Prayer for the Election

Here’s a prayer written in advance of the American election a few years back. It was written by Joanna Harader and posted on Spacious Faith.

Prayer for the Election

God of justice and compassion,

God of Republicans and Democrats and Independents,

God of the poor and the 1% and the middle class,

in the heat of this election year

we pray for our nation, our churches, and ourselves.

In the midst of meanness and deception,

may our words be kind and true.

In the midst of loud speeches and harsh accusations,

may we listen well and try to understand.

May those who follow Jesus do the work of Jesus–

breaking down the dividing walls

speaking the truth in love

meeting together in the face of disagreements.

Holy, loving God, have mercy on your children.

Amen.

~ written by Joanna Harader, and posted on her Spacious Faith blog. http://spaciousfaith.com/

Prayer: The Noise of Politics

We watch as the jets fly in
     with the power people and
     the money people,
     the suits, the budgets, the billions.

We wonder about monetary policy
     because we are among the haves,
and about generosity
     because we care about the have-nots.

By slower modes we notice
   Lazarus and the poor arriving from Africa,
   and the beggars from Central Europe, and
   the throng of environmentalists
     with their vision of butterflies and oil
     of flowers and tanks
     of growing things and killing fields.

We wonder about peace and war,
     about ecology and development,
     about hope and entitlement.

We listen beyond jeering protesters and
     soaring jets and
   faintly we hear the mumbling of the crucified one,
   something about
     feeding the hungry
     and giving drink to the thirsty,
     about clothing the naked,
     and noticing the prisoners,
     more about the least and about holiness among them.

We are moved by the mumbles of the gospel,
   even while we are tenured in our privilege.

We are half ready to join the choir of hope,
half afraid things might change,
     and in a third half of our faith turning to you,
     and your outpouring love
     that works justice and
     that binds us each and all to one another.

So we pray amidst jeering protesters
     and soaring jets.
   Come by here and make new,
     even at some risk to our entitlements. 

~ written by Walter Brueggemann (b. 1933). From Prayers for a Privileged People (Nashville: Abingdon, 2008), p. 21-22. Posted on Journey with Jesus. http://www.journeywithjesus.net/.

Prayer for the Nation

God of ages,
in your sight nations rise and fall,
and pass through times of peril.

Now, when our land is troubled,
be near to judge and save.
May leaders be led by your wisdom;
may they search your will and see it clearly.
If we have turned from your way,
help us to reverse our ways and repent.
Give us your light and your truth to guide us;
through Jesus Christ,
who is Lord of this world, and our Savior. Amen. 

~ Presbyterian Church USA. Posted on GodWeb. http://www.godweb.org/prayer/prayersforthenation.htm

Prayer for the Nations

Here’s a prayer for our world from Edward Norman and the Archbishop of York website.

A Prayer for the Nations of the World

O Almighty God,
who can bring good out of evil,
and who can make even the wrath of humanity turn to your praise:
we pray that you will so order and dispose the affairs of the nations
that we may be brought through strife to lasting peace;
and that the nations of the world
may be united in a new fellowship
for the promotion of your glory,
and the good of humankind,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Help us, good Lord,

to follow the example of your Son
in fearlessly holding to those things which are true,
despite the divisions both in human society
and in the understandings of others. 

But give us the strength also, Lord,
to recognize our liability to error,
and to venerate your presence
in the hopes and lives of others. 

So let us, at the last,
be drawn into the Kingdom of true righteousness,
where all are drawn together
in acknowledgment of your will. 

~ written by Edward Norman. Posted on http://www.archbishopofyork.org/pages/prayers-with-the-archbishop.html

Litany of Praise to God for Canada's Gifts

Here is a litany of praise for the country of Canada. It was posted on the website of the CCDSB Religious Education & Family Life Resource Office.

Litany of Praise on Canada Day

For the gift of the Pacific Ocean, its salmon, orcas, and seals

We praise You and thank You, O God!

For the gift of the Yukon Territory,

Land of the Midnight Sun with all its riches:

We praise You and thank You, O God!

For gift of the Northwest Territories,

the MacKenzie, the Nahanni, Great Slave and Great Bear Lakes:

We praise You and thank You, O God!

