Archive for August, 2020

Deceit

August 30, 2020

Lead us O Lord, through the divisive rhetoric, appeals to fear, misinformation, and other deceits of our political times.

Help us to trust in you and follow your paths.

Awaken us O Lord, to the world as it is and to our own role in its suffering.

Help us to see the possibilities for peace and future prosperity for all.

Create with us O Lord, a democracy and a country where all might thrive.

Let us not be deceived or turned from your ways.

Amen

Discernment

August 23, 2020

Help us to think clearly O Lord. Help us to think beyond the

  • lies,
  • mendacity,
  • hyperbole,
  • hypocrisy,
  • finger-pointing, and
  • incoherence.

Help us to find our way, through the noise. Help us move towards

  • truth,
  • sincerity,
  • wisdom,
  • compassion,
  • coherence, and
  • accountability for ourselves and those we elect.

Guide us, O Lord.

Amen

Inattention

August 16, 2020

Forgive us our inattention, Lord, to the suffering of others.

Forgive us our willingness to ignore oppression when it brings us economic gain.

Forgive us our inclination to hoard our time, talent, and treasure and to distract ourselves with trivial entertainments.

Open our eyes Lord. Show us how we can reallocate our wealth, and strengthen us to follow-through. (Lev. 25:8-17).

Open our hearts Lord. Teach us how to share and care for one another. (Acts 2:44-47, 4:32-35).

Open our minds Lord, that we might not be misled by the temptations of this world.

Help us to discern and pursue the riches of your kingdom that we might live in peace and prosper as one people, one country. (Luke 12:13-21, 1 Timothy 6:6-16, Proverbs 3:13-18, 27).

Forgive us, and guide us O Lord.

Amen

Using Our Freedoms

August 9, 2020

Free us from our fears O Lord, so that we might embrace the freedoms we have create our future.

Freedom to move beyond prejudice, beyond partisanship, beyond the old narratives of division and anger and loss.

Freedom to grow in relationship with others.

Freedom to learn and grow in wisdom and understanding

Redeem all of your children Lord, that we might heal from the sins of our past.

Release us from ties that too tightly bind us to ritual, to place, to power, to the familiar, so that we might explore and experience the beauty of all of your creation.

Forgive us and guide us, O Lord.

Amen

For Our Elections

August 2, 2020

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

Lord, please help us protect our elections which are the heart of our democracy.

Guide us in our responsibilities as citizens that we may elect trustworthy leaders and make wise decisions for our common good.

Ensure the faithful administration of our voting processes so that the rights of all may be protected.

And in our thoughts and in our actions, help us to align ourselves with your justice and mercy and grace so that we might be a people at peace among ourselves.

Amen