Yemen

World News This Week in Prayer – Thursday, November 29, 2018

Holy One,

When what we have is yours and what we receive is a gift from you, we offer up our words of prayer in the knowledge that you are the Word from whom all our prayers flow. We pray with grief for the things that have broken your heart; we pray with joy for the things that have made you dance.

We pray with awareness that we cannot fix the world, but, instead, we can learn to see and taste and touch and know this world as your Creation. In this time and space, we try to take our next step of faith and in so doing, we hope to discover you.

We pray for that which fills us with grief: the devastation from wildfires in California (USA); the violence inflicted on asylum-seekers at the Mexico-United States border; the ongoing conflicts in Yemen; the cruel treatment of the Rohyinga in Myanmar; all who care for someone who struggles with addiction and mental illness; all who wait and watch and weep at the bedsides of loved ones this week.

We pray for that which fills us with fear: the unfolding havoc of climate change around the world; the flaring tensions between Ukraine and Russia; the continued fallout from the murder of Saudi journalist Khashoggi; the precariousness of a Brexit deal; the rise of raging, hate-filled political rhetoric in countries near and far from us.

We pray for that which gives us strength: the compassion of strangers who care for migrants in the Mediterranean and in Central America; the rise of women leaders in Ethiopia; the energy of students who fight gun violence in the United States; those who believe we belong to each other; those who live as if we belong to you.

Lord, teach us how to love what you love. Show us how to nurture what you nurture. Reveal to us how to speak your Word, today and in the days to come.

Amen.

World News This Week in Prayer – Thursday, November 22, 2018

Note: Words in italics are from Ps 8 (NRSV)

O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

As cosmologists view a “ghost galaxy” hidden in sight…
You have set your glory above the heavens.

As the UN tries to recruit more women to be Blue Helmets peacekeepers, Mali has the grim distinction of being the deadliest active peacekeeping deployment in the world…
Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.

As astronomers announce the discovery of a planet around our nearest neighbor star…
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;

As a U.S. federal judge blocks an order issued by President Trump to deny the possibility of asylum to migrants crossing the southern border illegally…
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?

As environmentalists battle to protect the only place in the world where orangutans, rhinos, elephants and tigers still co-exist in the wild (the Leuser Ecosystem in Sumatra, Indonesia) from destruction by companies producing palm oil…
Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honor.

As spurious health claims about diseases carried on clothing are used against the providers of humanitarian aid in Mediterranean Sea…
Lord, what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?

As children search for food in the rubbish of the streets of Yemen; while marine life dies as it engulfs plastic instead of food; as wildfires still smolder; as a volcano erupts in Guatemala; as Vietnam floods; as El Nino triggers severe weather in South America…
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet,

all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,

the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

World News This Week in Prayer – Thursday, 8 November 2018

Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:29-31

God of each one of us and God of every one of our neighbors, near and far, we lift our hearts in prayer to You:

We thank You for the freedom to vote that many of us take for granted and not all of us are afforded. May we exercise our right and our moral duty to take the steps that we can, when and where we are able, and the courage to fight for this right where needed.

We are grateful for the Midterm Elections in the United States, which took small steps toward recognizing the humanity and dignity of our neighbors, including formerly incarcerated felons being granted the right to vote again in Florida and transgender rights being upheld in Massachusetts. We are grateful for more representative expressions of the people of the United States in many of its newly elected officials, including over 100 women in the House, two Native American women and a female Somali refugee for US Congress, and an openly gay Governor. May all elected officials around the globe be guided by Your love and seek the common good for Your people.

We pray for the 10 arrested on the island of Zanzibar, Africa for conducting a same-sex wedding. We recognize that there are still countries that not only outlaw same-sex marriage, but punish homosexuality with the death penalty. May all of our neighbors around the globe one day be able to live their truths authentically without fear of repercussions.

We are grateful for the lives of the 78 kidnapped schoolchildren and 3 others who were just freed in Cameroon, Africa. We pray that You might comfort them and their families after this traumatic experience. We also fervently pray for the hundreds of Chibok schoolgirls who are still missing years after their kidnapping, and all children who are separated from their families and loved ones. May there come a day when all of our neighbors are safe in their schools, on their streets, and in their homes.

We pray for all those affected by the shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, USA on Wednesday night, where 13 were killed, including a first responder and the gunman. As details are still unfolding, we pray that we may be moved to grieve with the loved ones of those who died and, as hard as it is, also the shooter, rather than harden our hearts to another mass shooting. May we work together to establish laws and systems that protect all of our neighbors from these kinds of tragedies that are becoming more and more commonplace.

