Prayers for Europe

Record heat, and then the wildfires: much of what is prayed for Europe here follows a warming continent, along with floods and rivers like the Rhine falling too low for cargo to move. These prayers also hold the millions of Ukrainians who found refuge here and the long effort to bring Russia and Ukraine to direct talks.

Teach Us to Pray Thoughtfully: The South Sudan Famine, the Armyworm, and Cyclone Alfred (February 23, 2017)

This week, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts from 146 countries celebrated World Thinking Day. Lord, we pray that all members of the various uniformed organisations will remember these years as time of enjoyment, friendship and enlightenment. We pray that their leaders will not abuse in any way the power and trust placed in them, but […]

Guide Us in Truth and Love: Prayers for Mosul, Standing Rock, and a Divided America (December 28, 2016)

On Sunday after Sunday in our worship we sing: Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, Whose blood set us free to be people of God. Power and riches, wisdom and strength, And honor and blessing and glory are his. And with these words in mind this day, we pray […]

For Such a Time as This: Prayers After the Chibok Bombings, the Kabul Attack, and Damascus (February 4, 2016)

“Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to […]

So Yes, Bring Us the Refugees: A Thanksgiving Prayer for Welcome and Everyday Courage (November 26, 2015)

17 Pray constantly, and 18 give thanks to God no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. (This is God’s will for all of you in Jesus the Anointed.) 19 Don’t suppress the Spirit. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5: 17 – 19 The Voice Compassionate and merciful God it is good to give you thanks and praise this […]

Hear My Prayer: For Refugees Crossing the Mediterranean and the Chile Earthquake (September 17, 2015)

Mark 9:35: And Jesus said to his followers, Whomever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all. We are not good at servanthood, loving God. We are not good at putting the needs of others first. We are not good at seeing through eyes of justice and compassion. Those are […]

Out of the Darkness We Cry to You: Prayers for Palmyra, Lahore, and Western Wildfires (August 27, 2015)

(Thanks to the Evangelical Lutheran Church for some of these prayer petitions.) Out of the darkness we cry to you, O God. Enable us to find in Christ the faith to trust in your care even in the midst of pain. Assure us that we do not walk alone through the valley of the shadow, […]

Love One Another: Prayers After the Pakistan Helicopter Crash and Oklahoma Tornadoes (May 8, 2015)

Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” God of Love and Light and Life, God of All Time and No Time, sometimes the demands of everyday life just overtake us and we forget, we lose track, we neglect those things to which we have committed ourselves- […]

Trusting in Your Power and Grace: Prayers for Ebola’s Orphans, the Nepal Avalanches, and Kobane (October 16, 2014)

“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” –Matthew 22:22 NRSV God of majesty, your glory and wonder fills all of creation. In all corners of your world, beauty, truth and wonder abound. Sadly, there are times when we seem to forget that you, and you alone, are the great Creator […]

In the Presence of Holy Mystery: Prayers for Chile’s Earthquake and Guinea’s Ebola (April 3, 2014)

In the presence of our Creator, we seek renewal, wisdom, and inspiration. In the presence of our Beloved, we bring our true selves, our desires, and our fears. In the presence of the Holy Mystery, let us gather our hearts in prayer. O Beautiful Presence, open our eyes to all that surrounds us so that […]

The World Is a Needy Place: Prayers for Cook Stoves, Girls, and Central Africa (November 7, 2013)

Creative and guiding spirit, We bring this prayer with particular remembrance that, just as we shall always have the poor among us, so it is also our work to notice and to help. We pray earnestly for the strength of vision and of mind to respond thoughtfully to needs throughout the world, such as: –The […]