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 25
For Those Without Bread in The World
God of the oppressed, we pray for those who are without food in South Sudan, Haiti, Yemen, Gaza, and everywhere around the world where your children are denied sustenance. Your Son, Jesus Christ, taught us that our solidarity with the hungry is our solidarity with him. Equip us to tirelessly feed the hungry and seek a sustainable future for all the oppressed—all for the sake of your holy name. Amen.
For Wisdom and Safety Amid Climate Change
God of all wisdom and knowledge, you have blessed us with the ability not only to reason, but to pursue discovery. As we observe oceans rising, floods displacing communities, fires consuming forests, and the rich diversity of your creation under threat, we give thanks for those who study your world with care and speak truth when the balance is broken. Renew our commitment to the gifts of science and to its faithful use for healing the Earth and safeguarding life. Protect the most vulnerable, and guide us to act with courage, clarity, and compassion as we face a changing world around us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For The Desperate Plight of Palestinians
God of mercy and justice, look with sorrow upon the suffering Palestinian people—especially those in Gaza who are displaced from their homes, facing mass starvation, enduring a collapsed healthcare system, and grieving the loss of countless loved ones. In this time of devastation and despair, let us not be silent. Hear our grief, sorrow, and outrage over the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza that was hit by an Israeli missile. Hear our grief, sorrow, and outrage when the Christian communities of Taybeh in the West Bank are being attacked by extremist Israeli settlers. May their endurance, courage, and hope stand strong where the buildings, water systems, crops, and olive groves could not. Let the cries of the innocent be heard, and guide all nations to act with conscience, seeking a just peace rooted in truth, dignity, and the shared humanity of your children. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
For LGBTQ+ Youth
God of everlasting love, we lift up your beloved children in the LGBTQ+ community, especially with changes for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Embrace with your steadfast comfort all who feel abandoned or unseen, especially LGBTQ+ youth. Fulfill your promise to be near to the brokenhearted and to bind up all wounds. Strengthen our resolve to seek justice and safety for all, and fashion us into a people who love others as you have first loved us. In your loving name we pray, Amen.
Note: While 988 no longer directly connects people to the Trevor Project, they’re still operating separately (as well as Trans Lifeline).
Info here:
Trevor Project: Call 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678678, or visit TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help.
Trans Lifeline: Call or text 877-565-8860, or visit Home – Trans Lifeline
For UNESCO and Work Across Borders
God of all nations and people, we grieve the fractures in global partnership as the United States prepares to depart from UNESCO, leading to inevitably reduced resources. As multilateralism comes under threat and our commitments to sharing gifts and learnings with one another around the globe get muffled, let us turn to you, the author of our common life. Empower us to continue to work across borders for the protection of cultural heritage and shared educational goals, and to seek peace for the global human family. You have made of one blood all the peoples of the Earth; grant that we may live into shared life, for the flourishing of all. We ask this in the name of Christ, Amen.
