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 All Victims of ICE’s Violence and Raids
God of abundant life, who judges injustice, hears the cry of the oppressed, and calls your people to bear witness to your life-giving righteousness, we pray for all who have died because of our present immigration system. We pray for the victims of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s violence on the streets of American cities. We pray, too, for those who have died trying to find a path to a better life for themselves and their loved ones. Send your Spirit upon all those who grieve and sit in fear, and grant governing authorities the wisdom to safeguard due process, fairness, and human dignity. Grant this, Lord, for the sake of Jesus Christ, your only Son. Amen.
For the Just Use of Our Court System
God of justice, who invites us not to plot evil against each other, protect all citizens of this country from retributive prosecutions. Incline the hearts of all governing authorities to administer the law with integrity, impartiality, and reverence for your justice, and to tend above all else the flourishing of all people in this land. Give each of us the strength to participate in civic processes for the sake of good and responsible government. Grant this, O Lord, through your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
For Safety and Fairness for Transgender People
God of loving care, who hears the cries of those who suffer injustice and neglect, your Holy Spirit draws us into the communion of your people, bound together in love and truth. Comfort all trans and nonbinary people in this age of increasing demonization. Protect trans youth, made in your image, O God, and help us all to treat them with dignity in schools, on sports fields, and in this country. Fashion your church into a people who relentlessly seek the well-being of all your children, through our Savior Christ who gives us strength. Amen.
