Prayers for the United States

Prayers naming the United States have followed storms, tornadoes, wildfires and floods across many states, along with elections and political tension, gun violence, and questions of migration and race. Health, mental health and the well-being of ordinary households appear often, as do thanksgivings for its landscapes and wild places.

This Is Our Prayer: For the Sulawesi Earthquake, a Micronesia Plane Crash and Assault Survivors (October 4, 2018)

Holy One, Shape our prayers to the Gospel of Your Son. Teach us to see as you see and to feel as you feel. This is our prayer. This day and each day, we lift up our prayers for each and every person who needs to see you in their lives and to feel your […]

What Are We That You Are Mindful of Us: Prayers for Yemen, Idlib and a Neglected Earth (September 27, 2018)

What are we that you are mindful of us? You made us a little lower than the heavenly beings, and crowned us with glory and honor. You made us ruler over the works of your hands; You put everything under our feet O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is our name in all the Earth.” […]

Precious Lord, Take My Hand: Prayers for Hurricane Florence, Typhoon Mangkhut and Kabul (September 13, 2018)

“So we can say with confidence, with boldness, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.’ ” Hebrews 12:6 Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light. Take my […]

God of Tender Souls Clinging: Prayers for the Kerala Floods, Besieged Ghazni, and Wildfires (August 23, 2018)

God of compassion God of green earth and snow God of darkness And illumination God of new things And of things torn apart God of waters and maker of dry land God of tender souls clinging God in this moment and across all sunrises and the universe Help us to understand our place in this […]

One of Those Days When It Is Hard to Pray: For Kabul, the Genoa Bridge and the Kerala Floods (August 16, 2018)

God, today is one of those days when it is hard to pray. One of the days when life feels so overwhelming that shutting down might seem like the best option. And on days like today, we have this community of prayer that lifts us up. Right now, we pray for each one reading this […]

On God Alone I Wait Silently: Prayers for Wildfires, Water Shortages and Refugees (August 2, 2018)

On God alone I wait silently; God my deliverer, God my strong tower. Paraphrase from Ps. 62, John L. Bell* When all efforts have been made to cope with natural disasters: the earthquake in Lombok, Indonesia; the wildfires in California, USA, Sweden, Siberia, Russian Federation, Greece, water shortages in Yemen, the UK, Syria, Kenya; On God alone I wait silently; God my deliverer, God […]

Lazarus, Come Out: Prayers for Nicaragua, the Laos Dam Collapse and Deadly Wildfires (July 26, 2018)

Editor’s note: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany were friends of Jesus. This year, a number of christian denominations commemorate them on July 29. Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said […]

God of Many Names: Thanksgiving for the Thai Cave Rescue and Prayers for Separated Families (July 12, 2018)

God of Many Names “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in time of trouble. Therefore, we will not fear.” Psalm 46:1-2 Holy and Loving God, we come to You from many places, the physical and spiritual. We use different names and descriptions and ideas when we talk about You, or come before […]

A More Perfect Union: Prayers for the Thai Cave Boys, the Capital Gazette and Refugees (July 5, 2018)

This week’s prayers are adapted, with permission, from a prayer written for U.S. Independence Day 2018 by Leslie Barnes Scoopmire. (Inspired by the Preamble to the United States Constitution) In peace, we pray to You, Lord, God: from our rising to our resting we give You thanks and praise for all your blessings. We give […]

Lazy, Hazy Days: Prayers for Families Separated, the Tham Luang Cave and the Saddleworth Moor Fires (June 28, 2018)

Dear Lord, In the Northern Hemisphere, we expectantly “roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer…”* but there is a parent and grandparent duty. We plan exciting activities for little ones in our care, for camps and vacations and community programs. In this season of school year endings we watch and wait for exam […]