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 5
For the Healing of Public Trust
God of truth, where falsehood spreads, you raise up integrity; where deceit prevails, you call forth honesty. We lament the erosion of trust in public reports and the concealment of what should be known. Shine your light where injustice hides, and strengthen all who are harmed by secrecy and distortion. Guard this land from the seeds of distrust, and guide both leaders and people to live with honesty, that fairness and flourishing may abound. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Truthful Governance and Justice Among the Nations
God of justice, we come before you with heavy hearts as more harmful foreign aid cuts are pushed through under the banner of “America First.” Programs that work from a spirit of hope and service have been shuttered by fear and pride. We grieve the misuse of authority and pray that leaders may be clothed with humility and guided by truth, seeking the good of all people. Stir us to be faithful citizens who mirror the generosity of your kingdom, not that of this world. Grant that power be wielded for mercy, through Jesus Christ, who reigns as the servant Lord of every nation, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
For Safety in Schools and Action Against Gun Violence
God of peace, you weep with the grieving and hold the little ones in your embrace. As the school year begins, what should be a season of joy and fresh beginnings is shadowed by fear, for schools and classrooms have too often become places of massacre in this land. We grieve with the people of Minneapolis in their recent tragedy, and with every community torn by gun violence. Pour out your spirit of protection upon all—especially children, teachers, and caregivers. Give us courage to continue pressing federal, state, and local leaders to adopt measures and other laws that place public safety above other agendas. Turn our mourning into steadfast labor for justice; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who gathers the little ones in his arms and blesses them. Amen.
For Sudan in the Burden of Many Sorrows
God of steadfast mercy and unending love, we bring before you the many sorrows of the people of Sudan—their wounds of war, unrelenting hunger, and now the devastating landslide in Darfur’s Marrah Mountains. The ground itself bears the weight of human grief, fields washed away, villages silences, and lives buried under creation’s undone beauty. Pour out your healing peace that mends land and hearts alike; sustain the bodies and spirits of the hungry, the displaced, and the mourning. Awaken in us a fierce compassion to labor for justice and renewal through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
