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 June 13
For the Honoring of Names and Identities
Loving God, your Son Jesus Christ revealed your boundless love to all, especially the vulnerable and misunderstood. Teach us to love beyond bias, and to stand with those whose identities are denied. Help us honor each person’s name, identity, and truth, especially our LGBTQ+ siblings who face erasure and dehumanization each day. Strengthen our commitment to uphold the dignity of every human being. In the name of Christ, who walks with the outcast. Amen.
For Families Separated by Borders
God of every land and people, your kingdom knows no borders, and your love knows no bounds. Many ache with the pain of separation, kept from loved ones by policies and distance. Comfort those whose families can’t connect physically and those who must choose between staying and going. Be near to all who wait for reunions that feel far away. Holy God, send your Spirit to help us tear down the walls we have built, and lead us toward a world where no one is exiled from love. We ask this in your name and through your boundless mercy. Amen.
For Those Living in Fear of Deportation
God of exile and homecomings, you led your people through the wilderness and taught us that welcoming the stranger is an act of kindness and love. We pray for all who live in fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, detention, and deportation. We grieve the heavy-handed response to largely peaceful protests, and the weaponizing of institutions meant to protect. In your mercy, shield the vulnerable from unjust laws and misuse of power. Strengthen our resolve to stand with immigrants and refugees, not out of partisanship, but as followers of the Risen Christ, whose kingdom knows no border. Through your Spirit, make us agents of justice and peace. Amen.
For Those Affected by the Loss of Humanitarian Funding
God of mercy and justice, we lift before you the pain caused by U.S. cuts to United Nations departments and agencies. Empower those who feed the hungry, shelter the displaced, and care for the sick. We echo the vision of the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights that all people are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Strengthen us to continue to serve, and stir us, your church, to defend the vulnerable–not for political gain, but for the sake of your love. May we live our baptismal promises, faithful to your Gospel and bold in justice. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
For a World Without Nuclear Fear
God of peace, with trembling hearts we bring our fear–fear of the growing threat of nuclear weapons and war. We lay this burden at the foot of the cross of Christ, trusting in your power to heal what we cannot control. We give you thanks for those who labor for disarmament, especially the work of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and all who dare to imagine a world without nuclear fear. Through your Holy Spirit, make us an instrument of your peace, for the sake of Christ and the flourishing of our world. Amen.
