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 11
For Families in Financial Distress
God, our provider and refuge, you are our daily bread and the strength of our days. We live in systems that deny rightful compensation, where wage gaps grow, and safety nets are threatened. Be near to those who live in constant fear and fatigue because of unjust financial burdens. Hold close the families stretched beyond their limits, and all who wonder how they will make it through another day. Move us, your people, to become instruments of justice, that all may share in dignity, security, and hope. Through Christ our Lord, who walks with the poor and sustains us in every need. Amen.
For Non-Human Species in a Changing Climate
God of all living things, you created the Earth, plants, creatures of the deep, birds, cattle, and wild beasts, and called it good. As the climate changes, creation groans. The polar bear’s path grows thin, the whales’ waters grow warm, and forests fall silent. Remind us of your goodness woven into all things. Turn our hearts from domination to reverence. Make us faithful stewards of what we have damaged through misuse. Bless all who work to restore and defend your creation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Every Child Born Among Us
God of justice, your love and mercy know no boundaries and make no exceptions. We ask for your compassion in the United States, as children born to noncitizen parents now face fear and uncertainty. You call us to welcome, for your kingdom is one of radical inclusion, lasting belonging, and perfect peace. Make us a people who protect the vulnerable, love the stranger, and welcome the sojourner in our land. Your Holy Spirit crosses every border and barrier. Teach us to see beyond the walls we build, that we may live in the freedom of your reconciling love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
For Justice and Mercy at the Border
God of strangers and outcasts, we lift before you all immigrants and asylum seekers who face injustice at the borders of this nation. We grieve the expansion of detention centers and policies that deepen fear and suffering. Your son, Jesus Christ, once fled violence and persecution. Empower all who work to defend the dignity and safety of immigrants and refugees, in the United States and throughout the world. Make us faithful doers of your justice and mercy, for the sake of Jesus Christ, your son our savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
For the Freedom of the Oppressed
Liberating God, you brought your people out of bondage in Egypt and delivered them into freedom. We pray for all who are exploited through forced labor. We are clothed in garments woven in pain; we hold devices made by hands in chains; and we eat from fields harvested by the abused. Lift the veil from our eyes, so that we may see clearly our participation in systems of oppression. Strengthen us by your Spirit to be agents of justice and bearers of hope, working for a world where dignity is restored and exploitation is no more. We ask this in the name of Christ, our liberator and our example. Amen.
