The waiting is the hardest part. – Tom Petty
Our world changed suddenly and now we wait
in our doubt,
in our grief,
in our loneliness
in our impatience,
in our fear.
Open our hearts O Lord that we might find hope, and comfort each other.
Give us the courage to speak up, reach out, and together build a stronger, more just, more compassionate world.
Help us as we begin to move forward, O Lord.
Amen
“Open my eyes, that I might see glimpses of truth thou hast for me . . .”
Clara H. Scott, 1895; Open My Eyes That I May See, Chalice Hymnal, #586
With you Lord all things are possible (Mt. 19:26).
Please show us the possible in our broken world.
Show us the possible of a people-centered economy, the possible of rebuilding our communities, the possible of healing and caring for each other.
Show us the possible of a path to peace and the quieting of our partisan bickering. Show us the hope of a better future for all, O Lord.
Show us your ways, teach us your paths; guide us in your truth and teach us (Ps. 25:4-5).
Walk beside us through these difficult days.
Amen
“Christ is risen! Raise your spirits, from the caverns of despair. Walk with gladness in the morning. See what love can do and dare.”
Brian Wren, 1986. Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna! Chalice Hymnal, #222.
Lord support and guide us as we work to heal the sick, comfort the grieving, shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, reach out to the lonely, and support the unemployed. Help us to think beyond our fears, find joy in those around us, and work for a more peaceful and prosperous world for all. Help us embrace and share the hope that flows from your love, O Lord. Amen
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, but there is one who takes our side, the one of God’s own choosing. You ask who that might be? Christ Jesus, it is he with mighty power to save, victorious over the grave, Christ will prevail triumphant! – A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, vs. 2
Lord help us through this troubled time. Help us to confront the evils of injustice, corruption, and denial that are present among us. Heal us, protect us, and guide us toward a more just, more merciful, more thoughtful, more caring world. Amen
Lord, it is not our natural way to plan, invest, and prepare for the difficult times ahead. Forgive our hardheadedness O Lord.
Forgive us for choosing easy answers, for our failures to engage, for our complacency.
And thank you for those who heard the wake-up call and sounded the alarm, those who chose to face the hard facts and take action.
Thank you for our medical professionals. May we, like them, affirm the dignity of every human life.
Thank you for those who are bridging the partisan divides to provide relief. Thank you for all those who see their neighbors and reach-out to help. May these efforts strengthen our country and our communities in the long-term.
Help us to trust in you as we fight this disease.
Protect us and heal us O Lord.
Amen
Lord, help us to find the information we need to make wise choices. Help us to filter the loud voices, the brash voices, the voices that lie.
Give us the courage to engage, to reach-out rather than retreat; to listen and work with others rather than to distort, deflect, or dismiss the thoughts that challenge ours.
Help us Lord, be a reconciling rather than a dividing influence as work to rebuild our communities and our country.
Amen
The people wanted a king (1 Samuel 8).
A king to rule over them,
to fight their battles,
to direct them, and so
to salve their conscience.
They rejected God. They ignored God’s warning. They demanded a king.
And the king led them astray.
Lord save us from our love of easy answers.
Save us from our love of battle.
And save us from our desire to anoint a king.
Strengthen us O Lord in the hard work of citizenship.
Help us to trust in you, and guide us in your ways.
Amen.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17
As we move through our elections, O Lord, guide us to wisdom, guard us from folly. (Pr. 3:13-18; 8:1-36)
Turn us from the harsh judgments and words that divide; refocus us instead on the ties that bind — both us to one another and to you.
Help us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19-20; 3:13:18). Let us reject the appeals of arrogance and easy answers.
Help us to see the needs and frailties of the real world before us and commit to the actions that might bring us healing, and forgiveness, and peace.
Guide us O Lord.
Amen
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity. Ps. 133:1
Lord, how do we put our faith in action?
How do we speak up in the face of factions, fear, falsehoods, aggression, coercion, corruption, arrogance, or resentment?
How do we practice self-control, engage the generosity of your Spirit, listen, and forgive?
Show us Lord, the better way.
Amen
Prayers For Our Country 