Category Archives: Prayer

February 24, 2024 · 4:44 pm

24 February 2024 – II

Walking. Germantown. Ukrainian Songs.

A prayer repeated and expanded after two years
Again, God, we pray for peace.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
Two years on, God, we pray for peace.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
Still, God, we pray for peace.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
Again, God, we pray for justice.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
Two years on, God, we pray for justice.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
Still, God, we pray for justice.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
For the people of Ukraine, we pray.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
For the people of Russia, we pray.
Dona nobis justiciam et pacem.
For people who have been killed, we pray.
Dona nobis justiciam et pacem.
For people maimed and injured, we pray.
Dona nobis justiciam et pacem.
For people who have been violated, we pray.
Dona nobis justiciam et pacem.
For people who know trauma, we pray.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
For people who mourn, we pray.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
For people who fear, we pray.
Dona nobis pacem.
For people who worry, we pray.
Dona nobis pacem.
For people who work for justice, we pray.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
For people who pursue peace, we pray.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
For the people of Europe, we pray.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
For the people of the world, we pray.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
For peace rooted in justice, we pray.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
For justice that leads to peace, we pray.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
Again, God, we pray for peace.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
Two years on, God, we pray for peace.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
Still, God, we pray for peace.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
Again, God, we pray for justice.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
Two years on, God, we pray for justice.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
Still, God, we pray for justice.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
Always, God, we pray for peace.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
Always, God, we pray for justice.
Dona justiciam et pacem.
Amen.

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February 17, 2024 · 2:18 pm

A prayer for the Solidarity with the Suffering delegation

Find the Statement of Purpose Here

In response to a call from Christian partners in Palestine-Israel (Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center and Kairos Palestine), a delegation of thirty-five people, mostly Presbyterians, have begun a solidarity visit to Palestine and Israel. The Israel/Palestine Mission Network (IPMN) of the PC(USA) organized the delegation. Find reports on the IPMN blog.

A prayer for the Solidarity with the Suffering delegation
God of all peoples,
God who creates us for peace,
God who calls us to pursue justice,
we thank you for people
who live into hope
by working and witnessing 
for justice and peace in Israel and Palestine,
and particularly in Gaza.
For those who write emails, postcards, and letters,
those who make phone calls,
those who participate in demonstrations,
those who talk to families and friends,
those who build relationships with others,
those who make a pilgrimage to speak to elected representatives in Washington,
and all who pursue justice and peace in ways
we do not know,
we give you thanks.
We thank you for people 
who visit Palestine and Israel
to listen, to learn, to stand in solidarity.
Particularly we thank you 
for the participants in the
Presbyterian delegation:
Solidarity with the Suffering.
Bless their witness.
Guide their experiences.
May their efforts for justice and for peace
ripple across the church and the world.
Keep the participants safe.
Keep safe the siblings they encounter.
Lead us all to work for justice and for peace
as we are able.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

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February 17, 2024 · 10:09 am

A prayer to choose love

When fear fills me,
help me choose love, God.
When worry encircles me,
help me choose love, God.
When anxiety ensnares me,
help me choose love, God.
When threats hound me,
help me choose love, God.
When indifference tempts me,
help me choose love, God.
When trouble swamps me,
help me choose love, God.
I know love’s power, God.
And I know love does not come easy.
So I ask:
In all things,
help me choose love, God.
And when I fail to love,
grant me the grace
to forgive myself
and try again to love.
In the name of Jesus
who taught and lived love I pray.
Amen.

“One way to pray in a fear-filled world is to choose love over anxiety” Henri Nouwen

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February 11, 2024 · 12:23 pm

A prayer for communities

God who exists in relationship,
God who creates us for relationship;
Jesus who calls us into relationship;
Holy Spirit who gifts us for relationship;
we thank you for the gift of communities
of which we are a part and
within which we live.
Communities that
care for us,
hold us together,
challenge us,
frustrate us,
wound us,
forgive us
guide us,
enrich us,
bless us
love us;
communities that surround us
even when we are unaware,
even when we are distant from one another.
We ask you God,
to help us live well in communities,
to create space for communities,
in which we
care for one another,
hold one another together,
challenge one another,
frustrate one another,
wound one another,
forgive one another,
guide one another,
enrich one another,
bless one another,
love one another.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

inspired by “Offerings,” season 2, episode 9 of Reservation Dogs and a Zoom conversation with dear friends and valued colleagues

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February 3, 2024 · 2:08 pm

A prayer of thanks for simple acts

We thank you, God.

