World in Prayer

Sharing in God’s loving compassion for all

Prayers for Russia

War with Ukraine dominates what has been prayed here for Russia, together with ceasefire talks, sanctions and strained relations with neighboring countries. Other prayers hold protesters and journalists at risk, nuclear tension, wildfires in Siberia, and the care of creation in the far north.

Seeing the Good and the Hurt: After the Assassination of Shinzo Abe and Sri Lanka’s Uprising (July 14, 2022)

I will thank you forever, because of what you have done. In the presence of the faithful I will proclaim your name, for it is good. Psalm 52:9 (NRSV) Heavenly God, Even amidst the storms that cover our lives, we are so grateful for you. So grateful that you hold us together when we cannot […]

We Need You Now: A Prayer After the Uvalde School Shooting and the Buffalo Supermarket Massacre (May 26, 2022)

God, We need you now. We needed you yesterday. We need you today. We need you tomorrow. We need you now. We need you to do something. To stop the brutal unfathomable violence that is surfacing in every part of our world. We need you to change the hearts of lawmakers. We need you to […]

The Dashing of Hopes: Prayers for Iraq, Failed Reforestation, and Wildfires in New Mexico (May 5, 2022)

Lord, where do we begin?   We want to talk about the dashing of hopes, the failure of inspiration, the death of expectation. Afghanistan has fallen out of our consciousness as Ukraine falls into our attention, and now there is what’s happening in Iraq, as army and separatists clash and thousands flee. Monoculture (rubber trees) has […]

Blessed Are Those Who Have Not Seen: Prayers for Shanghai’s Lockdown and Besieged Mariupol (April 21, 2022)

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” John 20:28, 29 Eternal God, three in one and one in three; We give thanks for the countless faithful believers who, down […]

Relative and Absolute Poverty: A Prayer for Those Slipping Into Want (March 31, 2022)

Creator God, I am so privileged that I don’t know I am!   Living here in the first world it is striking to hear someone explain the difference between “relative poverty” and “absolute poverty.”   We pray that we are forgiven our attempts to pray for the whole world while neglecting to centre ourselves on You.  As the seasons […]

This Little Light of Mine: A Prayer Around the Continents, One Month Into the War (March 24, 2022)

God you are light. Your light reflects within us and shines forth as we connect with one another in your Love moving through us, shining forth. All around the world we hear children in all languages sing of this light… This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it […]

When Flesh and Heart Fail: Prayers for Ukraine’s Refugees and China’s Lockdowns (March 17, 2022)

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Psalm 73:26 Heavenly God, We fail constantly.  Our very bodies fail as they are so fragile.  How often have we wondered what to do, and choose the wrong action, words, or tone we take in everything […]

Teach Us to Recognise Your Accent: A Prayer for Ukraine and the Conflicts the World Forgot (March 10, 2022)

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Ps 27:8 (New Living Translation) In stillness let us hear your voice, God. Easy to say, but hard to do. The endless whirl and explosion of thoughts in our heads force their way to grab our […]

Come Now, O Prince of Peace: A Prayer as Russia Invades Ukraine (February 24, 2022)

As this week, fraught with so many cares and concerns, has unfolded, I have found myself singing this Advent hymn over and over again. And even though it is not the Advent season, this world is certainly in a period of waiting and watching and wondering. And so we sing together: Come now, O Prince […]

We Breathe Your Peace: A Prayer at the Russia Ukraine Border and for Petropolis (February 17, 2022)

Oh God, you lean into us. We lean into you. A flow of relationship that has no end. We are grateful. We are invited to pray without ceasing. This is not a burden but a freeing gift, an invitation to stay present to our constant dance with you. As we pray in each moment our […]