World in Prayer

World News in Prayer- Thursday, April 13, 2017

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24

We are stumbling on our way toward the day of Resurrection, gracious God. Stumbling and falling, sometimes crawling on our knees toward the cross, hoping that when we lift our tear-filled eyes, it will be empty, that the tomb will be empty, that your promise of New Life will indeed be real and we can sing with our hearts and voices:

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

But these recent days, as we approach Good Friday, have been difficult ones in which to see the reality of Resurrection, filled as they have been with death and destruction:

  • The truck attack in Stockholm, Sweden, which killed four.
  • The explosion in Diyarbakir, Turkey, which injured at least four.
  • The fire gutting the Grande-Synthe Dunkirk migrant camp in France, home of 1500 migrants, with at least ten injured.
  • The two deadly blasts which hit Coptic Christian churches in Alexandria and Tanta, Egypt, killing more than forty people and injuring over 100, including several police officers.
  • The severe frosts and snowstorms affecting Central Europe in which at least 25 have died, mainly in Poland and Serbia. The weather is primarily affecting the homeless and refugees, with more harsh weather predicted in coming days.
  • The killing of Criminal court judge Raymond Myles shot outside his home in Chicago, Illinois,United States (USA).
  • The ever-rising death toll of refugees attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea that, according to the UN Refugee Agency, rose to 5000 in 2016.
  • The building tensions between the USA and North Korea, in response to the air strike to Syria.
  • The USA drops the largest non-nuclear bomb ever made in Afghanistan.
  • The planned execution of eight men beginning the day after Easter by the State of Arkansas, USA.

And amid the darkness of Good Friday, we turn to you, Father/Mother God, not as we ought but as we are able, trying to discern our place, our role, in the healing of this hurting world, seeking to be the people you are continually calling us to be, seeking to find hope and joy and peace, so that we can sing with our hearts and voices:

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

And soon, Easter will be upon us. The day of Resurrection will be here and our newly opened eyes encouraged by signs of New Life and Hope:

  • Malala Yousafzai, born in the Swat Valley, Pakistan, the young woman shot by the Taliban for going to school, being made the youngest ever U.N. Messenger of Peace.
  • Amnesty International report that global executions have fallen 37% since 2015, with the USA being removed from the top 5 for the first time since 2006.
  • The coastguard of Italy and their rescue of more than 300 migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea on flimsy rubber boats.
  • A restaurant in Tripoli, Lebanon offering free meals to the poor and needy, feeding 185 to 200 daily.
  • The discovery of a 14,000-year-old Ice Age village on Triquet Island, British Columbia, Canada, with carbon dating placing it older than the pyramids in Egypt.
  • Pope Francis rallying many Roman Catholic cardinals, bishops, and priests to oppose immigration crackdowns throughout the world; and his planned visit to Egypt to meet with the Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II.

Amid the glowing light of truth and new life, the reality of grace and hope for our world, we give thanks, not as we ought but as we are able, opening our hearts and hands, our minds and wills to your leading, Holy One, living in the assurance that in you there is indeed Resurrection and New Life, and so we sing with hearts and voices:

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Let it be so. Amen and amen.

World News This Week in Prayer- Thursday, April 6, 2017

The Scottish theologian, William Barclay, suggested using ‘the mind of God’ instead of ‘the Word’ for Jesus.  And so John 1:1, 2-5, 14 reads

In the beginning was the mind of God,… 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it….. 14 The mind of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Philippians 2:5 says: ‘Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus’.

Father/Mother God, as we try to come to rest before You, we come not alone but accompanied by the throngs of people near and far who impact our lives and consciousness. Help us to be still and put aside our need to fix things, sort out situations, come up with solutions, and allow Your Holy Spirit indwelling in us, to be freed to be…as You are.

God, indwelling in us, help us to be still and know, in the depths of our being, that You are God.  May Your mind be in us as it was in Jesus.

From the throng surrounding us come people across the globe who are suffering from violent events in nature during this last week…

In particular we hold to Your light and loving care those killed and rendered homeless by floods, cyclones, landslides, droughts, famines and snow storms in New Zealand, Australia, Mocoa in Columbia, Catacaos in Peru, Somalia, Yemen, New England in the USA. As well as the immediate tragic events, the long-term consequences can be catastrophic.