For the gift of Nunavut’s Arctic islands,

polar bears, narwhals, colourful tundra and boreal forests:

We praise You and thank You, O God!

For the gift of British Columbia’s majestic mountains

and towering firs:

We praise You and thank You, O God!

For the gift of Alberta’s grain and oil,

for the Athabasca, Peace and Saskatchewan rivers:

We praise You and thank You, O God!

For the gift of Saskatchewan’s rivers, lakes,

open prairies and sweeping sky:

We praise You and thank You, O God!

For the gift of Manitoba’s lakes and forests,

from its southern border to Hudson’s Bay:

We praise You and thank You, O God!

For gift of Ontario’s Great Lakes, waterways,

lush farmlands and forests:

We praise You and thank You, O God!

For the gift of Quebec’s St. Lawrence lowlands,

the Gaspé and Canadian Shield to Hudson’s Bay:

We praise You and thank You, O God!

For the gift of New Brunswick,

from Fundy’s tides and its forested heart, to the Gulf of St. Lawrence:

We praise You and thank You, O God!

For the gift of Nova Scotia, the Annapolis Valley,

Cape Breton Highlands and Lobster fisheries:

We praise You and thank You, O God!

For the gift of Prince Edward Island,

its Cavendish dunes, fertile fields and peaceful breeze.

We praise You and thank You, O God!

For the gift of Newfoundland and Labrador,

its rocky forests, whales, icebergs, fisheries, and fjords:

We praise You and thank You, O God!

For the gift of the Atlantic Ocean

and its riches that supply us with food:

We praise You and thank You, O God!

For the gift of the Arctic Ocean, Baffin Bay,

Hudson and James Bay and their bounty of marine life:

We praise You and thank You, O God!

Blessed are you, O God, for the wonderful gifts

you bestow on us across this beautiful land!

We praise You and thank You, O God! 

~ posted on http://religiouseducation.rccdsb.edu.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2010/06/Prayer-for-Canada1.pdf

Prayer for Canada Day

Eternal God,

whose reign extends from sea to sea

and whose care endures throughout the ages,

hear our prayers for our country:

grant wisdom to those who govern it

and respect for human life and dignity to every citizen,

so that justice may flourish

and all peoples live in unity and peace.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.  Amen. 

~ posted on Seeds of Faith: A Novalis Blog. https://novalisseedsoffaith.com/2013/07/01/prayer-for-canada-day/

Canada Day Prayer

Here’s a prayer for Canada Day from Louise Minniti. It was posted on The Catholic Women’s League of Canada website.

A Prayer for Canada

Loving Father,

as we prepare to celebrate another anniversary of Confederation,

we thank you for the gift of our great country Canada.

We give thanks for our land, magnificent from sea to sea:

blessed with frothy, meandering rivers,

quiet, unassuming inlets and bays,

verdant towering forests,

dew gleamed crystal lakes,

boundless golden plains

and majestic snow-capped mountains.

A home that welcomes refugees and immigrants alike;

together with our founding citizens: Indigenous, French and British,

we share our natural beauty and rich heritage

with all who step onto our shores:

may we continue to live in unity and peace.

We pray for all people of God in Canada

that we will be true and faithful servants and stewards of our land;

that we may be ever mindful of our carbon footprint

and strive to preserve and protect our bounty and natural resources.

For the freedom of religion and conscience,

for a system of government that provides us the right to speak freely;

laws that are based on equality,

respect for cultural differences,

and a commitment to social justice, we give thanks.

Bless our leaders.

Grant wisdom to those who govern

so that justice and peace will thrive.

Help us as Christians, inspired by the spirit and responding to God's call

to use our voices to guide our leaders

as they make difficult and momentous decisions.

For all these gifts,

most especially the gift of Your love showered upon us, we give thanks,

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God forever and ever. Amen 

~ written by Louise Minniti (altered slightly) and posted on The Catholic Women’s League of Canada. https://www.cwl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/A-Prayer-for-Canada.pdf

Prayer of Thanksgiving for Canada

We thank You, O God

for the many blessings You have bestowed

on the people of Canada.

