If the Lord had not been my help,
my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
When I thought, “My foot is slipping,”
your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.
When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:17-19)
Join us each week as we share new prayers for the vulnerable among us facing challenges, fears, and threats. We will name many of the harms unfolding and acknowledge what is being erased, lost, and threatened.
These prayers are not a replacement for action; they are meant to offer space for grounding and discernment as we seek to bear one another’s burdens in the love and way of Christ.
Join by Zoom each Monday at 11:45 a.m. ET to hear the prayers aloud, in the context of a simple liturgy, prayed by members of the Community of Francis and Clare.
For the Long Work of Freedom
God of freedom, who desires protection, dignity, and liberty for all people, we are thankful for the long work of freedom in the United States. Grant that this nation may keep its promise of liberty and be bold and courageous in its pursuit of justice. We give thanks to our forebears who journeyed on the long road to freedom: Indigenous communities who have endured colonization and defended their sovereignty while preserving their cultures and communities; enslaved people who resisted bondage; abolitionists who fought for emancipation; women who struggled for suffrage; workers who demanded dignity; civil rights leaders who marched for justice; and all who have labored to make this country more faithful to its highest promises. On this country’s 250th anniversary, help us mark this milestone with truth-telling and celebration, in the hope that we can continue to strive for dignity and rights for all people, including immigrants, people with disabilities, and those who continue to be discriminated against and marginalized. Teach us to see liberty not as a possession to guard, but as a promise to deepen and expand. Lend your strength and courage to all who are still waiting for protection and freedom. Grant this, O Lord, through Christ who sets the captive free. Amen.
For Transgender Students Seeking Belonging
God of welcome, whose beloved Son gathered the excluded and blessed the young, we lament the Supreme Court’s decision upholding state laws barring transgender girls and women from girls’ and women’s school sports. We pray for transgender students who now face closed doors where they once sought the simple joys of belonging and friendship. Hold them close, and help us keep the focus on protecting the vulnerable. Shield every transgender and questioning child made less safe by bullying, fear, public scorn, and renewed scrutiny. Surround them with people who protect their dignity, privacy, safety, and their lives. Sustain parents and guardians who love, protect, and accompany their children with courage. Give wisdom to coaches, teachers, lawmakers, and judges, that they may stop harassment, protect vulnerable students, listen to families, speak with care, preserve belonging wherever they can, and choose compassion over suspicion. Strengthen your church to stand with all children who are treated as problems instead of neighbors. In Christ, who calls each child by name and makes room at the table, teach us to make room on the fields. Amen.
For Those Left Hungry, Unhoused, and Unprotected
God of abundance, whose gifts are pure grace and whose love never ends, we pray for those left hungry, unhoused, and unprotected amid policy choices in our federal government that have had lasting impacts on many people’s ability to flourish. We lift up the poor, the sick, the elderly, immigrants, and all people who are trapped in unsafe conditions. As countless Americans struggle to see their future, whether due to reduced access to food assistance, loss of health coverage, or economic pressure, we pray that their cries may reach the ears of all who have the power to affect the lives of the vulnerable for the better. We grieve the effects of inequitable federal policies and pray for your intervention as further harms are still unfolding. Strengthen advocacy workers, mutual aid programs, and all those who are working for the rights of the poor and the oppressed in this nation. Make us a people of radical love and hospitality, that we may be the hands and feet of your Son Jesus, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
