World News in Prayer for March 12, 2015 For God so loved the world… Gracious and holy one, God of all creation, God of all people everywhere, it is so easy, as we journey through this season of Lent, to get lost in the wilderness of pain and sorrow we see in the world […]
Love Is Patient: A Prayer for Migrants, Ukraine, and Argentina’s Protests (February 19, 2015)
This week has seen the headline that the Mediterranean is the grave of migrants, while in the last 5 days alone over 3,000 have been rescued from sinking people-smuggling boats escaping the chaos and fighting throughout the Middle East. The freeze and massive snow falls in the northeastern states of the U.S. and Canada continue […]
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 […]
God, Be With Us in the Chaos: Prayers for Mexico’s Missing Students and Ukraine (November 13, 2014)
As we gather the thoughts of our hearts in prayer, we give thanks to the Creator who brings order out of chaos. Let us bring the chaos of our lives and our world to God, to hold in love. Let us pray for those whose memories are chaos: For all veterans whose lives are affected […]
May There Be Peace: A Prayer for the International Day of Peace (September 18, 2014)
As the UN marks the International Day of Peace and the World Council of Churches invites us to join the International Day of Prayer for Peace this September 21st, let us pray for peace in our hearts and minds, in our families, in our communities, in our nations, and throughout the world. Our Lord Jesus […]
A Full-Course Meal of Prayer: Remembering 9/11 and Ebola’s Dead (September 11, 2014)
So. Many. Words. On this, the anniversary of 9-11, so many prayers float across my screen. I want to take a bit from this one, a bit from that, serve them up, a full-course meal of prayer for those who died and those who lived the first responders then, and now, in so many places […]
Healer of Our Every Ill: A Prayer After the Death of Robin Williams (August 14, 2014)
World in Prayer for August 14, 2014 (As I looked around me at our world this week, preparing to write these prayers, I found myself singing over and over the words to Marty Haugen’s wonderful hymn, “Healer of Our Every Ill”, and so I have incorporated them into the prayers for this week.) […]
For the Healing of the Nations: A Prayer for the Children of Syria (July 31, 2014)
Is anything too hard for the Lord? Genesis 18:14 Healing of the nations. I watched a documentary on BBC TV called “The Children of Syria,” which followed children for several months from all sides in the war. Watching them parrot the hate for their former friends as taught them by their adult family and community […]
Precious Lord, Lead Them Home: Prayers for Typhoon Rammasun and Gaza (July 17, 2014)
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 hand, precious Lord, Lead me home. Even as we sing, even as we pray, Precious Lord, our thoughts turn to […]