We thank You for the rich gifts of this land,

and for those who teach us to live in harmony with its resources.

We thank you for every person

whose loving work, leadership and ministry

has helped this country shine with the light of Christ.

We ask you to bless this country of Canada;

bless our families and communities with Your peace.

Make us good stewards of its resources

and inspire us to shine with Christ’s light in all that we do.

We make this prayer to you through this same Jesus Christ,

our Lord. Amen. 

~ posted on http://religiouseducation.rccdsb.edu.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2010/06/Prayer-for-Canada1.pdf

A Prayer for Canada

Here’s a prayer for Canada in advance of Canada Day on July 1. It was written by Sara Davison.

A Prayer for Canada

Father God,

As we raise high and wave our flag with pride today, fill us with gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy. And fill us with compassion for those who do not know what it is to live and speak and worship freely.

As we meet with family and friends around a heavily-laden table, may our grace include a moment of silent reflection for those who don’t know how they or their children will eat today. May we show them respect, not only by exhibiting restraint, but by resolving to take one step, however small, to alleviate their suffering.

As we raise our glasses in salute to a dominion that has, at its foundation, a deep and abiding trust in you, give us an appreciation for the almost unparalleled access to health care and clean water that we enjoy. Remind us that one person, obeying your command to give water to the thirsty and food to the hungry, can change the world.

As we stand and gaze up at the heavens, in awe of the breathtaking display as fireworks streak and blaze across the night sky, may we be overwhelmed by the beauty of creation. And may we be sobered by the realization that we all have a responsibility to do what we can to take care of and save it.

And above all, as we celebrate this great country today, may we be grateful for all the blessings we have received. And, even more, may we give thanks to you, the one who has blessed us so that we, in turn, might be a blessing to others.

God, keep our land glorious and free. Amen.

~ written by Sara Davison, and posted on the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches website. http://www.mennonitebrethren.ca/a-prayer-for-canada/  This prayer originally appeared in Sara Davison’s blog, Choose to Press On.

Prayers of the People: July 4

Here’s a pastoral prayer for the July long weekend from John Vest.

Pastoral Prayer for July 4 Weekend

Gracious God of love,
we are grateful that you have revealed yourself to us,
each of us loved by you as children,
each of us precious in your sight,
each of us a reflection of you,
each of us bound together by love,
which is in fact your presence among us.

We come to you, O God,
weary and carrying heavy burdens.
Some of us bear the yoke of illness;
some of us bear the yoke of loss and grief;
some of us bear the yoke of caring for those who cannot care for themselves;
some of us bear the yoke of unemployment or underemployment;
some of us bear the yoke of hunger;
some of us bear the yoke of homelessness;
some of us bear the yoke of oppression or marginalization;
some of us bear the yoke of violence;
some of us bear the yoke of anger;
some of us bear the yoke of depression;
some of us bear the yoke of addiction.

From these and from so many other yokes, dear God,
we pray for rest;
we pray healing;
we pray for release;
we pray for wholeness.

On this holiday weekend,
we recognize that our nation also bears many burdens:
we don’t trust our leaders;
we cannot find ways to work together for the common good;
we allow the least among us to suffer and languish;
we lose our children to endless conflicts and wars;
we fixate on what divides us
rather than on what brings us together as one people.

Remind us this weekend of our calling.
Remind us of our common creed
that all people are created equal.
Inspire us to ensure that all of your children
enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Help us to be profoundly grateful for our freedom and security,
to never take these gifts for granted,
and to use them for the betterment of all.

God of all life,
may peace and justice fill our land
and, indeed, the whole world.
We pray this morning for the escalating tension and violence

in [name current locations]
and for places around the globe where people are victimized,
where safety is threatened,
where freedoms are denied,
where life is treated as anything less than sacred.

Gracious God,
grant us the yoke of Christ,
binding us together,
tethered by your love,
guided by your presence,
bringing your kingdom into this world.
It is for this kingdom that we now pray,
using the words Jesus taught us.

Our Father…

~ written by John W. Vest, and posted on John Vest. http://johnvest.com/

Prayer for political leaders

We lift up our hearts, O Lord, in intercession

for all who carry civic and political responsibilities.

