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 August 15
For The People of Washington D.C.
God of peace and justice, look with compassion upon the people of Washington, D.C. As changes to law enforcement and the deployment of federal forces take effect, many live in fear. The most vulnerable, especially immigrants and the unhoused, face deeper uncertainty. Pour out your peace where tensions run high, your comfort where anxiety weighs heavy, and your strength upon those who labor for the dignity and safety of every neighbor. Grant that all who dwell in the capital may not only be shielded from harm, but also be given what they need to flourish in community. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our refuge and our advocate. Amen.
For Truth and the Preservation of Memory
God of light, you are the source of all truth, and in you nothing is hidden. You have given us memory as a holy trust to remember your mighty works, to guard the truth of the past, and to hand on wisdom to the generations to come. As cultural institutions like the Smithsonian are targeted, we come to you in fear of powers erasing the past to distort the present. Strengthen us to keep faithful record, to pass on what is true, and to bear witness until your kingdom comes in fullness. Through Jesus Christ, the Alpha and the Omega. Amen.
For Those Who Accompany Migrants
God of justice and compassion, your Son walked beside the vulnerable and became one with them, even unto death. We give you thanks for those who visit detention centers, who accompany migrants to hearings, and who offer presence where fear and isolation abound. We lament the arrests, the fear, and the pain that mark the journey of so many seeking refuge. Be with all who advocate for dignity and fairness in our immigration systems. Stir in us the courage to walk beside the stranger, as Christ walks beside us. May we never forget that in welcoming the stranger, we welcome you. Through Jesus Christ, who knew no home yet welcomed all. Amen.
For Justice and Peace in Gaza
God of reconciliation, we weep over the killing of journalists and those seeking humanitarian aid in Gaza. We lament the fear caused by plans for a takeover—plans that grieve many nations and stir growing voices of resistance around the world. Your Son, Jesus Christ, rose in power to proclaim that the powers of this world will not have the final word. Make us the inheritors of his promise and his hands and feet on the Earth today. Strengthen us to work for your kingdom where the oppressed are freed, where justice rolls down like a mighty river, and where swords are beaten into plowshares. We pray in the name of the One who reigns by love. Amen.