We pray all in Hodeidah, Yemen, where the calls for a cease fire in a three-year war have instead resulted in horrific violence. Violence in Yemen has become normalized and the chief of Houthi rebels has said he will “never surrender” as this humanitarian crisis deepens. May all of our neighbors around the globe know what it is to experience peace and safety.

We pray too for Remembrance this Sunday 11^th September and especially for the centenary that marks the end of World War One. We think of all the many men and women who lost their lives and gave their service in all wars in the last hundred years. May we honor their courage and cherish their memory and be thankful for their dedication to protect their country in a bid to ensure peace in our world.

May we love You, O God, so fiercely that we become the change that brings about a ripple effect of love for our neighbor. May we constantly hold onto hope as we work together to bring kindness, mercy, and justice to all areas of our world.

We pray all of these things in your many, Holy names. Amen.

World News This Week in Prayer – Thursday, 27 September 2018

What are we that you are mindful of us?
You made us a little lower than the heavenly beings,
and crowned us with glory and honor.
You made us ruler over the works of your hands;
You put everything under our feet
O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is our name in all the Earth.”
(Psalm 8:4-9, slightly altered)

O Lord, our Lord, it is true: how majestic is your name in all the Earth. It is true that all over the Earth people praise you, worship you, serve you, follow you, believe in you.

Our sorrow is that we fail you so often, in so many ways. In our humility we do sometimes wonder how you could have entrusted your precious creation to us. We have taken seriously that we are just a bit below the angels, that we are rulers over all, that everything is under our feet. We have not taken seriously the responsibility, the stewardship, the leadership, the sacrifice that comes with such honor.

Holy God, we remember the six days of creation: all of life, all of nature, all of grandeur, all of the universe, all of humanity. And it was good, you said over and over again. What hopes you had for it all.

Today, we bring forth our sorrows and failures. Lord, in your mercy remember what we forget: the horrors of war in Yemen, the threatening crisis in Ibdil, Syria, the remaining casualties of floods and storms across the United States from this year and last, the bewildering treatment of Muslims and Christians in China, the disregard for women in places high and low, the loss of freedoms near and far, the neglect and disrespect of our environment, the crumbling of economies and infrastructure and work itself.

All this we grieve.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayers that floods recede, waters be cleansed, nations healed, rights restored, ruins rebuilt, Earth honored, life treasured, people respected, faith deepened, and love multiplied.

Loving God, we do not despair. We see the courage of peace-keepers, whistle-blowers, rescuers, volunteers, protesters, prisoners of conscience, people of good will, and leaders with vision.

Thank you, God, for being mindful of us, for allowing us to rule over the works of your hands. May we be equal to such honor. Amen.

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World News This Week in Prayer- Thursday, August 8, 2018

Holy One,
our lives push us forward each day, distracting and distressing us. We move through the motions and meet the demands laid out before us. We have many priorities and not enough time. We make decision after decision that pulls our attention away from you. Yet, you are here. We declare this; we believe this. You are here, among us, within us, around us. You are the One who is Word Made Flesh, God with Us, True Light from True Light, the One who will not let us go, no matter how far we might flee from your presence. We cannot ascend to heights, dive to depths, lie down or rise up without your wings enfolding us.

And so, as we come to our prayers, we prepare once more to turn our thoughts, our attention, our lives back to the Creation which you so lovingly shaped and in which you so graciously dwell. We turn our attention back to you, to see this world with your eyes, to love with your heart, to work with your hands for the presence of your Kin-dom on earth.
We pray for the people and all creatures in earthquake-striken Indonesia, as aftershocks grip the region. We also remember the sites of past natural disasters, like Puerto Rico and Pakistan. Wherever nature unleashes deadly force, we pray that relief might come swiftly, aid might be distributed fairly, and all who all those struggling with loss and might find that they are surrounded by love and provision.

We pray for the families of the children who have been killed in a brutal school bus attack in Yemen. We also remember the nearly 10,000 who have died in the civil war thus far.
We pray for the people and creatures caught in the whirlpool of violence along the Gaza-Israel border, as new rockets have been fired in the past week. We pray for the families of those who have had someone killed in recent months, including the 1 Israeli soldier and the more than 150 Palestinians. Wherever there is violence, break into the chaos, O Lord. Shatter the grip of hate, unlock the cords of fear, blind us with your light and give us the chance to see each other again with your vision of mercy and peace.

