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 July 4
For Liberty and Justice For All
Almighty God, you created all people in your image and call us to live in freedom, justice, and peace. Have mercy on us when we forget that our liberty is bound to the well-being of others. Unmask the systems and habits that favor privilege over dignity, and awaken in us compassion for the poor, the foreigner, and the outcast. By your Holy Spirit, guide our courts and leaders, our communities and ourselves, that your love and justice may flow down like waters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who came to proclaim good news to the poor and release to the captives, and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
For Global Health and the Protection of Children
God of compassion and light, we lift up all children around the world who are unable to access life-saving vaccines. Lord Jesus, you told your disciples that the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. You have taught us that our love is measured by how we treat the least among us. Strengthen all public health workers and advocates in this time of deep uncertainty for the health of the vulnerable, especially children. Renew our faith in your healing grace, and in the knowledge you have granted through your gift of reason and discovery. In the name of Jesus, our healer, we pray. Amen.
For the Dignity of Everyone Seeking Reproductive Healthcare
God of healing, we lament systems that deny individuals, especially women, the ability to choose care providers who honor their health, their bodies, and their dignity. God of mercy, remember all who depend on Medicaid for access to reproductive and preventive care. In this time of uncertainty, they are especially vulnerable. We grieve all legal decisions that leave them trapped without resources. Bless the hands that provide birth control, cancer screenings, and counsel in moments of fear and confusion. Grant wisdom and courage to lawmakers in the United States, that they may work for the dignity, safety, and well-being of all people; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
For Those Who Face Barriers to Food Access
God of hungry crowds, when your people hungered in the wilderness, you sent manna from heaven. Your son, Jesus, fed the multitudes who came to hear him. We lift up those harmed by SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) cuts and by barriers that block access; paperwork, delays, and burdensome rules. You have called us to feed the hungry and clothe the poor. Empower leaders to act with justice and compassion. Strengthen all who labor so others may eat, through Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life. Amen.
For Truth, Not Fear, in Our Classrooms
God of Wisdom, you are the source of all truth, and your teaching is not based in fear. We lament that schools are not always able to teach inclusion and acceptance, and that many fear their stories will be banned. May classrooms everywhere be spaces of honest inquiries and compassionate encounters, where truth and love prevail over fear and hatred. Grant wisdom and courage to teachers, school boards, and judges, and bless all students, so that they may flourish as they seek to learn, grow, and explore. Through the mighty name of your son, Jesus Christ our Lord, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
