walk as wise tenders of your earthly garden in harmony with your creation. Through Jesus Christ, our companion and friend. Amen.
