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 June 27
For Endurance and Peace in Ukraine
Merciful God, your son taught us of a widow who would not cease pleading for justice from an unyielding judge. People around the world continue praying for the people of Ukraine as their land is ravaged by war and their hearts weighed down with grief. God who listens and redeems, we pray again with the people of Ukraine for a true and lasting peace in their land and a just end to this war. May the fire of your Spirit rekindle in us a hope that burns anew each day. Through Christ, who knows every pain and hears every cry. Amen.
For Vulnerable People in a Warming World
Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth, who made all things good and in whom all creation holds together. We lift up all those who suffer amid intensifying heat. We pray especially for the poor, the elderly, and the unhoused. In a warming world, may your mercy sustain those most at risk, and may your Spirit awaken in us a reverence for your creation. Remind us that to love our neighbor is to honor the earth you have entrusted to our care. Give each of us the wisdom and courage to deal justly with the planet’s resources so all of creation might thrive; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
For the Democratic Republic of Congo
O God of unsearchable wisdom, our refuge and strength, you make your presence felt in times of trouble, and you desire peace for all your children. Look with mercy upon your people in the Democratic Republic of Congo as their leaders sign a peace agreement with Rwanda in Washington, D.C. We pray for a speedy process, and the safe return of refugees and those internally displaced. Through Jesus Christ our unfailing shepherd, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
For a True and Lasting Ceasefire
God of steadfast love, your son was born into a world of strife, violence, and fear. But his steadfast love touched people across lines of religious and political identity. Lord Jesus, we pray that the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran holds. Pour out your boundary-crossing and world-upending love on all people affected by this conflict. Let that same love break through walls of hostility. Transform our fear and despair into that peace that only you can bring. Grant this, O Lord, for the honor of your name. Amen.
For The Wounded Body of Christ in Syria
God of consolation, we weep with the community of Saint Elias Church in Damascus, Syria, who mourn the loss of loved ones and bear wounds from a recent suicide attack. Your son was lifted high upon the cross for the sake of the whole world. His body, your church, still suffers on earth. Be with the broken and do not forsake those who are attacked or killed in your name. Renew the courage of your people in Damascus; make them bold for the sake of the Gospel. Let the whole body of Christ be a light proclaiming love in the face of hate, and hope in the face of fear, as we wait for the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