We pray for those struggling with a heat wave across Europe and drought across Australia. May communities look out for each other and may we more fully and wholly steward your Creation. Wherever climate change is being felt more radically, show us how to care for each other and for your creatures. Open our eyes to the resources you have given us. Embolden, empower, and enable our political leaders, our business leaders, and our selves to care more fully for your Creation.

We pray for those who wait and watch and weep this night, this day, and in the hours in-between. We remember those who struggle silently with illness, whether it is mental or physical or emotional. We pray for those who seek your face to shine upon them. In all these things, we rejoice that you draw near us. No matter where we are, no matter what we do, we are your children. May we hold this truth close to our heart, close to our day.
In your most steadfast, gracious, and holy name, AMEN.

World News This Week in Prayer – Thursday, August 2, 2018

On God alone I wait silently;
God my deliverer, God my strong tower.
Paraphrase from Ps. 62, John L. Bell*

When all efforts have been made to cope with natural disasters:
the earthquake in Lombok, Indonesia;
the wildfires in California, USA, Sweden, Siberia, Russian Federation, Greece,
water shortages in Yemen, the UK, Syria, Kenya;

On God alone I wait silently; God my deliverer, God my strong tower.

When people are exhausted from the struggles against injustice and terror:
those forced to care for the children of imprisoned gang members in El Salvador;
the Zimbabweans fearing their Presidential election has been hijacked again;
refugees in the US, Sweden, the European Union, Canada, India, Bangladesh, Turkey, Australia and so many other countries;

On God alone I wait silently; God my deliverer, God my strong tower.

When people seek to care for their fellow human beings in need:
Maria Makrogianni (Mama Maria) of Samos, Greece, still feeding refugees from
home having been forced to close her restaurant due to threats on her life;
firefighters (including prisoners) and people of all faiths and none helping those
burned out in Shasta County, California US;
all who act as care givers (paid or unpaid), medics, police, firefighters,
those who keep our communities clean and safe, often with little thanks;

On God alone I wait silently; God my deliverer, God my strong tower.

When families are changing, new life is being formed and others prepare to leave this earthly life:
give us all a sense of thankfulness and proportion as to what is real or imaginary;
help us nurture truth rather than deceit;
humility rather than hubris;
tenderness, love and compassion rather than aggression, hatred and division.
Despite all we like to think, we are not in charge. You are; and we believe you have
a purpose for every season, even the waiting one.

On God alone I wait silently; God my deliverer, God my strong tower. Amen.

World News This Week in Prayer – Thursday, July 12, 2018

God of Many Names

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in time of trouble. Therefore, we will not fear.” Psalm 46:1-2

Holy and Loving God, we come to You from many places, the physical and spiritual. We use different names and descriptions and ideas when we talk about You, or come before You in prayer or to worship. Some call You Wisdom, Father, Judge, Lord, Mother, Creator, the All Merciful, Almighty and the Ground of All Being. Some know you as Omniscient, Omnipresent, Allah, Dios and Triune and others as the all-pervading eternal.

You heard our cries in a million ways and a billion voices. With the miracle of the entire Thai soccer team rescue and their reunion with families the world pauses to gives great thanks. Comfort the family of the diver who sacrificed his life in the rescue. Be with the grieving families who have lost loved ones during a storm that capsized a tourist boat off Phuket, Thailand.

Across every imaginable boundary and dark water we pray for mercy, miracle, intervention and protection. We do not fully understand the mystery of prayer, meditation and vigil, but we are wise enough to say, “Thank you, God”.

Loving God, we offer prayers on behalf of the many known and unknown needs and crises, fears, hurts and deepest sorrows imaginable, the looming conflicts that beg for resolution, a release. Your children and their coach, alone, in a dark cave, with waters rising and air diminishing, their waiting is a reminder of the suffering in this world that longs for comfort, refuge and complete healing. We ask your mercy for the families escaping violence in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, who seek asylum in the US and for those parents and children separated at US – Mexico border we ask for their swift reunion and healing from the traumas. God have mercy. Renew our faith. For whole villages fleeing war in Syria and Yemen we call upon You God and Your mercy spread out for all people. End these wars. Bring Your peace on earth. For citizens afraid of government, or of other citizens; for neighborhoods under menace of guns, opioids and gangs; for people weakened by disease, those blinded by prejudice and dominated by fear – we pray.

My God, O Lord, it can seem so dark.

And like our Thai soccer youth and coach, we treasure Your presence of light in the persons of doctors, nurses, divers, and soldiers, people of courage and conviction and skill who never lose hope.

Bless those,

whose life is love,

whose love is faith,

whose faith is action,

whose action is of You.

Amen.