Lord, you have given us humans custody of Your creation and as provision for our needs, but not our greed-bloated wants.  Inspire and move us to do what we can now for those in great need, and to amend our lifestyle choices to provide a healthy legacy for our children and grandchildren. Give wisdom to lawmakers to provide protection for this, our shared planet, so richly endowed by you.

Lord God, may Your mind be in us as it was in Jesus.

We give thanks for the very promising progress by scientists in London, UK in making a working and cost-effective desalinization filter from graphene oxide.  Almost 800 million people desperately need access to clean drinking water, the lack of which  currently causes the death of  1000 children every day.

Jesus, You are the spiritual water of life.  Help us to work together to provide water essential for physical life and health for our sisters and brothers throughout the world.

Lord God, may Your mind be in us as it was in Jesus.

We hear again and again of gas attacks and hate-fueled violence in Syria, Russia, Chechnya, Pakistan, the UK, and so many other places, attacks on your children created in Your image, yet perpetrated by others made in Your image who have chosen to turn away from Your reality of truth, light and love.  Lord, have mercy on the perpetrators and all of us who condone such evil by our silence and inaction.  We give thanks for those medics and others who seek to bring help and care in the middle of such carnage and devastation.  Help us to seek Your mind as to the way forward, to bring light into the darkness.  Guide our political leaders to know Your mind as they struggle to deal with these situations, that they may not be guided solely by fiscal and trade benefits which seem to help our nations in the short-term.  You are inviting us to live with the long-term infinite viewpoint which is Yours beyond time and space and is one of justice and righteousness.

Lord God, may Your mind be in us as it was in Jesus.

As we come to Holy Week, where we have the greatest evidence of love conquering evil, Archbishop Desmond Tutu reminds us in his prayer:

“Goodness is stronger than evil;
love is stronger than hate;
light is stronger than darkness;
life is stronger than death.
Victory is ours, victory is ours
through Him who loved us.”*

Lord God, may Your mind be in us as it was in Jesus.  AMEN

World News This Week in Prayer — Thursday, March 23, 2017

Jeremiah 17:8  New International Version (NIV)

They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

Our prayers come before you to implore for the patient work of strengthening our connection to you. Of the life-saving, life-building water you offer us; that we will be both steadfast and resourceful in facing the challenges before us.

The United Nations and many others warn us that climate change has moved us into unknown ranges, give us, we pray, the things we need:

Compassion for those who are disrupted and displaced,

Wisdom to assess danger,

Persistence to ameliorate.

Where the scourge of hunger destroys hope and decency:

In South Sudan where 270,000 children are suffering from severe malnutrition and 4.9 million souls are severely food insecure.

In Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia with more than 14 million people are food insecure.

In Syria, where 9.4 million people are in need of food assistance.

In North Korea, where hidden economic hardships and famine endure.

In far too much of childhood in far too many places.

Give us, we pray, generosity, in funds where that is possible and in spirit that is always possible. Where greener approaches to energy, in particular in sustainable forestry practices and ‘green charcoal’ for your world where a third of your children depend on fuel wood daily, give us, we pray, hearts open to the misery of hunger, minds open to the rigors of analysis, and muscular spirits fortified by that vision you have shared with us.

Nowruz is a holiday for the first day of spring, celebrated for more than 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions and now included for all of us in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Bakers make a special cookie on that occasion.

Feed us, we pray, with that cookie in the place the poet Rumi described as, “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing,” there, where the strong trees are built from drops of holy water.  Amen

World News This Week in Prayer – Thursday, March 16, 2017

Lord, have mercy,

Christ, have mercy,

Here and there and everywhere in between,

On you and me and everyone in between,

Now and later and upon everything in between.

Lord Christ, we need your mercy.

The suffering in South Sudan echoes the horrors of civil war, genocide and ethnic cleansing that mock the hope of “Never Again!” Help us to keep hope alive. We pray for those working tirelessly to subdue the growing famine. Bring your mercy upon the 43 children of the Gambella region of Ethiopia kidnapped by bandits.  Bring your comfort to the families of the 28 people left dead.

Christ, have mercy.

The hatred of Jews acted out in cemeteries; swastikas and threats swell as ancient curses.  May your blessings defeat such curses.

Lord, have mercy.

