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 October 17
For Those Facing Government Layoffs
God of justice and right order, who calls rulers and nations to act with fairness, we lift before you federal employees living in fear of losing their livelihoods amid political stalemate. As courts and unions challenge Reductions in Force following the government shutdown, protect the workers whose service upholds the common good. Guard those who labor at every level of government from the weight of unjust decisions and administrative neglect. Strengthen unions, judges, and leaders who seek to defend dignity over expediency. Restore integrity where power has faltered. Through Jesus Christ, the righteous judge and servant of all, who upheld truth over authority and mercy over might. Amen.
For a World of Preventable Hunger
God of unfailing provision, who sustained the widow of Zarephath and her child when famine consumed the land, you have shown that no hunger is beyond your care and no child beyond your mercy. Yet in our world, where there is more than enough for all, children still starve to death. As the United Nations marked World Food Day this week, forgive us for the hunger that persists not from scarcity but from neglect. Move us to confront the harm in cutting aid and name it, not in statistics and words removed from our humanity, but in clear terms that highlight the broken lives and preventable deaths. Be near to all who cannot eat—especially in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan—and lead our nations toward compassion and generosity. Through Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, who feeds the hungry and fills the world with hope. Amen.
For The Wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Youth
God of compassion, who draws near to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit, we lift before you LGBTQ+ youth living under rising anxiety, depression, and fear. When rejection deepens despair, let your nearness bring healing and your love speak louder than condemnation. As the latest published report by The Trevor Project highlights how supportive environments significantly reduce risk of self-harm among these, your children, strengthen families and communities to continue being places of safety and affirmation, where every young person is seen and welcomed. Restore hope, resilience, and peace of mind to those who struggle this day. Through Jesus Christ, who wept with the sorrowful and brought comfort to the weary, our companion in suffering. Amen.
