Free us Lord from our despair, that we might find hope.
Free us Lord from our quarreling, that we might find peace.
Free us Lord from our denials, that we might understand and live into our reality.
Free us from our prejudices, that we might find ways for all to thrive.
Free us from our fears, that we might trust in you.
Free us O Lord, from these shackles of our own making.
Guide us, and help us find our way forward.
Amen
We thank you Lord for those who build your kingdom –
Bless all of these who are doing your kingdom work here and now.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Amen
Today’s prayer is adapted from Romans 12:9-21 and 14:17-19.
Teach us to love O Lord –
Help us to find the ways that lead to peace and mutual learning.
Guide us with your Holy Spirit as we seek the justice, peace, and joy that love can bring.
Support us Lord, as we confront evil, so that we might not be overcome, but might overcome evil with good.
Amen
Help us to heal O Lord.
Help us to heal both from our self-inflicted wounds and those inflicted by others.
Help us to change the systems that direct our wealth away from those who labor and from the common good.
Help us to heal our hatred and divisions.
Help us to find hope in the courage and dignity and forgiveness of our fellow citizens.
Help us to calm our anxious minds and commit to the hard work of rebuilding our democracy.
Help us to heal O Lord.
Amen
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
Help us to think clearly O Lord. Help us to think beyond the
Help us to find our way, through the noise. Help us move towards
Guide us, O Lord.
Amen
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
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
Lord, give us the courage to move forward and not fall back –
Give us the courage to challenge –
Give us the courage to bridge our divides and work together to build a future better than our past –
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
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
Prayers For Our Country 