In a wounded world
filled with hate and violence,
in a broken world
where exclusion and oppression appear so strong,
in a weary world
too well acquainted with fear,
still we thank you, God.

We thank you for simple acts of
random kindness,
organized justice,
creative resistance,
radical love,
and unquenchable hope.

We thank you for
people in whose actions we see:
Good news proclaimed,
letters written,
dogs adopted,
students counseled,
calls made,
parrots rescued,
food shared,
conversations initiated,
hats crocheted,
committees served,
respect demonstrated,
demonstrations attended,
conflict de-escalated,
sorrow shared,
meals organized,
care extended,
laughter enjoyed,

insert other simple acts
you have experienced or heard about
acts that touch your heart
and feed your spirit

for these and
all the simple acts
we have known
and those we will never know,
we thank you, God.

Pour your Holy Spirit
afresh upon us,
that we too may practice
random kindness,
organized justice,
creative resistance,
radical love,
and unquenchable hope.

This day.
Every day.

We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

inspired by a dinner conversation with
the General Assembly Committee on Representation o
f the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

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February 1, 2024 · 9:10 pm

A prayer about self-care

Patient God
who never gives up on us
we know,
you know,
how challenging self-care can be at times.
We know,
you know,
how crucial self-care is.
When those we love
and we ourselves
stand in need of self-care,
inspire us
to listen to,
to heed,
and to practice
the guidance we receive
from those who provide
our medical care.
When we are in need,
and we follow the guidance
we receive,
may we join you
and those who care for us.
in the healing process.
When a loved one is in need,
grant us
the grace and patience,
the strength and wisdom,
to continue in
supporting and challenging the one we love
and in that way,
join you and their care team
in the healing process.
This we pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

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January 13, 2024 · 1:04 pm

A prayer on a cold and stormy day

We pray for all

who are exposed

to winter’s cold:

people who clean the streets

people who provide essential services

people who travel

people who go to work

people who are unhoused.

Watch over all your children, God.

Move us to work for a world

where all your children

have shelter from the storms

and places and clothing to keep them warm.

We pray in the name of Jesus,

who had no place to lay his head. Amen.

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December 27, 2023 · 9:25 am

A prayer when there is snow on the Sandias

Thank you, Creator,
for snow upon the Sandias.
For the wonderful view
and for the precious water,
we give you praise.
Appreciating the beauty you create
and the gifts you bestow,
help us learn to live
more wisely,
more carefully,
more faithfully,
within your creation
of which we are a part.
Amen.

25 December 2023
Albuquerque, New Mexico

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December 24, 2023 · 5:14 pm

A thought for Christmas Eve

Written a couple years ago, this remains relevant and may even be more so than ever.

It comes this night.
Faintly, 
ever so faintly,
it comes.

Above the roar
of anger and hatred,
Above the howl 
of prejudice and bigotry,

Above the oppressive maelstrom
of systems and structures,
Above the crash 
of violence and war,

Above the groan
of doubt and despair,
Above the dis-ease
of heartache and heartbreak

Above the tumult
of turmoil and trouble
Above the clamor
of struggle and strife.

Above it all,
despite it all
because of it all,
it comes this night.

Faintly,
ever so faintly,
it comes.

This night
and all nights,
It comes.

Thank God, it comes.

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December 22, 2023 · 3:32 pm

A prayer after a moment of joy

For almost two-year olds,
dressed in Minnie Pull-ups,
who greet your entrance
with shouts of delight,
a happy dance,
and a smile bigger
than the Grand Canyon,
I thank you God.
May everyone experience
such moments of joy.
Often.
Amen.

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