Creator,
to those who have hunger,
give bread,
to those who have bread,
give the hunger for justice.
Amen.
this prayer appears in several variations; it has been cited as the “Latin American Bread Prayer” and as coming from the Benedictine order
Category Archives: Prayer
A prayer for hunger #2
Filed under Current Events, Food, Human Rights, Prayer
On the Feast of San Augustinito at the Pueblo of Isleta, September 3, 2025
The drums beat,
the people continue.
The rattles shake,
the people continue.
The bells jingle,
the people continue.
The dancers move,
the people continue.
The singers chant,
the people continue.
Out of the past,
the people continue.
In the present,
the people continue.
Into the future,
the people continue.
Filed under Antiracism, Current Events, Friends, Human Rights, Music, New Mexico, Prayer
A prayer in a world where children know hunger
God who makes and loves each child,
forgive me for wasting food
in a world where children starve,
where children experience malnutrition,
where children go hungry,
in too many places,
including places near my home.
Forgive me, God.
Help me do better
by making wiser choices
about what I eat,
how much I eat,
where my food is produced.
Help me do better
by supporting organizations
that share food with children (and adults) in need,
that address root causes of hunger,
that work to end conflict,
that enable people to feed themselves,
that challenge our impact upon creation
which affect food production.
Help me do better
by demanding action
from individuals and organizations
that shape policies
which result in hunger
and which work to end hunger.
Forgive me, God.
Help me do better.
In the name of Jesus
who fed the hungry and welcomed children.
Amen.
Filed under Current Events, Food, Human Rights, Prayer
A prayer for water
We went down to the river, Creator,
and no river flowed.
Dried sands,
muddy puddles,
cracked earth.
A bed.
No water. No river.
We walked across
and did not get wet.
Even as we suffer from too little water,
we know there are people and places
with too much water that results
in floods and mudslides,
destruction and death.
We pray for water, Creator,
for water is life.
Send rain to places in need of water.
Hold rain from places with too much water.
Help us all to learn and implement
ways to conserve the water we have.
Lead those who make decisions about
water allocation and sharing
to do so wisely.
Guide us to make responsible decisions
about uses of water
so that this precious resource
sustains life for all your children and this world.
We pray in the name of Jesus,
baptized in the Jordan.
Amen.
Despite its name, the Rio Grande is not that impressive in most parts of Albuquerque. It should look better than it did today.
Filed under Albuquerque, Current Events, Music, New Mexico, Photo, Prayer
A prayer to keep on going
Gracious God,
As we live,
help us keep on going.
As we pursue our life goals,
whatever those goals may be,
help us keep on going.
When our progress slows or stalls,
help us keep on going.
When disappointments arise,
help us keep on going.
When we need to change our plans,
help us keep on going.
When life happens and brings change,
help us keep on going.
When challenges appear,
help us keep on going.
When directions become unanticipated
and our way is unforeseen,
help us keep on going.
In all times and every circumstance,
help us keep on going.
And when we can’t,
grant us the grace and strength
to be gentle with ourselves,
take the rest we need,
and try again.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
inspired by the Rev. Jerrod Lowry
A prayer for Yeonsoo Go (and others)
20-year-old Yeonsoo Go, the daughter of Episcopal priest, the Rev. Kyrie Kim, and a graduate of Scarsdale High School in Westchester County was detained by ICE on July 31 after appearing in court, as ordered by the court, for a procedural hearing on her visa application. The South Korean native moved to New York in 2021 with her mother.
Yeonsoo’s situation is one of many. Add other people’s names as you pray. If appropriate, send me those names and I will share them.
An active prayer: Contact your elected representatives demanding that they work to end detention of people seeking to follow the legal processes for immigration.
A prayer for Yeonsoo Go (and others)
God of justice,
we pray for your beloved child
Yeonsoo Go
who was detained by ICE
after appearing in court
for a routine visa hearing.
Watch over Yeonsoo
and keep her safe.
Grant her strength and courage.
Stand with her mother,
the Rev. Kim Kyrie
and her family and friends.
Guide those who protest
this injustice.
Bless their efforts.
We pray for Yeonsoo,
knowing that she is
but one of too, too many
taken by ICE –
often when they were doing
as Yeonsoo and following the rules
to obtain legal status in this country.
Inspire elected representatives
to join the protest and call
for the release of Yeonsoo
and all your beloved children
detained without due process.
Touch the hearts of those
who implement such polices,
transform their views from
cruelty and fear
to compassion and welcome.
We pray for Yeonsoo and
all our immigrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking siblings
in the name of Jesus, the refugee.
Amen.
Filed under Antiracism, Current Events, Human Rights, New York, Prayer
A prayer in a time of floods
We thank you, God,
for individuals and organizations
that respond to disasters.