The rage of politics, left and right, turns neighbor on the block and in the pew into enemy, turns truth on its head, and weaponizes words.  Soften our words, strengthen truth, and help us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  Help us to love our enemies.

Christ, have mercy.

The renewed persecution of Christians in some places, of Muslims in other places, of immigrants and refugees in so many places, of the homeless in our cities, all of this, Holy, Holy God, embarrasses and shames our faith.  Help us to register the depth of suffering and experience of horror each day as monitored in the United Nations study released this week underscoring that 2016 was the worst year for Syrian children since the conflict began.

Lord, have mercy.

Restore our faith to the beauty of holiness witnessed in courageous kindness.

Christ, in your mercy deliver us from being world-weary, politically apathetic or donor fatigued.  Remind us that what fatigues us, wearies us and turns us away is the very world You created as inherently good, and the people You call your own.

In all humility, God, have mercy on us.

Amen.

 

World News in Prayer – Thursday, February 16, 2017

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.                                                                                                                                                                                                       1 Corinthians 13.4-8

As many of us have just celebrated St Valentine’s Day, let us not only remember our love for one another but also our love for God, and the debt which we owe him for the creation of our earth and selves. In Genesis 1:31 it is written – God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. Lord, give us the will to mold this world ever closer to your heart’s desire and the patience to work with what we have, where we are. Many of us work hard to inspire and maintain our planet, to conserve it and enjoy the fruits it holds, so we pray that those working against it and causing its destruction from global warming are halted in their ignorance of its fragility.

We are saddened to hear that over 400 pilot whales have died after being beached on Farewell Spit, New Zealand, but we thank you, Lord, for the people of Project Jonah and the hundreds of volunteers singing to, pouring water on, and guiding hundreds more of these beautiful creatures back out to sea.

Creator God, let Your glory touch us in the light we see, the fruitfulness of the earth, and the joy of its creatures. Inspire and breathe love and life into our lives.

We pray for the people of Bali, Indonesia, after landslides killed 12 people and destroyed villages. We pray for the families of those who died in an avalanche at a Tignes ski resort in France. We pray for the people of the Philippines, where an earthquake has claimed the lives of eight people, injured 120 more, and where nearly 100 aftershocks have been felt. We pray for the people of Taipei, Taiwan, where 150 people died in five days during a crippling cold spell. We pray for those affected by bushfires spreading across New South Wales, Australia. We pray for the people of Oroville, California, US, who have been forced to evacuate their homes in the wake of continued structural damage to the Oroville dam. We pray for the people in the Northeastern US, where seven blizzards and snow storms have dumped up to seventy inches of snow in the last nine days and where widespread power outages are occurring regularly. Lord, although we are in awe of the beauty of this earth, we are so often shocked and disillusioned by the magnitude and frequency of natural disasters. Help us, Lord, as we seek Your comfort and understanding during these events.

Creator God, thank You for the universe, our great home, for its vastness and riches beyond our knowledge. Deliver to us your true plan.

We pray for the eight who died in a fierce battle in Kashmir, India, and for the dozens of fighters killed in inter-factional fighting in northern Syria. We beg of You, Lord, to hold back man’s desire for control over Your lands.

Creator God, humble us and embrace us with Your tenderness.

Let us pray for the people of Lahore, Pakistan, where 13 people were killed and dozens more injured by a suicide bomber, for the two radio journalists shot dead during a live broadcast in the Dominican Republic, and for the thirty-two lives lost and thirteen people injured when their tour bus overturned near Taipei, Taiwan. Lord, give strength and comfort to grieving families and friends.

Creator God, console and comfort us when tragedy occurs.

Lord, as we humans appear to become ever more polarised between the rich and powerful and the poor and powerless, we ask You to enlighten and inspire the strong to strengthen the weak. Help seal divisions between those who consume too much and those who have nothing to consume. Help those with plenty be fuelled with a desire to share with those who have little. Assist us in healing our flawed society so that we may cherish each other and delight in living together in peace and harmony.

Amen.

