“Jesus Wept” Oh, Lord… Oh, Lord. Every bone in our body, every tear in our eye, every drop of blood in our heart, cries to You. We are not fools, O Lord. We are certain that others despaired in their time. But this is our time, O Lord. So hear, and forgive, the desperation of […]
There Is a Balm in Gilead: Prayers for Those Jailed for Speaking Out, Firefighters, and Elephants (August 3, 2017)
The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down. Psalm 145:14 There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul. God of grace and glory, God who knows our hearts and minds, you can see, you […]
Not by Bread Alone: A Prayer for Liu Xiaobo, a Rescue in Florida, and a Trillion-Ton Iceberg (July 13, 2017)
Dear God of instruction, open our hearts to learn, learn as our forebears in faith learned. Looking back on their experiences in captivity and liberation, they heard, “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you […]
Let Us Go Over to the Other Side: A Prayer for the Uncertain, from Graduates to the Grieving (May 18, 2017)
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. ~ Luke 8:22 Loving God: we come to you today with great uncertainty of our governments, in our neighbors, and within ourselves. Help us to cross over to […]
We, Easter People, Pray: For Guantanamo, Libya’s Rival Governments, and Pakistan’s Christians (March 31, 2016)
Lord, in the strength of grace With a glad heart and free … Charles Wesley Today, in the grace of being Easter people, we pray for those who are supported by your grace alone in the turmoil and oppression of war, terror, famine, drought, prejudice, bigotry. We pray for all in Guantanamo Bay military prison […]
Lead Us Not into Temptation: Prayers for Syria, Mexico’s Prison Riot, and Taiwan’s Earthquake (February 11, 2016)
Our Father in heaven, lead us not into temptation. Help us to recognize the temptations that surround us, the subtle snares that, on their face, seem good: The temptation to use violence and force to achieve peace and gentleness; The temptation to see our perspective as truth and others as heresy; The temptation to believe […]
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 […]
Love the Least of These: Prayers for Migrants Drowned Off Libya and for Chapel Hill (February 12, 2015)
As we prepare ourselves for the holy season of Lent, let us reflect in prayer on the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: that when we love the least of these, we love you, Lord. Help us to love the least of these in prison. We pray for prisoners throughout the world. We pray that […]
Release to the Captives: Prayers for Raif Badawi and Boko Haram’s Kidnapped Girls (January 22, 2015)
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” Mark 1:14-15 We know, Lord, that you call us to a far wider agenda than proclaiming good news and […]
Where in the World Are You: A Prayer of Silence for West Africa and Canada (October 26, 2014)
World in Prayer- October 23, 2014 God of creation, God of healing, God of all people everywhere, prayer comes with difficulty this day. Words seem somehow so inadequate to express the confusion…the anger…the fear which seems to fill hearts and minds of people in all parts of your world. What comes to the surface […]