Particularly we thank you for
those involved in response and rescue
after the flooding in the Hill Country of Texas
and in central North Carolina
and in southern New Mexico.
We are grateful for each person who is at work.
And we are especially grateful for
firefighters from Mexico who have come help in Texas.
Remind us that, in times of crisis, times of ease, and all times
we are all your beloved children called to love one another.
Protect all the rescuers and responders in Texas, New Mexico, North Carolina
and places that do not make the news.
Strengthen them in every way for this challenging work.
Guide and bless their efforts.
Keep them safe.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has designated an account for contributions to support their efforts in response to this and other floods in the United States.
Filed under Current Events, New Mexico, Prayer, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
A prayer after Pride month
I thank you, God,
for friends who share photos and stories
of their participation in Pride Parades and events.
The joy, the love, the faith, the freedom,
the courage, the hope, and yes, the pride
in their faces and their bodies
fills my soul with gladness
almost beyond words.
I thank you for their witness.
It touches me profoundly and
deepens my understanding
that you create each of us
in your image and that
each person of
every sexual orientation and
every gender identify
is your beloved child.
I pray, God,
for each friend, each person
who, for whatever reason or reasons,
chose not to participate
in public events.
May they know they are loved by you and
that they too fill my soul with gladness.
Help me remember that Pride
is a focus for a month
and a way to live each day.
Inspire me to love you
and all your children more dearly.
Guide me to work
more faithfully for
a community, a church,
a state, a country, and a world
where everyone knows welcome
and everyone belongs;
where everyone is treated
with dignity and respect;
where all people can participate in Pride events: and
justice and equity prevail for all.
May it be so, Rainbow God.
Amen.
2 July 2025
Filed under Current Events, Family, Friends, Human Rights, Prayer
A prayer as the struggle continues
(on the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising
and as the Pentagon renames the USNS Harvey Milk)
When fear calls us to forget,
when bigotry seeks to rewrite and erase,
we remember, God.
We will remember.
We remember Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera,
and all your beloved children
who participated in the Stonewall Uprising,
demanding dignity, respect, and justice.
We will remember.
We remember your beloved child Harvey Milk.
Even as the Pentagon removes his name from a U.S. naval vessel.
We remember his service in the U.S. Navy.
We remember his service in San Francisco.
We remember efforts to recruit us,
to recruit us for the fight to preserve democracy
from those who are trying to constitutionalize bigotry.
We remember his challenge and inspiration.
”you have to give them hope.
Hope for a better world,
hope for a better tomorrow,
hope for a better place to come to
if the pressures at home are too great.
Hope that all will be all right.”
We give thanks for the hope Harvey Milk gave,
the hope he still gives,
and we will remember.
We remember individuals and organizations
who have worked through the years
for the recognition, rights and inclusion of
the LGBTQIA2S+ community
within society and the church.
We will remember.
We remember with thanks those
engaged in this work and ministry
who we knew, and perhaps worked with:
who we know and work with now:
(say names aloud or silently in your heart).
We will remember.
We remember with thanks those
engaged in this work and ministry
whose names we did not know,
whose names we do not know,
and yet who touched our lives
and made life better, more whole, more just.
You know their names, God.
You made and love each one.
And we will remember.
We remember and confess
that some organizations
and individuals (myself among them)
have been too careful, timid, and fearful
through the years.
We accepted the status quo
and failed to challenge the oppression
endured by your beloved LGBTQIA2S+ children.
Forgive us. Renew us. Inspire us.
Help us find our voices.
Help us locate our places in the struggle.
We will remember.
And by your grace, may we do better.
We pray in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
words in italics are a paraphrase of Harvey Milk’s words in “That’s What America Is” a speech delivered by San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, June 25, 1978 (Gay Freedom Day); words in quotation marks are from “You’ve Got to Have Hope” by Harvey Milk delivered on June 24, 1977; note that like many public speakers (and preachers) Harvey Milk presented the same ideas in numerous speeches; words in bold italics are stage directions for your prayer
Filed under Antiracism, Current Events, Human Rights, Prayer
A prayer in times of trouble
When we find ourselves
in times of trouble;
when challenges appear,
difficulties arise,
and life threatens to overwhelm us,
come to us Holy Spirit.
Come with grace.
Come with patience.
Come with courage.
Come with resilience.
Come with persistence.
Come with hope.
Come with faith.
Come with love.
When we find ourselves
in times of trouble,
come to us Holy Spirit.
Come to calm us.
Come to support us.
Come to sustain us.
Come to challenge us.
Come to comfort us.
Come to challenge us.
Come to encourage us.
Come to guide us.
When we find ourselves
in times of trouble,
come to us Holy Spirit.
Amen.
with thanks to a couple Liverpudlians, John Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney, for the recurring refrain
Filed under Prayer
