(The hymn used in these prayers is “Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying” by Ken Medema)
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.
Lord God, open our eyes to the power and promise of Nature, even as we pray for those being affected by the eruptions of the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii and by the Fuego Volcano in Guatemala; for those in the paths of the wildfires burning in New Mexico; for those in Puerto Rico still suffering the after-effects of Hurricane Maria which devastated that island last September. And even as we pray, O God, grant us to see the ways in which we each and all are responsible for caring for this planet with integrity and love.
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.
Lord God, open our ears to hear the cries of pain and sorrow of the migrant families separated at the Mexico-United States border, even as they are trying to seek asylum and safety; the cries of fear and pain of Ethiopians as they seek to escape war in their nation, including the 46 drowned this week en route to Yemen. And as we pray, O God, grant us the courage to speak out with the voice of Jesus the Christ in behalf of justice and truth, even when it is difficult and unpopular.
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.
Lord God, open our hearts to care about our sisters and brothers throughout the world who are seeking free and fair elections. We pray for the people of Iraq, struggling over election results; for the people of Zimbabwe, as they are demanding election reform; for the people of Pakistan, as they fear for the honesty of election results; for the people of the United States, where gerrymandering and restrictive voting laws have made voting far more difficult for so many. And as we pray, O God, grant us the determination to play our own part in the elections of our country by voting and encouraging others to do the same, valuing this gift of franchise for the wonder it is.
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.
Lord God, open our minds to release fear over Iran’s refusal to permit nuclear inspections; over the up-coming meeting between North Korea and the United States; over this week’s G-7 Summit and its consideration of trade and tariffs, understanding that perfect love casts out fear. And as we pray, O God, we lift up all of this world’s leaders, that their hearts and minds may be filled with a determination to unite, rather than divide; to work together as friends, rather than against one another as enemies.
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.
Lord God, open our spirits to rejoice in and support the young people around the world who are working for and demonstrating for peace and justice and for what is right, especially in the United States, in Turkey, and in Jordan. And as we pray, O God, keep us mindful of and grateful for this next generation of world citizens, determined to bring our nations together and heal our broken world.
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.
All these things we place into your hands, Loving, Gracious God, asking that you will open us to be the people you intend us to be, people filled with the Spirit of the Living, Loving Christ in whose name we pray. Amen and amen
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