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.

So Yes, Bring Us the Refugees: A Thanksgiving Prayer for Welcome and Everyday Courage (November 26, 2015)

17 Pray constantly, and 18 give thanks to God no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. (This is God’s will for all of you in Jesus the Anointed.) 19 Don’t suppress the Spirit. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5: 17 – 19 The Voice Compassionate and merciful God it is good to give you thanks and praise this […]

Do Not Be Afraid: A Prayer After the Paris Attacks, for Refugees and a Fearful World (November 19, 2015)

Violence is what happens when we don’t know what else to do with our suffering. – Parker Palmer Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. – Hebrews 13:2 “Do not be afraid,” the messenger from God said to Mary. “Do not be afraid,” the messenger […]

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 […]

There Is Nowhere God Is Not: Prayers After the Sinai Plane Crash and the Afghanistan Earthquake (November 5, 2015)

God of love, God of inclusion, God of justice and peace, we come to you with hearts heavy with the things that are happening in our world over which we have no control. Lack of control is scary, feels threatening. And yet, even in the midst of our confusion and frustration, there is a truth […]

Darkness in Our World and Hope for Your Light: An All Saints Prayer for South Sudan (October 29, 2015)

Gracious and Good God, we come towards All Saints’ Day with darkness in our world and with hope for your light. We pray for the saints who have entered your kingdom who healed individuals and neighborhoods. We pray for those angels among us: those who feed the hungry, comfort the aggrieved, and love their neighbors. […]

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. […]

Act With Justice, Love Mercy: Prayers After the Sanaa Mosque Bombing and the Sumatra Fires (September 24, 2015)

“Now Israel, what does the LORD your God desire from you? Only this: fear him, walk in all his ways, love him, serve him with all your heart and in all your life. Deuteronomy 10: 12 (NIV) The Lord has shown you what is good. He has told you what he requires of you. You […]

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 […]

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, […]

Hold It in Trust: A Prayer for the Care of Creation, Climate Change, and Nuclear Peace (August 20, 2015)

God, of whose creative force it is said: “Before the world was created, the Holy One kept creating worlds and destroying them. Finally He created this one, and was satisfied. He said to Adam: ‘This is the last world I shall make. I place it in your hands: hold it in trust.’ “ [Gates of […]