Prayers for the Week of June 26, 2022

Please feel free to join us in the prayers prayed in worship, Sunday, June 26, 2022:

God of love and freedom,

you have created all that is,

the earth, stars, sun, and moon,

the roaring ocean, the gentle breeze,

all the creatures who call this planet home.

You have created us,

each of us, created in the image of you.

We give you thanks and praise.

We pray for your help in the movements of our day,

and in the intimate moments of our lives.

In these days when we witness again

the violent insurrection of January 6th,

the efforts to undermine and steal an election,

we pray for this nation, and for democracy, and for justice.

Give us wisdom and courage to work

for systems and structures that protect the dignity of all people,

that help and tend to the most vulnerable in our midst,

that strive for peace,

that embody your justice and your love.

In these days when Supreme Court decisions dismantle constitutional rights,

we pray for the courage and perseverance

to work for the dignity and rights of all people,

especially women,

for laws that protect and honor

women’s bodies and lives and health,

and their autonomy, agency, and freedom.

Help us to dismantle systems that oppress,

particularly systems of entrenched American racism.

In these days that we honor Pride in our humanity,

we give you thanks

for the broad diversity of people and families you create, sustain, and love,

for the full spectrum of gender,

for the gift of love.

We pray for the needs of this world,

For those who hunger, we pray for food enough and more.

For those who are unhoused, shelter.

For those who mourn, comfort.

For those who are ailing, in body or spirit, healing.

For those who are lonely, companionship.

For a world at war, peace.

It is for freedom you have set us free in Christ.

Empower us to live our imperfect lives well –

lives that embody your love, your wisdom, your healing touch,

lives that lean into your grace.

Loved by you from the beginning of time on out into forever,

we join our voices, with those in every time and place

who have ever called your name,

praying the prayer that Jesus taught, saying:

Our Father/Mother, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Photo credit: Frank Busch, used with permission via Unsplash