Prayers for Ukraine

Much of what is gathered for Ukraine concerns war: the unrest and occupation that came first, the wider invasion that followed, and the families displaced into Poland and other countries. Elections, freedom of speech and the grain harvest also appear, along with prayers for medical workers and for ceasefires that have not yet held.

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 […]

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, […]

Prayers on the Day of Peace: Typhoon Ragasa, Justice for Women, and the Imprisoned (September 25, 2025)

Loving God, We come before you today knowing that we do not always have the words or even know how to pray when life feels heavy. For many of us, despite knowing your existence, and your unfailing love and compassion on your people, it’s hard to see your handprints in a world that is chaotic, […]

Breathe Your Peace: Prayers for Sudan, the Rohingya, and West Papua (September 18, 2025)

Spirit God, Breathe your calm, loving, hopeful breath into a hurting world. Both the places and people we know are hurting as well as the hurting spaces unknown to us, teach us to care for the whole world and everything in it. May your love, the love, go out into the hearts of all of your people. […]

Give Us Eyes to See: A Prayer on the Anniversary of September 11 (September 11, 2025)

On this anniversary of September 11, 2001, we are reminded of the heartbreaking news of the hijacked planes intentionally crashed in New York and Washington, D.C., and the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania in the USA. Help us also remember the spirit of unity that arose after those tragic events. That is what we need now, […]

O Lord, Hear Our Prayer: A Lament for Palestine, Sudan, Haiti, and Ukraine (August 28, 2025)

“Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.” Teresa of Avila O Lord, hear our […]

Your Creation Is Groaning: Prayers for Wildfires in Spain and Canada, Floods in Pakistan (August 21, 2025)

Holy One, Your creation is groaning. Our world is full of suffering and strife. We come into our time of prayer with heavy hearts, hurting with those who hurt, weeping with those who weep. Let our prayers be a catalyst for good – let them soften hard hearts, let them bring relief to those in […]