Archive for July, 2020

In Need Of Courage

July 26, 2020

Lord, give us the courage to move forward and not fall back –

  • courage to work through our fears,
  • courage to put aside the old patterns of exclusion and denial,
  • courage to confront our hate and anger,
  • courage to care for one another.

Give us the courage to challenge –

  • mendacity,
  • fake news,
  • narratives of hate and fear,
  • paranoia and conspiracy theories masquerading as facts.

Give us the courage to bridge our divides and work together to build a future better than our past –

  • more just,
  • more equitable,
  • more merciful,
  • more compassionate.

Guide us O Lord, teach us your paths, show us your ways, guide us in your truth and give us hope. (Ps. 25:4-5).

Amen

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in politics, Prayer | 1 Comment »

Doing What’s Right

July 19, 2020

We recommend this letter from the Missouri Union Presbytery.

Lord, we thank you for the life John Lewis and his dedication to justice.

Let us too hear and follow the words of your prophets –

This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.

Jeremiah 22:3

And of your Son –

“Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 22:37-39

And of your disciples –

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God. . . Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

1 Timothy 6:17-19

Help us O Lord to find ways to move forward together and build a more just economy and culture.

Amen

Tags:, , , , , , , , ,
Posted in politics, Prayer | 2 Comments »

Seeking Justice

July 12, 2020

Today’s prayer comes from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer.

Almighty God, who created us in your own image:

Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression;

and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name;

through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you , and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in politics, Prayer | 1 Comment »

Preserving Our Liberties

July 4, 2020

You my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Galatians 5:13-15

Lord, we know that freedom isn’t free and democracy is not self-sustaining.

Both take courage, and persistence, and regard for others.

Help us to do our part.

Help us use our freedom not just to claim “liberty,” but to seek justice for all, to care for one another even if that means wearing a mask, and to reach across partisan divides with love and forgiveness.

Open our eyes and our hearts that we might free those who suffer in our economy from want and need and loss of opportunity, and find ways to prosper together.

Help us to seek your truth and serve you O Lord.

Amen

Tags:, , , , , , , , ,
Posted in politics, Prayer | 1 Comment »