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 24
For the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations
God of all nations, you have made us all in your image and you bid us to live together in harmony. On this 80th anniversary of the United Nations, we remember its original collaborative global dream built into reality out of the ashes of World War II—“to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.” We give thanks for its enduring work as a place where nations may gather to seek peace, uphold human rights, and protect the dignity of all people. As the U.N. faces divisions in a contentious and fragmented world, rekindle its purpose and uphold its voice for the good of all creation. Inspire those who serve within it to pursue justice and mercy with courage and compassion. Grant this through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, who calls all people into one household of grace. Amen.
For Scientific Integrity in Public Life
Protector God, you have endowed your children with wisdom and reason so that we might help safeguard the wellness of our neighbor. We pray for integrity and truth in the shaping of public policy, especially where science protects human health and the common good. As we see a rise in anti-science bills seeking to weaken long-standing safeguards built through hard-won knowledge and compassion, protect us from the infection of misinformation, and give courage to those who seek evidence, honesty, and care. Remind us that to love our neighbor includes defending the means by which lives are preserved. Strengthen all who labor for truth in medicine, research, and governance, that their work may reflect your healing will revealed in Jesus Christ, the Great Physician, who restored the sick and gave life to the world. Amen.
For the Safeguarding of Checks and Balances
God our Governor, whose rule is righteous and whose wisdom endures, grant discernment to all leaders of this land that they may be instruments of peace, integrity, and justice. We give thanks for the checks and balances woven into our democracy, acknowledging human fallibility and designed to promote accountability and encourage cooperation. Protect this vital system, O God, from erosion and abuse, that our common life may reflect fairness and accountability. Defend especially those most vulnerable when power goes unchecked, and shelter your children beneath your steadfast care. We ask this through Christ, who reigns not by domination but by love, and in whose resurrection we find true freedom. Amen.
