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 September 19
For U.S. Cities Living Under the Fear of Increased Enforcement
O God of every city and town, we pray for Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., New Orleans, Memphis, Chicago, and all places where the presence or threat of increased federal forces has sown fear among your people. Uphold the vulnerable and strengthen the weary. Stir the hearts of leaders in our federal government, that they may deal justly with local authorities, seeking not control but peace. Guard communities from violence and nurture in them the patience of your Spirit. May your wisdom guide us toward reconciliation, living as citizens of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Prince of Peace, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
For Those Living in Fear of the Rise of Detention Centers
O God of freedom, we bring before you our rising fear as more detention centers appear across this land. Many grieve the threat of deportation for themselves and their loved ones. Many lament the heavy hand of government used for harm rather than protection. You call your people to be peacemakers and to seek justice with mercy. Be near to those held unjustly and to those who wait in dread, assuring them they are never forgotten. Strengthen your church to protect the vulnerable, to comfort the afflicted, and to labor faithfully for justice and peace. All for your love’s sake. Amen.
For the Protection of Palestinians
God of compassion, who bears the sorrows of your people, in grief we turn to you asking for protection for your children suffering in Gaza. We watch in horror as they endure hunger, thirst, displacement, and torment—circumstances which an independent panel commissioned by the United Nations Human Rights Council has now named a genocide. Strengthen your church to persist in prayer, to speak boldly for justice, and to labor for the flourishing of every child of God. Grant peace amid devastation, hope amid despair, and the assurance that even when we feel helpless, your love does not abandon the oppressed. Through Jesus Christ, the man of sorrows. Amen.
For Equal Treatment Under the Law
O God of justice, we grieve the ongoing harm of racism and the violence it breeds in our communities. Prejudice, abuse of power, and unequal treatment under the law weigh heavily upon your children, keeping many bound by fear and distress. Free your people, O God, and turn the hearts of all who are complicit in injustice. We ask for the guidance of your Spirit, so that your work through the hands and voices of advocates may break down systems that oppress and build up practices that honor the dignity of every life. You are a God who frees both the captives and the captors. Let your righteousness flow like a mighty river, restoring what is broken. Through Jesus Christ, our deliverer and judge, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
