Prayer in these times

A Prayer for those Impacted by the Record-breaking Heat Wave in the West
Our National Bishop shares the following prayer for all who are impacted by the extreme temperatures:

Creating God, the earth groans in the current heat wave. We pray for those who have lost their lives, for those who mourn. We thank you for our neighbors who are stepping forward offering shelter, coolness, and water - the gift of life. In your life giving name we pray. Amen.
Prayers for a Pandemic
  • May we who are merely inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake. 
  • May we who have no risk factors remember those most vulnerable. 
  • May we who have the luxury of working from home remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent. 
  • May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close remember those that have no options. 
  • May we who have to cancel our trips remember those who have no safe place to go. 
  • May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market remember those who have no margin at all. 
  • May we who settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home. 
  • As fear grips our country, let us choose love during this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbor. Amen 
[ELCIC Website, Cameron Wiggins Bellm]
God of life,
​We pray for and ease to the suffering as a result of the virus, and
for healing for those with long-term recovery effects of the virus.
Holy Spirit, source of new beginnings,
help us with the many adjustments and changes that we have to make as the
result of the virus.  Help us to make wise choices.
Grant wisdom to civil authorities, that they will provide the best and
most appropriate help to those in need during these special times.
Lord Christ, you came into the world as one of us, and suffered as we do. As we go through the trials of life, help us to realize that you are with us at all times and in all things; that we have no secrets from you; and that your living grace enfolds us for eternity.  Amen.
​(EvLW: Pastoral Care, p. 360)
We pray these and other prayers in our heart:
Loving God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as so many of us need to stay at home as much as possible, we pray that You will help us with your patience and comfort, while at the same time free us from fear and anxiety.  As we think of those not so mobile, help us to find ways to assist the sick and the shut-ins.  Help us to open our hearts to the light of hope, your hope, as we pray in Jesus’ Name.
 
Heavenly Father, during this season of Easter, help us to remember that the crucified and resurrected Christ offered to His disciples peace and freedom from fear, promising them -- and us -- that He will remain with us all through all tribulations until the end of time. Help us to increase this confidence in His presence and in the fact that He will not abandon us in our trial.   Let us celebrate Easter free of every syndrome of fear and anxiety...
 
O Creator and Enabler, we pray that you will enlighten the researchers to swiftly determine the proper preventive and therapeutic processes.  May we all pass this trial with the fewest number of victims.  At the same time, we hope and pray that human societies will reexamine their values and priorities because this pandemic creates not only infirmities but also widespread economical consequences that are especially devastating for poorer countries [remembering Albania which also recently suffered from a great earthquake].  Continue to remind us that this pandemic is not local but global, and help leaders and the world to respond by helping one another in global ways, not selfish or nationalistic ways...
 
O Lord, let your Spirit strengthen us and each other with courage, prayer, words, simple acts, silence full of affection; especially towards those who are at greater risk.  Continue to remind us that It is not only the coronavirus that is transmittable; help US to each transmit freedom from fear and anxiety based on faith and love as continuously as possible with a joyful disposition.  Help us to support all the healthcare professionals who come in contact with the virus daily, and strengthen our gratitude to them through prayer and by following their guidelines...
 
[developed from an outline, World Council of Churches, with permission, April 2020]

Prayer for:

We pray:
  • for researchers trying to find a treatment for the virus...
  • for those seriously afflicted by the virus...
  • that the spread of the pandemic will be limited...
God of life, God of peace, God of justice!
​We pray for young and old, for women and men, for the powerful and the powerless,
for those who have a strong faith and those who have lost hope,
for all who thirst and long for peace as well as justice in the world.
Bring an end to racism, sexism, and the other “isms”, as
we pray for healing of the divisions in the world.
We pray for the gifts of renewed kinship and friendship with one another,
and hope and joy of your eternal reign.
Merciful God, in the stillness of our souls we listen for your voice to know again that you are God. Quiet our restless hearts with the knowledge that you are near us, keeping watch over your own. Rekindle our faith and light the lamp of hope within our hearts. Then take us by the hand into each day that lies ahead, for where you lead we can confidently go with Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (EvLW: Pastoral Care, p. 182)
Almighty and merciful God, you are the only source of health and healing; you alone can bring calmness and peace.  Grant to all in need, your gifts of health and healing, strength and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.
​(EvLW: Pastoral Care, p. 171)
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