Grant that, putting aside all merely selfish ambition,
they may seek to be the instruments of your will
and carry out your purpose for the welfare of your people;
and may they both seek and see your glory
in happier human lives,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

~ written by Leslie Weatherhead. Posted on http://www.archbishopofyork.org/pages/prayers-with-the-archbishop.html

Prayer for an end to political discord

This prayer was written in response to the EU Referendum, but it rings true for the rest of us, too.

Prayer

Eternal God, Light of the nations,

in Christ you make all things new:

guide our nation in the coming days

through the inspiration of your Spirit,

that understanding may put an end to discord and all bitterness.

Give us grace to rebuild bonds of trust

that together we may work for the dignity and flourishing of all;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

~ posted on the Archbishop of York website. http://www.archbishopofyork.org/pages/prayers-with-the-archbishop.html

Post-election prayer from Richard Rohr

To all my American friends: here’s a prayer from Father Richard Rohr, written after this week's election. 

Prayer

All vulnerable and merciful God,
We do not know what is ours to do.
We feel scared and alone today.
We are tired of taking sides.
We cannot hold any more fear or anger or rejection.
And yet we know so many of our friends

feel unheard and unwanted.

Help us trust that no feeling is final,
And that YOU will have the full and final word.

If You are indeed a Suffering God,

may we hold this suffering with You

for those who voted for Hillary Clinton,

for those who voted for President-elect Donald Trump,

and for the many who have felt excluded by our politics

in the many ways that we do indeed exclude.

We offer ourselves as best we can

to hold this Love outward and open toward all,

just as You never cease to do toward us.

We believe You are praying this prayer through us.  Amen

~ written by Father Richard Rohr, following the 2016 American election. Posted on https://www.facebook.com/CenterforActionandContemplation/photos/pb.111022348909750.-2207520000.1478747013./1642338719111431/?type=3&theater

Prayer for Country: Re-Instill in Us the Dreaming

Here’s a prayer of petition and confession for country. It was written by John Ballenger and posted on A Preacher Musing.

Re-Instill in Us the Dreaming

Our God,
we pray on this occasion
remembering, in particular, our country.

We give you thanks for the good dreaming
that envisioned a land of freedom and opportunity—
a land in which to grow respect for all its citizens.
We give you thanks for all who sacrificed in so many ways
to create and to sustain such dreaming.

We give you thanks for the many ways
in which that dream has been,
and continues to be
embraced and made manifest—
as a better tomorrow is shaped for all—
all within these borders and all without them too.

We thank you for the call to let freedom shine,
to let celebration of the dignity of all resound.

But we also confess to you
the many ways in which we fall short

of our best dreaming—
fall into immaturity, and selfishness—
into shortsightedness—
into too much of a focus on immediate benefits for some
and a lesser tomorrow for all.

We confess to binding the dream
we apparently sometimes want to claim in word only—
not in words made flesh.

Re-instill in us the dreaming, God.
Guide us into the disciplines of love and grace
that cultivate those ideals of discipline and sacrifice—
of a commitment to our children and our children's children
that theirs should be a better land than ours is now—
with more mature leaders and citizens than we are—
with greater opportunities than we have known—
with even deeper respect for all its citizens—
a more far reaching vision—
with richer examples of freedom and bravery
because that's the way we dream it to be.

Ah, may it be so.
Amen.

~ written by John Ballenger, and posted on A Preacher Musing. http://preachermusings.wordpress.com/

Pastoral Prayer for Canada

Here’s a prayer of intercession for Canada from Carol Penner. It was posted on Leading in Worship.

Prayers of the People

for Canada

God of every country,
thank you for this country:
for its beauty…from coast to coast to coast,
for blue oceans on three sides,
for great prairies, vast forest and stretching tundra,
for every rushing river and great lake
for Hudson’s Bay and the islands of the north,
all created by you, giving glory to you.
We are thankful people!

Thank you for all the creatures

with whom we share this country;
the polar bear and the bowhead whale,
the mighty moose and the fox,
the Canada goose and the honey bee,
the Coho salmon and the beaver.

