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.
For Moral Clarity in the Face of Capital Punishment
God of mercy and forgiveness, you alone know every human heart and are the final judge of every human life. We remember the victims of terrible crimes, those whose lives were taken, and families who carry grief that no sentence can undo. Give us moral clarity to condemn terrible acts without denying the humanity of those who committed them, to seek justice without vengeance, and to believe that no life lies beyond the possibility of repentance and redemption. Be with those awaiting execution, those entrusted with decisions of clemency, and those called to carry out sentences of death. Keep us from answering the taking of life with the taking of another and teach us to pursue justice that protects the innocent, holds wrongdoers accountable, while preserving the possibility of repentance, transformation, and mercy. Through Jesus Christ, who forgave those who put him to death. Amen.
For Wisdom and Justice in the Supreme Court
God of life, who created every person in your image, as we enter a new Supreme Court term, we pray that you grant the justices wisdom, humility, and discernment as they interpret the law and weigh decisions that affect millions. Guide them to seek justice, uphold human dignity, and attend especially to those whose lives and futures are at stake: people in immigration detention, those facing deportation to third countries, LGBTQ+ youth and families, and those on the front lines of climate disaster. Give wisdom and courage also to those who advocate before the courts on their behalf. Draw us together across our differences to seek the common good and to safeguard the rights and dignity of those who are vulnerable. Grant this through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
For Children Facing Return of War in East Africa
God of steadfastness, whose Son gives us the peace of your kingdom, we pray for all who face renewed violence in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia, especially the children who have been injured or killed. Hold those who have died in your everlasting embrace, and comfort the grieving and the wounded. Move all who can to protect children and civilians from harm and to seek peaceful resolution to the conflict. Guide all levels of leaders to use diplomatic and economic influence to press all parties to end hostilities, protect civilians and humanitarian access, and prevent conflict from spreading across the region. Strengthen humanitarian and medical workers serving those in need. Help us to build a world where no child faces injury or death because of war, and keep us steadfast in the hope we have in you. Amen.
