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.

O God, Our Help in Ages Past: Prayers for Madagascar’s Cyclones and Africa’s Drought (February 26, 2026)

We praise you, O God, for another day to see the dawn, another evening to see the dusk, for the moon and the stars that shine their light at night. We praise you for your great and mighty acts, for your favor to your creatures and your creation. We come to you with our hearts […]

Ashes and Renewal: A Lenten Prayer for Nations at War and for Rev. Jesse Jackson (February 19, 2026)

Heavenly Father, Having just observed the holy day of Ash Wednesday – as we enter the sacred season of Lent – we come before You in humility. The ashes that marked us, remind us we are dust, and to dust we shall return. Strip away our pride, our distractions, and our indifference. Create in us clean hearts, O God, […]

And the Floodwaters Covered the Earth: A Prayer for Southern Africa’s Floods (January 22, 2026)

…And the floodwaters covered the earth… (Genesis 7) I thought I knew what I was doing, when I offered to cover for this week’s scheduled prayer writer, whose whole family had come down with the flu. Easy. I had half a week to prepare, nothing much booked for those days. Easy. I didn’t know that an […]

A Threshold Prayer for the New Year: Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and the Disasters We Carry Into 2026 (January 1, 2026)

By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79 God, at the end of […]

Away in a Manger: An Advent Prayer for the Displaced and for Prisoners Freed in Belarus (December 18, 2025)

Away in a manger, No crib for his bed. Advent Jesus, Our hearts break for those who are displaced due to war, violence, oppression, or persecution, who have nowhere to lay their weary heads. Our souls ache for the homeless who are facing winter weather and have no place to stay warm. And our spirits […]

This Is No Time for a Child to Be Born: Advent Prayers for Gaza and Indonesia’s Floods (December 11, 2025)

An interpretation, in prayer, of Madeleine L’Engle’s poem: “This Is No Time for a Child to Be Born” Christmas 1973 O, Word of words, you were here at the beginning and you are here with each of us through the short spans of life on this Earth. You know the giant arcs of time, and so […]

Keep Me Traveling: A Thanksgiving Prayer for Immigrants and All Who Speak Truth to Power (November 27, 2025)

The parable of the sheep and goats. ~ Matthew 25 The Lord has shown you what is good. He has told you what he requires of you. You must act with justice. You must love to show mercy. And you must be humble as you live in the sight of your God. ~ Micah 6:8 (NIRV) Be thankful […]

The Beating Heart of Justice: Prayers for Gaza’s Winter Floods, Aid Cuts, and the Amazon at COP30 (November 20, 2025)

Holy One, Eighty years ago this month France, the Soviet Union (now Russia) the United Kingdom, and the United States used the rule of law in setting up a tribunal called the Nuremberg trials. Not outright execution (as was considered) but mindful prosecution brought justice as over two dozen Nazi leaders had their wartime crimes laid out in the light in that initial tribunal. We […]

Let Justice Flow Like Water: Prayers for El Fasher, Hunger in America, and Ukraine (November 6, 2025)

O, Lord, call us, awaken us, awaken us as you called your prophets to speak truth, your truth to this errant world. Amos, a shepherd and arborist, a pruner of trees, and a prophet speaking to power. Hear his words as a season of destruction and genocide flows around us. You trample on the heads […]

Prayers for a Protesting World: Nepal, Kenya, Morocco, and the No Kings Marches (October 23, 2025)

Compassionate God, We look to you today – the source of our strength and hope, Even as protests spread across the world, In Nepal, the Philippines, Indonesia, Kenya, Peru, and Morocco. Even as people – many of whom are young and perhaps idealistic, Take to the streets to stand against widening inequality, economic uncertainty, corruption, […]