Thank you for Canadian people, rich in cultural diversity,
from First Nations and many nations.
Thank you for cities and towns and all the little villages,
for people living on the land.

Thank you for democratic government,
we pray for wisdom and guidance for Prime Minister Trudeau,

our MP ____________

and our MLA______________,
and our mayor _______________.
From local to national, give our politicians the gift of honesty,
and strength to resist temptation that power brings.
Help them use their gifts as a gift for our country’s good.

Lord, we need help in our country to live in peace.
We need help with our relationship to the land
to the air, to the water, to the creatures,
to all peoples inside our borders and outside our borders.
You have a vision of what peace is,
help us live in that peace and towards that peace.

Help us to be a people of vision,

 and courage, and commitment,
offering your hope and comfort to all we meet.

Be with us this week, especially with those in our congregation
who are sick in mind or body, and those who grieve,
we think especially of ______________________.

Give us strength as a church to live as citizens of your kingdom
as we work for the peace in our country, Canada.
We pray all this in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Amen.

~ written by Carol Penner and posted on Leading in Worship. http://carolpenner.typepad.com/leadinginworship/

Prayers of the People: For Our Land

Our gracious God,

we thank you today for the land in which we live.

We thank you for the freedoms which are ours,

for the multitude of opportunities presented to each of us,

for a land of abundance.

Forgive us for our lack of creativity

in sharing the nation’s bounties inequitably,

for tarnishing our political process with greed,

for failing the needy.

Save us from that litany of destructive behaviours

which St. Paul outlined:

  enmities, strife, jealousy, anger,

  quarrels, dissension, factions, envy,

  and all that would undo us.

Lead us instead to strive for the fruits of the spirit.

  Help us to develop loving behaviours

    which demonstrate care and compassion for others.

  Help us in an over-serious and gloomy world to know real joy

    because you help us overcome the world.

  Help us to work for peace in a world which seems to prefer violence.

  Help us, in our hurry up world, to develop patience

    and to learn that all does not have to be completed in our hurry up time.

  Help us to demonstrate kindness to all

    and especially to those with whom we find it especially difficult to be kind.

  Help us to learn generosity with our resources

    but help us especially to learn how to be generous

    in our attitudes and behaviours toward people.

  And help us to be faithful, gentle, and self-controlled.

O God, raise our national vision.

Give us tolerance and understanding for all peoples.

May we hold dear for all people the freedoms we cherish. Amen.

~ written by Richard Einerson, and posted on Richard Einerson: Prayers of the People. http://www.richardeinerson.com/einerson_007.htm

Psalm Litany: Psalm 33: 12-22

Here’s a prayer paraphrase of Psalm 33: 12-22 from Nathan Nettleton’s LaughingBird website.

Psalm Paraphrase

(Psalm 33: 12-22)

What more could a country want than to have you as their God?
To be your cherished people, LORD, is the best thing in life.

You keep your eye on the whole earth;
you see each and every one of us.

Though you are seated in power, LORD,
you concern yourself with all who live on earth.
You shaped us, inside and out,
and you watch everything we do with interest.

No army can guarantee our safety;
the toughest fighter is not invincible.

Pinning our hopes on military might is futile;
brute force cannot make life worth living.

It is you, LORD, who watches over all who respect you;
you, whose love and loyalty give us confidence.
You are our only hope when death closes in;
our only security when times are tough.

We put our trust in you, LORD;
you alone can help and protect us.

Because of you, our hearts are bursting with joy;
your name stands out and fills us with confidence.

Surround us with your love, LORD.
We’ve pinned all our hopes on you
and on your rock-solid love.

~ copyright © 2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Canada Day Prayer

Here’s a Canada Day prayer from Carol Penner’s Leading in Worship blog.

Canada Day Prayer

Thank you God for this piece of the world,
a slice of land broad and wide,
green from sea to sea,
blessed with rivers and great lakes,
wide skies and great forests,
high mountains and gracious plains,
beautiful from sea to sea to sea.

Thank you for letting us live in this land,
even though we do not own it;
this land is your land,
which we use in trust for future generations.

