Heal Our Hates O Lord

June 24, 2015

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Lord, thank you for the love, forgiveness, and mercy shown by the survivors at Emanuel A.M.E. Church and for the witness they have given in the face of hate. Thank you for the politicians who departed from the usual patterns of division and denial to speak up and out in support of their brothers and sisters in faith.

As James Russell Lowell, observed in 1845*,

To us all, to every nation comes the moment to decide,
in the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side;

Let us choose good O Lord.

[N]ew occasions teach new duties, time makes ancient good uncouth;  they must upward still and onward, who would keep abreast of truth.

Let us move forward O Lord, guided by your grace.  Help us to learn new ways.

Heal our hates O Lord. Help us live in peace with one another (Romans 12:18).

Amen.

* Quotes from poem printed as the hymn, “To Us All, to Every Nation”,  v. 1 and 2, Chalice Hymnal #634.

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Prayers For Peace

September 11, 2014

O God, you will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are fixed on you . . . Isaiah 26:3

On this 13th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center, we pray for an end to hate and violence throughout our world.  We remember and pray for those who died in the attacks, that they might be at peace with you. We pray for their families and friends, that in their grieving they may find the peace which transcends all understanding. [Php.4:7] And we pray for all who remain in our unstable and violent world, that we may find new ways of living together.

We pray for peace O God.

O God, our creator, look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and guide us as we work through our struggle and confusion. [#3]*

We pray for peace O God.

O Lord you have commanded us to love our enemies:  Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you. [#6]

We pray for peace O God.

Give us the grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, hurt and anger, and whatever else may hinder us from peaceful union and concord. Help us to seek the holy bonds of truth and peace, of compassion and charity. [#14]

We pray for peace O God.

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom all nations and people work in harmony, guide us in love. [#3, 4]  Lead us from dissension, factions and selfish ambitions to a world abundant in  the fruits of your Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  [Galatians 5:19-26]  Guide all the nations, — and each of us as individuals in our interactions with family, neighbors, and community, —  into the ways of justice and truth, peace and love.  [5]

Grant us peace O God.

 

* Adapted in part from The Book of Common Prayer, “Prayers and Thanksgivings”,  No.s 3 -6, 14.

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Freedom From Fear

July 4, 2013

“. . . where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.”  2 Co. 3:17

“Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

Lord, on this 4th of July, grant us freedom from our fears:

Fear of moving forward.

Fear that feeds cynicism and despair.

Fear that flashes into anger and hate.

Fear that is reflected in our selfishness.

Fear that fuels our partisan divides.

Fear that crushes hope.

Lead us from fear toward love and compassion, caring and community, for there we will find you (1 John 4:8).  In you there is no fear (1 John 4:18). Free from fear, we can find the way to a better future: one country, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Amen.

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Choosing Hope Over Fear

January 21, 2013

“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”  Romans 5:5

On this inaugural day, which is also the anniversary of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and the 5oth anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington, we pray with hope that the divisions caused by factionalism and fear will cease to constrain us and that we will have the courage to take up the work of healing.

Let us seek, as Lincoln urged in his second inaugural, a “just and lasting peace among ourselves” and work together “with malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right”.

Help us O Lord to listen to and to learn from each other, for as  Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us, it is from other points of view that  “. . . we may indeed see the basic weaknesses of our own condition, and if we are mature, we may learn and grow and profit from the wisdom of the brothers who are called the opposition.”

Because wisdom is found in listening (Pr. 1″5), help us attend to your word:  “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”  (James 1:19).

Grant us courage, compassion, and self-control as we move forward, O Lord.

Amen.

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From the Electoral Season, Save Us

October 31, 2012

Lord as we approach this election, do not let us despair or be overtaken by fear.  Help us instead to embrace hope, and to trust in your words:  “There is surely a future hope for you and your hope will not be cut off.”  Pr. 23:18.

Do not let us be so overcome by adversity that we fail to vote or over-rely on simplistic pitches.  Do not let hypocrisy, arrogance,  mendacity, or hollow promises mislead us.  Let us fend off both cynicism and hate.  From a love of money, save us.

Give us the courage to acknowledge our circumstances are complex, and that real solutions will take sacrifice, sharing, hard work and a willingness to work with others.  Help us elect leaders who will place our common good over partisan loyalties and who will care for us all.  Fill us with compassion and direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose. Help us to trust in you and to encourage one another.

Grant us wisdom O Lord.  Amen

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Lead Us Forward

May 28, 2012

This Pentecost, O Lord, we celebrate that you are with us, and in us, and that you will never leave us.  Help us to hear and to heed your voice within.  Guide us and challenge us until we are, both in our public and private lives,

“Free from anger, hatred and passion; free from ill will, jealousy and envy; free from transgression, criticism and gossip; free from malice, animosity and grudges. . .”*

As we listen to the news and listen to the candidates, as we sift through what we hear, and as we  make choices, help us to value civility, community, and thoughtfulness.  Help us to test our fears against facts, and be willing to change. Guide us, O Lord, and move us forward.

Amen

*Quote from Julian Ibarra Zapata, 20th Century Disciples pastor  Juarez, Mexico.

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Hope For The New Year

January 12, 2012

“A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”  O Holy Night (a Christmas carol)

Lord your birth reminds us that amidst the anxiety, fear, anger, and disappointment of our political life, there is hope.  We have the opportunity to change our ways, to seek truth, to offer compassion, to pursue justice, to speak with kindness and civility even where we don’t agree.  One person can shine a light into the darkness and together we create new patterns and a better future for all.   Show us your ways O Lord, teach us your paths, and strengthen us for the year ahead.

Amen

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Welcome

January 12, 2012

We invite you to read over and reflect on past prayers, and also to contribute your prayers by sending an e-mail to prayforourcountry@gmail.com.  Together we can make a difference.  Matthew 18:19-20.

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Needing God’s Guidance

March 14, 2011

Lord, as we see the hungry and those without health care,

Teach us compassion.

As our economy begins to grow in fits and starts, leaving many behind,

Teach us to share.

As media reports excite rather than educate,

Lead us toward wisdom.

As individual citizens are asked to cut back or give more while flaws in our economic and regulatory systems go uncorrected,

Help us pursue justice.

As we face an uncertain future,

Fill us with hope and help us to follow your word.

Let us hear your voice and learn to listen to each other.  Harden not our hearts.

Have mercy on us all O Lord.

Amen.

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Civility In the New Year

January 20, 2011

But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.  Do not lie to each other . . . Colossians 3:8-9

At the start of a new year we begin with shots in Tuscon bringing grief, recriminations, calls for reconciliation, and bewilderment.

Lord, help us to be a better people than we are.

Help us to seek wisdom over partisan power, justice over greed, forgiveness over hate.  Help us to be honest with ourselves and with others, both as to what we think we know and what we do not.  Comfort all who grieve for the victims of violence.  And as we mourn, fill us also with compassion for those whose mental illness goes untreated, those who cannot find work, those who struggle to find food and shelter, and those who only fear the future.  Turn us from fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy.  Turn us towards kindness, patience, self-control, and the desire to live together in peace. (Galatians 5:19-23).  Equip us to find new ways of living together and new ways of sharing and service.

Show us your ways, O Lord, teach us your paths; guide us in your truth and teach us, for you are God our Savior and our hope is in you all day long. Ps. 25:4-5

We can be a better people than we have been.  Help us to change O Lord.

Amen

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