 

World News This Week in Prayer – Thurs., Feb. 9, 2017

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. -Luke 10:27

“it is
written in the law.” heart
& soul. love. neighbor.

even if they aren’t nice. another
chance to hear that answer.      
–From luke poem by Brian G. Gilmore

Even as the lawyer questioned Jesus, gracious and loving and welcoming God, we come before you asking that same question: “Who is my neighbor?” And even as the answer was not easy for that man to hear, so it is not easy for many of us, as we look around our world with eyes and hearts filled with fear, thinking of the suicide bomber at the Afghan Supreme Court in Kabul, Afghanistan, who killed 20 and wounded more than 40; thinking of the more than 13,000 civilians who have been hanged by the Syrian government for daring to oppose the government; thinking of the move by the Israeli government to legalize thousands of settler homes on Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, displacing the residents already there and presenting an obstacle to the peace process; thinking of the countless immigrants and refugees struggling to reach places of safety and hope.

Open our minds and hearts, O God, that we may love our neighbors as ourselves, recognizing everyone as our neighbor.

Even as some within our world, within our societies, deny the reality of the changing climate, and deny the need to protect the environment, our call to love our neighbor means that we pray today for the Standing Rock Tribe in North Dakota, U.S., as the U.S. Army is about to give permission for the Dakota Access pipeline, despite protests in which nearly 700 have been arrested. We pray for the Saiga antelope in Mongolia, which is being wiped out by an uncontrolled virus that threatens the entire antelope population. We pray for those affected by the tornadoes which have swept through Louisiana, U.S., causing widespread damage in New Orleans East, injuring 20 and severely damaging more than 60 homes and businesses. We pray for those buried by the avalanche in North Nuristan Province in Afghanistan, where at least 120 are dead and scores more are missing, even as rescue workers try valiantly to save the survivors.

Open our minds and hearts, O God, that we may love our neighbors as ourselves, recognizing everyone as our neighbor.

With that long-ago lawyer, we can so easily lose sight of the reality of our connectedness to one another, even those with whom we differ, even those whom we never see. And so, today, we pray for all those in the United States concerned about women’s health and reproductive rights; we pray for the healthcare workers in Caracas, Venezuela, who are protesting to demand government action for improved health care in that country, as hospitals are in crisis, medications and equipment are scarce, staffing is insufficient, and people are suffering; we pray for the people of Somalia, as they face a contentious presidential election on the rocky road to democracy.

Open our minds and hearts, O God, that we may love our neighbors as ourselves, recognizing everyone as our neighbor.

But even into those places where we hide in our fear and confusion, you come, Divine Light, filling our awareness with hope. And so we pray in thanksgiving for the people of Colombia as their government begins peace talks with rebels in a bid to end a five-decade conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people. We pray in thanksgiving for Australia, as they mark 50 years without executions. And we pray with thanksgiving for the doctors and researchers who are pioneering the use of lasers in removing brain cancer.

Open our minds and hearts, O God, that we may love our neighbors as ourselves, recognizing everyone as our neighbor.

All of these people and places that fill our prayers we entrust into your gracious and loving hands, God of welcome and inclusion – even as we are ever mindful that we do not love you with our whole heart, soul, strength, and mind, nor do we love our neighbors as ourselves.

This, we confess; for this, we ask forgiveness, living in the assurance of your grace.
Amen and amen.

World News This Week in Prayer – Thurs., Jan 26, 2017

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
– Jesus, spoken as he was being crucified (Luke 23:34)

For almost 17 years, World In Prayer has been posting prayers based on international news, trying to say and show that every human being, in every country, is beloved by God. Trying to find the words over and over again to care, to long for healing and peace. To offer up to God this planet, this world; from the its tiniest atoms to its greatest mountains; every plant, every creature, every person, every nation. To know, in some way beyond the deepest knowing, that prayer – our collective prayers – somehow matter, somehow become part of how God weaves the universe together.

Those of us who take turns writing the weekly prayers come from several countries on two continents. We try, in as much as is humanly possible, to see beyond the concerns of our own nations, and listen for the needs of the world. Yet I, who write tonight’s prayers, am an American. And in view of the horrors that have been unfolding in this country since the installation of our new president last Friday, today I can only pray through the lens of what’s been happening here.

