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 an End to Violence in Our Political Life
God of peace, whose Son said, “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will die by the sword,” we grieve the onslaught of political violence in this nation and around the world. Where gunshots ring out, make us bold in our proclamation of love. Where fearful, angry, or hurting people take up weapons, give us grace to act boldly together in nonviolence and with love. Do not let violence keep us from gathering in community, from speaking out for justice, and from living lives of radical hope. Fill our lives with this hope that we might be your hands and feet on the ground, caring for the vulnerable and spreading the good news of a kingdom where swords are beaten into plowshares and the wolf will live with the lamb. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, who lives and reigns with the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
For Those Whose U.S. Citizenship is Being Challenged
God of community, whose Son proclaimed your kingdom where all are invited and none are cast aside, we pray for those whose U.S. citizenship is being challenged through denaturalization proceedings or debated in public policy. We grieve the rhetoric and proposals that may expand or more aggressively apply the use of denaturalization against foreign-born citizens. Remain close, O God, with those who have found home in the United States and now face uncertainty. Comfort them, comfort their families, and give us all strength to advocate for their rights. Be with those in federal and state governments, and in the courts, and grant them the wisdom to uphold the dignity and safety of those who have accepted the privilege and responsibilities of citizenship. Make the United States and all nations places of security and belonging, and give us courage to advocate for laws and just practices that look like your kingdom. Help us to repent of every desire to create unjust exclusion that denies the dignity of others, where you have called for unity and world-transforming love, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
For the Clearing of Landmines
God of safety, we pray for the continued work of landmine clearing. Strengthen and be close to all who work to make the land safe. We pray for all who have been injured by landmines and all who fear for their safety. Grant them your courage, and surround them with love and support. We pray too for all who have died because of these terrible weapons. Bless them in their repose, O Lord. As we grieve the many children and civilians who have been killed or maimed, we remember that fields in Yemen, Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, and elsewhere are still places of danger when they should be places where children can play freely. Grant wisdom to governments and leaders, that they may restrain the production, transfer, and use of these weapons, and work together for their abolition. Bring an end to this nightmare, and give us strength to be workers for a world where the land is cleared of hidden violence and restored for life. Through the redeeming love of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