Thank you for its rich history,
which includes Aboriginal and Metis and Inuit peoples.
Give us wisdom as we continue to work
on issues of land use and ownership with these First Nations.

Thank you for our system of government,
for the right to speak freely, and to elect our leaders.
Thank you for the freedom of religion and conscience that we enjoy.

Thank you for universal health care,
and a social safety net, even though not all are caught by it,
and not all dwell in safety.

We want a country that is the best it can be,
a home for all, welcoming refugees and newcomers,
sharing this wealthy country with the world.

Bless our leaders, our Prime Minister and all members of parliament;
guide their steps, and help us use our voice to guide them
as they make difficult and far-reaching decisions.

We thank you today for our home and native land,
thank you for giving us a home here, where we live in peace and security.
God keep our land, Canada, keep it strong and free,
keep it safe and beautiful for future generations.
Amen.

~ written by Carole Penner, and posted on her Leading in Worship blog.  http://carolpenner.typepad.com/leadinginworship/

Litany for Independence Day

Here’s a litany for Independence Day written by Rick Morley.

Morley writes: “The following is a litany composed to give thanks, and pray for The United States. It would be appropriate on Independence Day, the Sunday nearest Independence Day—or for any service of worship taking place near a national holiday. Users may amend as they see fit.”

Independence Day Litany

As we remember the birth of our nation,

and the gifts of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,

let us offer our thanks and prayers to God,

the giver of all good gifts.

For the brave women and men who braved the long journey by sea

to come to this new world,
We thank you Lord.

For the tribes and nations who inhabited this land

for generation upon generation,
We thank you Lord.

For patriots who dreamed of, and fought for, a free nation,
We thank you Lord.

For the men and women who laid the foundation of our democracy,

and who pledged liberty and justice for all,
We thank you Lord.

For those who built this country brick by brick,

road by road, and town by town,
We thank you Lord.

For the brave soldiers who have fought for our country,

for all who paid for our freedom by their service,

and those who paid by their sacrifice,
We thank you Lord.

For the innovators and artists, poets and teachers,

farmers and factory workers;

for all who labor and provide for the common good,
We thank you Lord.

For this land, with its peaks and valleys,

coasts and deserts, fields and meadows,
We thank you Lord.

For our own community, for those who came before us in this place,

and for our neighbors near and far,
We thank you Lord.

Lord, we pray for The United States,

that we might always be a nation which defends and promotes

liberty and freedom, truth and justice.
We pray to you Lord.

That we might always be a nation where all are free to worship and pray,
We pray to you Lord.

That we might be a beacon of freedom

to all those who live under the shadow of terror and hopelessness,
We pray to you Lord.

That those who are elected to govern and lead

would be guided by you,

and be ever aware of the trust that has been given them,
We pray to you Lord.

That we would be a people who repent from our sins,

and who always return to you and to your grace,
We pray to you Lord.

Gracious God, Father of all nations,

bless and defend us and our land;

prosper the work of our hands,

and increase in us your grace and compassion,

and our offerings of thanks to you,

our rock and our salvation;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~ written by Rick Morley, and posted on the Rick Morley blog. http://www.rickmorley.com/archives/1673

Prayer for Sound Government

Here’s a prayer for sound government from The Mission of St. Clare website.

A Prayer for Sound Government

O Lord our Governor,

bless the leaders of our land,

that we may be a people at peace among ourselves

and a blessing to other nations of the earth.

Lord, keep this nation under your care.

To all who have executive authority

and to all who have administrative authority,

grant wisdom and grace in the exercise of their duties.

Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

To those who make our laws

give courage, wisdom, and foresight

to provide for the needs of all our people,

and to fulfill our obligations in the community of nations.

Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

To the Judges and officers of our Courts

give understanding and integrity,

that human rights may be safeguarded and justice served.

Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

And finally, teach our people to rely on your strength

and to accept their responsibilities to their fellow citizens,

that they may elect trustworthy leaders

and make wise decisions for the well-being of our society;

that we may serve you faithfully in our generation

and honor your holy Name.

For yours is the kingdom, O Lord,

and you are exalted as head above all. Amen.

~ from the The Mission of St. Clare website.  http://www.missionstclare.com/