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

In my lifetime, step by incremental step, the U.S. has become increasingly committed to the civil rights of its citizens. We have guaranteed voting and educational rights and banned discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or sexual preference. We have enacted laws to make businesses accessible to the handicapped. We have prevented health insurance companies from refusing to cover those with pre-existing conditions, or setting lifetime coverage maximums.  We set limits on pollution, and abuse of consumers by mortgage lenders and other big businesses. We were starting to seriously talk about systemic racism and economic inequities. It wasn’t perfect (it could never be perfect), but when I look back over the past 50 years, wow, had we come a long way.

Yet in one short week, under the new administration, this has all been overturned or is under threat. The U.S. has unilaterally withdrawn from the Trans Pacific Partnership. The president has said that we will leave NATO and the United Nations, and made statements in favor of torture, and use of nuclear weapons. He has reneged on promised foreign aid, jeopardizing the health and survival of millions. He has ordered a wall to be built along our border with Mexico, and when the Mexican government refused to pay for it, has threatened a 20% tax on all goods imported from there. He has said the U.S. will no longer accept refugees, blocked travel to the U.S. from Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Iran, Libya and Sudan for at least the next 30 days (even for those who already have visas or family in the U.S.); has repeatedly talked about a registry for Muslims in this country; and promises to hire 10,000 more immigration officers to remove all illegal immigrants from the country. Consumer safeguards have been rescinded; plans for two hotly-contested oil pipelines (considered by many to be environmentally dangerous) have been sped up; environmental protections and commitments to work against climate change have been ended.  Ethics and conflict of interest concerns are being dismissed. Health care access has been cut back and an estimated 20-30 million may lose their health care as a result; education is under threat; federal agencies have been ordered not to release any scientific studies or speak to the press or public without prior approval from the administration; blatant lies and outright falsehoods are being touted as legitimate “alternative facts”.  Several states are following suit in proposing or passing legislation that is against the U.S. Constitution and prior Supreme Court rulings.

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

For those in any country who put profits above persons,
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

For those who seek self-aggrandizement,
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

For those who deny science, education, knowledge,
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

For those who trample on the needs of the poor, the ill, the elderly, the disabled
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

For those who uphold nationalism against mutual humanity,
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

For those who perpetuate hatred,
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
They do not know the harm they cause.
They do not know the joy of compassion.

They do not know…
…that even within the damage they are wreaking,
the seeds of the Kingdom of God have been planted
and are growing strong.

They do not know…
…that the time will come when
The poor will be blessed,
and the grieving, comforted.
The meek shall inherit the earth,
and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled.
The merciful will receive mercy,
and the peacemakers will be revered as children of God.

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
Amen.

World News in Prayer – Thursday, 12th January 2017

“I waited patiently for the Lord.  He lifted me out of the mud and mire, he set my feet upon a rock.  He put a new song in my mouth.”  (Psalm 40:1-3)

God, awaken us to a new year.  Awaken us also to a new spirit, a new will, even a new way.

As we tear away the calendar of the old year and look hopefully at the clean page of the New Year, we remember that You are the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  You are the God who forgives our yesterdays, who walks with us today, and guides us toward tomorrow.  This is why we dare to be hopeful.

God, You promise newness in so many ways: a new song in our mouth, renewed strength, a new self, a renewed mind (Romans 12:2), a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), a new name (Revelation 2:17), even a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-2).

God, like You, we can spin the globe in our mind and find our finger touching upon this place, or that: The Democratic Republic of the Congo; Syria; Turkey; the United States; North Korea and South Korea.  We see forces at work, good and bad, among people yearning for all Your newness.  We thank You, God, for the Bishops of the Congo, united to begin a new season of democracy after so much sorrow.  We thank You, God, for the talks in Geneva, Switzerland as the United Kingdom, Greece and Turkey aim to bring peace to the island of Cyprus.  We thank You, God, for the freedom of discourse as South Korea discerns its leadership.

We thank You, God, for the rescue of twenty-six North Koreans by Japan from a sinking cargo ship off the coast of Japan.  We thank You, God, for the slightest glimmers of peace in Syria, the slightest evidence of unity among Muslims and Christians and Jews against the terror wrought by terrorists, the oppression by oppressors or the intolerance by bigots.

Across teeming cities and rural villages we give thanks, God, for each new birth, for every new opportunity, for new ideas, new starts, and new faith.

Amen.

World News This Week in Prayer – Thursday, December 29, 2016

Abba God, following the examples of the shepherds, wise men, Simeon and Anna and millions before us, we worship and adore you, giving thanks and praise.

