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 Safety Amid Geopolitical Tensions
God of peace, who cares for the well-being of all people and entrusts the land to our faithful stewardship, we lift up the people of Greenland, Denmark, and all those in Europe who are fearful amid the Greenland crisis. Grant peace to your church and to all people amid elevated geopolitical tensions, and keep the most vulnerable under the shadow of your wings. Guide all governing authorities to act responsibly and justly, administering the law in obedience to your righteousness in the face of rising fears and uncertainty. We know that our common welfare rests in your providence and is sustained through our shared care for one another and the Earth. Make each of us responsible stewards of this holy calling through Christ, our peace and the reconciler of all things. Amen.
For Guardrails Against Sexual Exploitation in the Age of AI
God of holiness and justice, whose mighty word defends the vulnerable, we grieve and lament the sexual exploitation of women and minors through the misuse of artificial intelligence and the generation of deceptive images. Protect every woman, child, and all who are vulnerable from this most grievous and afflicting evil. Give AI business owners ears to hear the demands of justice, informed by wisdom and truthful counsel, to ensure that guardrails are in place to protect those who stand to be hurt, your children. Grant your church wisdom as we seek to advocate for the safety of all people, both on the internet and in our day-to-day life. Grant this through Christ, who identifies himself with the suffering and bears their wounds. Amen.
For the Poor and Vulnerable
God of grace and compassion, who sent Jesus that we might have life and life abundantly, in this season of heightened awareness of poverty we ask that you would empower your body here on Earth to be messengers of peace, lovers of mercy, and participants in your work of healing and restoration. Be with all who suffer amid poverty and other conditions of deprivation and injustice. We are called to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, but we often fail. Empower us, by your grace, to love anew, to love radically, and to reshape our communities in the image of your Son’s love. Grant this through Jesus Christ, your Son, the love made flesh. Amen.
