World in Prayer

Sharing in God’s loving compassion for all

Prayers for Syria

Syria appears here mainly through the long war and its displacement, with families scattered into neighboring countries and beyond, health care and shelter in short supply, and religious minorities among those held in prayer. Chemical weapons, ceasefire talks and repeated negotiations are named plainly, along with thanks for those who help.

An Armistice at Our Own Eleventh Hour: Prayers to End Genocide, Torture, and Disease (November 12, 2015)

Having but recently celebrated that moment “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month month” 97 years ago when the belligerents of World War I agreed to armistice, to the cessation of harmful deeds even in the absence of an agreed formula for a fully organized peace, let us lift hands […]

You Understand: Prayers for Korean Family Reunions, a School Attack in Sweden, and Typhoon Koppu (October 22, 2015)

‘God is not aloof; God is not a spectator.’  Eugene Victor “Gene” Debs, American union leader.  Creator God, we would pray for the whole world, but it’s too big and we are overwhelmed.   We understand that you can see all and know all that is before we even think to talk to you about it.  […]

They Will Soar on Wings Like Eagles: A Prayer of Confession for a World Weary of Violence (October 15, 2015)

WORLD NEWS IN PRAYER    THURSDAY, October 15 2015   but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”          –Isaiah 40:31 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and […]

With Persecutions: A Prayer for Christians Killed Near Aleppo and for Quiet Acts of Mercy (October 9, 2015)

Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God.” … “Truly I tell you there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not […]

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 […]

Let My People Go: A Prayer Naming the Pharaohs That Drive Refugees From Home (September 10, 2015)

Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt land. Tell all Pharaohs to, “let My people go.” Oh God, our God, and God of every suffering refugee, we join in prayer to ask for the wisdom and the courage to name the pharaohs that make life intolerable for so many people in the world. We recognize that: […]

Let Us Go Across to the Other Side: A Prayer for Those Fleeing Syria and for Our Own Storms (September 3, 2015)

When evening had come, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that […]

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, […]

Souls Stitched With Love: Prayers for Sandra Bland, the Lafayette Theater Shooting, and Syria (July 30, 2015)

Heavenly Father and Mother, be with us today and in all times. We call upon you in our most vulnerable moments. We call for you to bear witness to our lives, to help us take the steps needed to serve you with love, compassion, faith, and understanding. Continue to remind us that it is our […]

Give Us the Patience to Listen: Prayers for Greece, Charleston, and Pakistan’s Heatwave (June 25, 2015)

Lord of the past, present and future, sometimes I have this view of you pushing your hair back, in exasperation, and wondering when will we return to you and listen. Just once in our lives – really listen, then do something. It must be so vexing to you when we do something then complain – […]