As the turbulence that was 2016 draws to a close, we pause on the cusp of what was, what is and what is to be… There is so much uncertainty, fear, division, war, hunger, greed, tragedy, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, droughts, fires, unexpected political wins and losses. In our media, too often lies and exaggerations play on what causes fear, tension, negativity and division.  It drowns out the gentle melody of good news. It drowns out the generosity and quiet neighborliness of ordinary people all over the world; the selfless dedication and courage of so many in war zones seeking to help those in danger; those daring to stand against the mindless cruelty of abusive, hate and fear-ridden speech and actions against all those who are ‘other’ in so many ways.  In fact, the good news is abundant in love in action in everyday lives.

Incarnate Christ, you are the Word, the Truth, the Life, the Light of the World.  The Prince of Peace.  You are Love made flesh. Challenge each one of us again to be remade in Your image, not our image of You. Discomfort us. Awaken us to new life as we start a New Year. Give us the faith, courage and trust to walk with You where You lead – often outside of our own personal comfort zones.

Except for those of the Orthodox tradition, Christmas is mostly over  – although the post-Christmas sales bombard us with ‘offers’ on items we rarely need. The shepherds are returning to their flocks, the magi to their distant homes and studies. We return to work, consider new gym memberships, perhaps even make New Year resolutions.  But now the real work of Christmas is beginning…. sharing the good news of your incarnate love – Immanuel – God with us.  The work of bringing love to the unloved and invisible ones in society; working for peace and reconciliation between all communities and peoples; enabling each person to be valued as You value each one of us; confronting greed, bullying and lies wherever we encounter them.

As we prepare to begin the new year, we give thanks for the clear, cogent speech on the Israeli–Palestinian issues by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, and pray for all leaders and people in this fulcrum of so much affecting the Middle Eastern countries, and therefore world peace. We give thanks also that the Syrian government and rebels have agreed to a nationwide ceasefire, backed by Russia and Turkey. Lighten our darkness and break down the fears and aggression running rampant in your world, Prince of Peace.

You are the God of Truth, justice, love and mercy.  Not easy concepts.  Not easy to live them moment by moment.
Help us, O Holy Child, Savior of the World – no exceptions.  
Amen.

*Note to our email subscribers: These are the real prayers for this week. Making some repairs to our website inadvertently caused our email service to send out an extra post yesterday – a post that was a conglomerate of all the posts since early October. Our apologies! We think the worst of the technology rebellion is over, and look forward to things working smoothly in the new year.

World News This Week in Prayer – Thursday, December 15, 2016

We have come to worship you, Shepherd of Israel.  Out of the busy-ness we create for ourselves at this season, we come to remember why.   We give thanks for the bravery of Mary, for the courage of Joseph,  and we ask that these qualities support us in the face of overwhelming commercialization and the rewriting of the good news.

This week, as we think of Mary, we pray for all preparing to give birth, for their midwives, doctors and all who provide equipment, medicines and other support.  We give thanks for the California, USA company, We Care Solar, which, realizing the difficulties of providing midwifery and other medical care when electric light is not reliable, invented “solar suitcases”.

As we think of Joseph, we pray for fathers facing the need to become refugees to keep their children safe – those who are too small, too old, too frail, yet in fear for their lives must run.  With the news that any ceasefire in Aleppo, Syria, has been violated and praying for those who are frustrated in their attempts to give shelter and aid, we must cry out for these your children, Shepherd God.

We pray for the people of Yemen, as the humanitarian crisis deepens; and for the people of Palmyra as so-called ISIS retakes the city.  Because the media is silent we must cry out for these your children, Shepherd God.

As the western side of the Pacific ring of fire seems to be particularly active, we think of those whose lives continue to be affected – in Aceh province, Indonesia; in the Solomon Islands; in New Zealand and Japan.   While we give thanks that scientists note the changing coastlines which may give clues to earthquake predictions, because the media is silent we must cry out for these your children, Shepherd God.

We pray for Christians in Nigeria and Egypt following attacks on churches and cathedrals.  For all who are attacked for their faith, because the media is silent we must cry out for these your children, Shepherd God.

We pray for those recently married, who in their love radiate the good news that  in love there is room for all in this world.   We praise you, Shepherd of Israel.   Amen