World in Prayer

Sharing in God’s loving compassion for all

Prayers for Australia

Fire and water shape much of what is prayed for Australia: bushfires and heatwaves, floods, hail and cyclones. Asylum policy and offshore detention are named, along with violence against women and mining accidents, and there is regular thanksgiving for wildlife, reefs and species returning to the wild.

Touch the Earth Lightly: Prayers for Tasmania’s Fires and Aid Stalled in Yemen (February 14, 2019)

Creator God, It doesn’t seem enough to say we thank you for the beauty of your creation.  When we think of all that happened from the growth of our planet, its place in the solar system and the most we can say is “thanks”.  You know the gratitude of our hearts, the deep meaning we want to […]

Like a Refiner’s Fire: A Prayer of Repentance for a Freezing and Burning World (January 31, 2019)

But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present […]

You Are My Beloved: Prayers During the US Government Shutdown and After the Nairobi Siege (January 17, 2019)

As the words of the Spirit echo in our ears, “You are my child, my beloved.” “You bring me delight and joy.” The news of the week shakes us back to reality, the world is not as it could be, the heavenly kingdom struggles to break forth. Grant us courage in the face of our […]

Thirsty for Good News: Prayers for Refugees, Disputed Elections, and Welcomed Students (January 10, 2019)

And a voice came from above, “You are my beloved child; I love you.” – Luke 3:22 Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit, marked with the sign of Christ our king: Born of the Spirit, we are God’s children; joyfully now God’s praise we sing.                                                     Michael Saward, tune: BUNESSAN  Holy One, you who love […]

The Darkness Has Never Overcome the Light: Prayers for Nigeria Floods and Zimbabwe Cholera (September 20, 2018)

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” – 1 Corinthians 11:26 We come before you today, O God, a mixture of emotions, with a plethora of experiences. Guide our hearts as we look on this world in which we live, so that we […]

Precious Lord, Take My Hand: Prayers for Hurricane Florence, Typhoon Mangkhut and Kabul (September 13, 2018)

“So we can say with confidence, with boldness, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.’ ”  Hebrews 12:6   Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light. Take my […]

God of Tender Souls Clinging: Prayers for the Kerala Floods, Besieged Ghazni, and Wildfires (August 23, 2018)

God of compassion God of green earth and snow God of darkness And illumination God of new things And of things torn apart God of waters and maker of dry land God of tender souls clinging God in this moment and across all sunrises and the universe Help us to understand our place in this […]

Your Wings Enfolding Us: Prayers for the Yemen School Bus Attack, the Lombok Earthquake, and Gaza (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 […]

On God Alone I Wait Silently: Prayers for Wildfires, Water Shortages and Refugees (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 […]