Posts Tagged ‘politics’

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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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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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Loyalty and Justice

May 2, 2010

If you have understanding hear this; listen to what I say. Can he who hates justice govern?  Will you condemn the just and mighty One? Job 34: 16-17

. . . O my people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path. Is. 3:12

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray . . . 1 John 3:7

Lord, when political parties require “loyalty oaths” which they seek to enforce regardless of a representative’s conscience, hear our cry for freedom.

Lord, when money decides who can run and what views the voter hears, hear our cry for truth.

Lord, when power and celebrity are the guiding forces of many who would seek to govern, raise up stewards of the public good.

Lord, when the noise and fear and confusion threaten to overwhelm us, grant us the wisdom to find our way.

We put our trust in you, O Lord, as we look to build a better future.

Amen.

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Guardians of Our Liberty

April 1, 2010

The quote that begins this prayer comes from an election sermon preached by Samuel Cooke at Cambridge on May 30, 1770.  It followed the Boston Massacre which occurred on March 5 of that year, and laid out themes that served as precursors of the revolution to come.

“The body of a people are disposed to lead quiet and peaceable lives – and it is their highest interest to support the government under which their quietness is ensured —  They retain a reverence for their superiors, and seldom foresee or suspect danger, till they feel their burdens.”

Lord help us to pay attention to erosion of our liberties. Protect us from those who would manipulate our fears and discomfort for personal gain. Help us find the time to be informed and to seek your guidance for our lives. Give us the courage to speak up and be engaged, and the self-control to do so in a way that reflects a love of others, even those with whom we disagree.  Let us be alert to danger, and prepared to stand our ground (Eph. 6:10-18).  Strengthen us and help us O Lord (Is. 41:10).

Amen

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The Madness of Mankind

February 21, 2010

On June 9, 1754, Samuel Finely, an Irish immigrant and Presbyterian minister preached a sermon in Philadelphia titled “The Madness of Mankind”, following the text of Ecclesiastes 9:3: “. . . The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.” Portions of the sermon appear in quotes below.

Lord, save us from the madness of the crowd. Save us from those that promote

Precipitant Conclusions concerning Persons, Things, or Opinions, formed without Evidence, and often in Defiance of Demonstration to the contrary

Protect us from those that behave

As if Prudence and Circumspection were mere Names, and no Power of Deliberation had ever been given[.]  They live at random, and seem to consider Right and Wrong with absolute Indifference. . . .

Help us discern your truth, especially when

Many appear to have false Views of what is advantageous, or hurtful; and draw false Inferences from Actions and Event.

Forgive us for our lack of progress O Lord, and guide us forward.

Amen.

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Focusing Our Politics On The Common Good

January 24, 2010

A reader sent in the following background summary and prayer, posted on the Senate website at the end of last year.  The prayer at the end is one we can all pray as legislative discussions begin again over health care reform.

“Throughout the years, the United States Senate has honored the historic separation of Church and State, but not the separation of God and State. The first Senate, meeting in New York City on April 25, 1789, elected the Right Reverend Samuel Provost, the Episcopal Bishop of New York, as its first Chaplain. During the past two hundred and seven years, all sessions of the Senate have been opened with prayer, strongly affirming the Senate’s faith in God as Sovereign Lord of our Nation. The role of the Chaplain as spiritual advisor and counselor has expanded over the years from a part-time position to a full-time job as one of the Officers of the Senate.  The Office of the Chaplain is nonpartisan, nonpolitical, and nonsectarian.
Duties of the Senate Chaplain
In addition to opening the Senate each day in prayer, Chaplain Black’s duties include counseling and spiritual care for the Senators, their families and their staffs, a combined constituency of six thousand people. Chaplain Black’s days are filled with meeting Senators about spiritual and moral issues, assisting Senators’ staffs with research on theological and biblical questions, teaching Senate Bible study groups, encouraging such groups as the weekly Senate Prayer Breakfast, and facilitating discussion and reflection small groups among Senators and staff.
In order to stay informed of the needs of the Senate community, Chaplain Black maintains a program with a volunteer liaison in each office to assist him.  A member of his staff directs this program.

The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the following prayer

Let us pray.

God of justice, bring wholeness to our world. Keep fear, ignorance, and pride from limiting Your work in our Nation.

Give the Members of Congress the insight to understand the actions they should take during these challenging times. Quicken their hearts and purify their minds. Broaden their concerns and strengthen their commitments. Lord, lead them through this season of challenge to a deeper experience with You, enabling them to feel You in their midst, as they grapple with the problems of our time.

We pray in Your Holy Name. Amen.”

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A New Year

January 4, 2010

For 2010 we wish a happier, healthier, richer experience of this life for everyone we know – and for everyone we don’t know.  For all of you.

On this first weekend of the new year, we offer the following verses, taken from the poem “Ring Out Wild Bells” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.  The text of the full poem can be found on Wikipedia.

“Ring out false pride in place and blood,

The civic slander and the spite;

Ring in the love of truth and right,

Ring in the common love of good.

*                           *                           *

Ring in the valiant man and free,

The larger heart, the kindlier hand;

Ring out the darkness of the land,

Ring in the Christ that is to be.”

Amen

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Grace and Confidence -3

December 29, 2009

For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. Ps. 48:14

Lord as we celebrate your birth we are reminded that you are the light that shines in a dark world that does not understand.   John 1:5.

Yet you are the God of truth. May the light of your truth guide us in the year to come.  Ps. 43:3.

You are the God of love.  In your unfailing love, lead us to greater care and compassion for one another.  Ex. 15:13.

You are the God of mercy.  May we find forgiveness for our pride and greed. Help us to learn to act justly, to forgive and to heal, and to walk humbly with you. Micah 6:8.

You are the God of hope.  May you guide our feet into the paths of peace and help us to move beyond fear and factions so that we might live in greater harmony in the years to come.  Luke 1:79.

You are the God of joy.  Let us be renewed by your presence among us, accept the gift of your grace, and rejoice in your gift of redemption and promise of eternal life.  Luke 2:10-14.

You are the God of grace.  Let us accept the assurance you offer and move forward in faith.  Guide us in the the ways of wisdom (Pr.4;11), and restore and strengthen our souls (Ps. 23:3).

Help us, O Lord, to heed your call and to trust in you.   Guide us in your truth and teach us, for you are our God and Savior, and our hope is in you.  Ps. 25:5.

Guide us O Lord.

Amen

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Grace and Confidence -2

December 20, 2009

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Ps. 27:13-14

Lord, in this season of Advent, teach us to wait.

Teach us to wait with the hope that comes from the knowledge of your love.  Strengthen our ability to trust in you, and help us to know you better through our waiting.

Teach us to wait with the courage that comes from faith in your mighty power.  Give us the courage to face hard truths about ourselves and others, the courage to care,  the courage to change, and the courage to seek and heed your call.

Teach us to wait with the peace that comes from forgiveness.  Help us to accept that we are forgiven, and to forgive those who have caused us pain.

Teach us to wait with patience.  Help us to let go of our own desire to control and to wait secure in the knowledge that “the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” Ps. 33:11. Let us say as the prophets did, “I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7. Help us to see that, by your grace, hearts and minds are changing as we wait.

Help us to wait, O Lord, and to know that you are with us in the waiting.

Teach us to wait, O Lord.

Amen

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