World in Prayer

Sharing in God’s loving compassion for all

Prayers for Haiti

Earthquake and storm recovery, cholera, gang violence in the capital, and deep food insecurity gather in the prayers for Haiti, alongside political upheaval and an assassination still being answered in the courts. Haitians seeking asylum are remembered, as is the revolution that made the country free.

Am I My Brother’s Keeper: A Prayer for Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Detained Migrants (February 13, 2025)

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Our World Is Broken: Prayers After the Haiti Massacre, the Fall of Assad, and for the Hibakusha (December 12, 2024)

Dear God, Our world is broken in ways that pain us: Our hearts break with those who are grieving, especially those in Haiti after the massacre that left over 180 people dead. We pray that this situation will not escalate with retaliation, but will be ended by justice and reconciliation that prevails. Our minds whirl […]

Here Am I, Send Me: A Prayer on 18 Billion Dollars, Election Spending and Global Inequality (November 7, 2024)

Great Mystery, In the first waking moments of the day, it feels like the world is soft, untrammeled, freshly made and yet soon it seems to twist and turn surprising us, horrifying us, challenging us, asking us “who are we listening to?”  From Isaiah 6:8 these words:  Then I heard the voice of the Lord […]

In the Way of Saint Francis: Prayers for the World’s Poorest Nations and 120 Million Displaced (October 3, 2024)

We center ourselves in prayer with you O Lord. The feast day of Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) is October 4.  We pray on how he modelled humility, concern for poor people; practicing a vow of poverty, peace and nonviolence, and care for creation for generations to come. Born into a wealthy Italian merchant family, Francis […]

Gather Us In: Prayers for Israel and Lebanon, Haiti’s Elections and Storm Boris (September 19, 2024)

“How do you choose which news to include in the prayers?” That’s a common question those of us who take turns writing the weekly prayers get asked. Sometimes, it’s more pointed: “Why did you mention this, but not that?” But there’s neither magic nor malice involved – we are all too human. We gather news, from a […]

Let God’s People Go: A Prayer Remembering the Slave Trade and All Held Captive Today (August 22, 2024)

Editor’s note: 23 August is recognized by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) as the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. This date was chosen as an acknowledgement of the revolution in Saint Domingue, today the Republic of Haiti, that began in late August 1791 as a […]

Lord, Have Mercy: Prayers After the Southport Killings and for Sudan’s Refugees (August 1, 2024)

O God of all peoples. Hear these prayers as bits and pieces of the news this week are shared. You know all sorrows and joys. It seems like a heavy and fearful time right now. Shine your light on these times bringing clarity and justice, peace and recovery. Renew our hearts and minds. Bring your […]

The Noise of Politics: A Holy Week Prayer for Elections in Russia, Iran, and El Salvador (March 21, 2024)

As millions of Christians celebrate the Passion of the Lord Jesus this week and embark upon Holy Week and the Triduum, we are reminded of a portion of the prayer, “The Noise of Politics” by Walter Brueggemann in his book Prayers for a Privileged People: We listen beyond jeering protesters and soaring jets and faintly […]

Make Us Instruments of Your Peace: A Prayer for Gaza, Haiti, and Countries at War (March 14, 2024)

May these words of St. Francis (in italics), written so long ago, prayed on so many hearts and lips, from places of longing and agony, from places of peace seeking more peace, guide our prayers: Lord, make us  instruments of your peace: In all countries with armed conflict. Palestine and Israel, Ukraine and Russia, many […]