Beloved, are you there amongst the rubble and remains of thousands who lost their lives from the earthquake in Myanmar…..are you there to cradle their broken bodies with your tenderness? Most Merciful One, send us a sign that you are there within the devastation and crippling heartbreak of every person touched by war in Syria, […]
A Song of Peace: Prayers for Greenland, Venezuela, and Gaza with Dag Hammarskjold (March 27, 2025)
The author of this week’s prayer writes, “Last week, our church hosted clergy from India, Holland, Belgium, Austria, the Czech Republic for an international meeting. I welcomed them with a sign listing their names and unsorted flags and invited observers to connect the national flag to each name. When some nations appear to want to […]
Have Mercy: A Prayer After Bishop Budde’s Plea, for USAID and a Wounded World (February 20, 2025)
Introduction to the prayer: (If prayer is used in a worship service, the people, the congregation, read aloud the bold print.) Just over a month ago, the day after Donald Trump’s inauguration, The Right Reverend Mariann Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington D.C., USA delivered a sermon at the Washington Cathedral as a prelude […]
Be Still and Know: A Prayer for the Gaza Ceasefire, California Fires and a World in Whirl (January 16, 2025)
Writer’s note: Unexpectedly, I am to write this week, with my mind in a whirl of clamoring news and imminent events. If the eminent theologian, Rowan Williams, uses the prayer method of ‘I turn up, and shut up’, it will more than suffice for my need and hopefully yours. Let us journey together under the […]
All Are Your Beloved Children: Prayers for Bangladesh, the UK Riots, and Japan’s Earthquake (August 8, 2024)
O Lord, We grow in our awareness of you as we enter this time of prayer. You never leave any one of us. We are grateful for your enduring love. Help us to remember that all are your beloved children. God, there are times when we are not our best selves. Help us to become […]
Prayers for World Leaders: France in Limbo, Kenya’s Cabinet, and the UK Election (July 11, 2024)
God of power and might, we pray you intervene in the hearts and minds of world leaders. We see the turmoil playing out at the highest levels of government of so many countries. The election in France has left the country in limbo, with three blocs short of aa majority and no new government in sight […]
The Largest Election Year in History: Prayers for Voters in Iran, France, Rwanda and Venezuela (June 27, 2024)
Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine […]
For a Leader: Blessings for Claudia Sheinbaum, Robert Fico, Pope Francis and LGBTQ Leaders (June 6, 2024)
You, most beloved God, are the leader of all that ever was and all that will ever be. You are a witness to the beauty that comes from a thoughtful leader and the violence and unrest that is born from an unhealthy leader. We seek your wisdom, your patience, your tenderness. Using excerpts from John […]
The Noise of Politics: A Holy Week Prayer for Elections in Russia, Iran, and El Salvador (March 21, 2024)
As millions of Christians celebrate the Passion of the Lord Jesus this week and embark upon Holy Week and the Triduum, we are reminded of a portion of the prayer, “The Noise of Politics” by Walter Brueggemann in his book Prayers for a Privileged People: We listen beyond jeering protesters and soaring jets and faintly […]
A Time for Everything: Prayers for Drought, Ukraine, and Afghanistan’s Children (May 4, 2023)
To the one who is not limited by time, we pray for life in a world where time is often of the essence. Move us to be mindful that there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: Bless the springtime bursting forth with rich soil for planting, cool rains […]