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 Those Who Fear Drone Strikes
God of peace, whose Son shared fully in the vulnerability of human life, we pray for all those who have been killed, injured by, or are fearful of drone strikes, especially those in Sudan. We mourn those killed and injured, those harmed while trying to rescue others, and families who live in the fear of drone strikes. Grant wisdom and restraint to all who command and use these weapons. Bring an end to the violence that makes these weapons instruments of fear, and draw those divided by conflict toward dialogue, reconciliation, and a just and lasting peace. Where technology creates distance between those who strike and those who suffer, never let that distance obscure our common humanity. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Prince of Peace. Amen.
For Those Facing Return to Danger
God of refuge, who heard the cry of your people in exile, we pray for Haitians facing return to a country still afflicted by armed violence, displacement, hunger, and insecurity. We lift before you all those who have lost Temporary Protected Status in the United States and now risk deportation amid continuing violence and instability. We lament when protections end while grave dangers remain, and when parents must choose between taking their children into harm’s way or leaving them behind in another’s care. Guard those who are returned without resources or a safe place to go. Strengthen the people of Haiti and all who labor for peace, security, and just government. Give wisdom and compassion to those entrusted with decisions about refuge and return, that no one would be sent knowingly into danger. Through Jesus Christ, who was himself carried to safety from violence. Amen.
For Those Left Without Care After USAID Cuts
God of compassion, whose Son drew near to those in need and taught us to recognize the stranger as our neighbor, we pray for all who depend upon humanitarian aid and networks of care that sustain life in places of poverty, displacement, and war. We pray especially for communities in Nepal where USAID cuts have increased pregnancy complications and deaths. We lament when prenatal care, community health outreach, nutrition programs, and other essential services are reduced or disappear. Now, as catastrophic floods bring further loss and displacement to Nepal, we pray for those whose need for care and assistance has become still more urgent. Strengthen local health workers and organizations serving with diminished resources. Inspire generosity and wisdom in governments, institutions, and donors entrusted with difficult decisions, that responsible stewardship may never lose sight of urgent needs. Help communities develop the resources and resilience to flourish without outside assistance, while reminding us that long-term solutions cannot replace immediate care when lives are already in danger. By your Holy Spirit, keep us from indifference, and teach us to recognize our neighbors in those whose suffering we may never see. Amen.
