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)
Join us each week as we share new prayers for the vulnerable among us facing challenges, fears, and threats. We will name many of the harms unfolding and acknowledge what is being erased, lost, and threatened.
These prayers are not a replacement for action; they are meant to offer space for grounding and discernment as we seek to bear one another’s burdens in the love and way of Christ.
Join by Zoom each Monday at 11:45 a.m. ET to hear the prayers aloud, in the context of a simple liturgy, prayed by members of the Community of Francis and Clare.
For Refugees and Asylum-Seekers in Uncertain Times
Lord Jesus, you were carried as a child into Egypt and know the fear and fragility of displacement. We pray for all who have been resettled in this land and now face renewed uncertainty about the permanence of their status, and for all who seek asylum whose cases are delayed or constrained. Hold them, and their children and families, in your peace. Guard them from injustice; turn the hearts of those in authority toward compassion and wisdom; and stir your church to stand with them in steadfast love, faithful advocacy, and generous support. May all who have fled danger find safety, stability, and the assurance that they are seen and cherished by you. As we await your coming, keep us hopeful and ready to welcome you in the stranger. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
For Healing from Gender-based Violence
Creator God, you made all your children in your image and hold each of us in equal dignity. Forgive us when we allow sex and gender to become grounds for harm, and for the sin of gender-based violence that persists in many forms across cultures and communities. We grieve its widespread impact, especially on women and girls, and we lament the violence suffered by people of diverse gender expressions. Illuminate our minds through truth-telling and faithful learning. Protect the vulnerable, bring healing and just redress to victims and survivors, and grant mercy and the possibility of repentance and restoration to those who have caused harm. Release us from every bondage that distorts your intention for us, that we may walk in the ways of forgiveness and reconciliation. May the brokenness within and between us be redeemed through the love and power of Jesus Christ. Amen.
For Households Facing Economic Hardship
God of grace, the giver of every good gift, we lift before you all who struggle with unmet needs in this season of waiting and hope. As many work to make ends meet, grant mercy, strength, and the dignity to endure with trust in your provision. Guide our lawmakers toward just policies that uphold the well-being of every household. Guard the hearts of those with power and influence from greed and turn them toward generosity, compassion, and a spirit of true giving. Strengthen advocates, community leaders, and organizations who labor to support families so that all may be nourished, cared for, and sustained during this holy season. As we await the coming of Christ, kindle in us the hope of your promised future—one marked by justice, peace, and flourishing for all your children. Through Christ our Lord, amen.
