Resources for the Day of Prayer
Prayer Resources for the Day of Prayer for the Nations
About the Day of Prayer
In response to a desire expressed by many in our faith family, our Rector has called St. Jude's to a day of prayer for the nations.
Many are concerned about the day of national elections in the United States. During the present election cycle, we have heard extremist language fueling fears and division within that nation and beyond. Many communities feel themselves to be at risk.
At the same time, many nations around the world find themselves caught in cycles of war, violence, disease, and economic crises. Let us not forget our neighbours in such places as Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon, where war is a daily reality, where casualties include not only combatants, but countless civilians, including innocent children who have been killed or maimed, and where homes and infrastructure have been destroyed. Let us not forget the hostages and prisoners of war. Let us not forget the countless families whose lives have been torn apart. Let us not forget the threat of escalation in these conflicts,
Let us not forget those nations embroiled in lengthy civil war, such as Myanmar and South Sudan. Let us not forget the many nations plagued by terrorist insurgencies, such as Afghanistan, Syria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Yemen, Niger, and the nations of coastal West Africa. Let us not forget those nations faced with rampant gang voilence and drug wars, such as Haiti and Mexico.
Our own nation is not immune as we struggle to address the sins of our past, work towards reconciliation with the land's First Peoples, and when racism, ableism, and other forms of discrimination trouble our relations. We are further challenged by those who seek to sow divisions and play on our fears.
The Call to Prayer
St. Paul gave this advice to Timothy and the church that he led:
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For
there is one God;
there is also one mediator between God and humankind,
Christ Jesus, himself human,
who gave himself a ransom for all
—this was attested at the right time.I desire, then, that in every place the [people] should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument. (1 Timothy 2:1-4, 6)
And so we pray ...
A Prayer for Ukraine
Forgive us for war, O Lord. Lord Jesus you are present where bombs fall in Kyiv. Lord Jesus you are present with the child who died in a mother's arms in Kharkiv. Lord Jesus you are present with the young soldiers who suffer and die on the front lines. Lord, have mercy upon us.
Loving God, we pray for the people of Ukraine, for all those suffering or afraid, that you will be close to them and protect them.
We pray for world leaders, for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices.
We pray for the world that in this continuing crisis, we may reach out in solidarity to our siblings in need.
May we walk in your ways so that peace and justice become a reality for the people of Ukraine and for all the world.
Amen.
Prayers for the Middle East
God of mercy and compassion,
of grace and reconciliation,
pour your power upon all your children in the Middle East:
Jews, Muslims and Christians,
Israelis, Palestinians, Lebanese and Iranians.
Let hatred be turned into love, fear to trust, despair to hope,
oppression to freedom, occupation to liberation,
that violent encounters may be replaced by loving embraces,
and peace and justice could be experienced by all.
Amen.
Father of all mercies, we pray for the families who have fled their homes in fear. We lift up the mothers and fathers who have escaped with only their children, leaving everything else behind. Their country has changed, their lives will never be the same and they are afraid of the future.
Lord, you are the God who heals. Please bring your comfort and healing to those who are hurting.
We lift up the communities who have taken in refugees and displaced people, even though they may be struggling themselves. We thank you for their generosity and compassion towards those in distress.
Lord, you are the God who provides. We pray that timely help and support will reach all who are in need.
Father, there is so much pain and conflict across the Middle East. We pray for leaders throughout the region and ask you to turn their hearts towards peace. As leaders around the world consider how to respond, please grant them wisdom and insight.
Lord Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace. We pray for an end to the violence and bloodshed, and ask you to bring a new dawn of peace across the Middle East.
Amen.
Prayers for Nations in Civil War
God of peace, during this dramatic and painful time for the people of Myanmar, when violence, conflict, and repression destabilize livelihoods and wellbeing we pray for the strength and courage to keep the faith, to keep unity, and to keep the truth. Lord Jesus, may the people of Myanmar know your loving presence with them at this time. Help them to know your comfort and healing in their pain and grief. We long for the day when swords are hammered into plowshares and when justice will roll on like a river and righteousness like a mighty stream. Gracious God, convert all hearts to peace,
Amen.
Lord, our hearts are deeply troubled by the reports of widespread violence, displacement, and hunger in Sudan. We pray for the civil war to cease. We pray for economic stability to return. We pray that crops would grow in abundance, even during the dry season. Please protect your people and the church from harm as this multi-faceted crisis rages on. We pray for miracles of provision for our persecuted family. Cause the global community to remember the plight and suffering of the Sudanese people, so they can help to find solutions for the nation’s many troubles.
Amen.
Prayers for Nations Torn by Terrorism and Other Violence
A prayer of Pope Francis.
O Almighty and merciful God, Lord of the universe and of history. All that you have created is good and your compassion for the mistakes of humankind knows no limits.
We come to you today to ask you to keep in peace the world and its people, to keep far away from it the devastating wave of terrorism, to restore friendship and instill in the hearts of your creatures the gift of trust and of readiness to forgive.
O Giver of life, we pray to you also for all those who have died as victims of brutal terrorist attacks. Grant them their eternal reward. May they intercede for the world that is torn apart by conflicts and disagreements.
O Jesus, Prince of Peace, we pray to you for the ones who have been wounded in these acts of inhuman violence: children and young people, old people and innocent people accidentally involved in evil. Heal their bodies and hearts; console them with your strength and, at the same time, take away any hatred and a desire for revenge.
Holy Spirit Consoler, visit the families of the victims of terrorism, families that suffer through no fault of their own. Wrap them in the mantle of your divine mercy. Make them find again in you and in themselves the strength and courage to continue to be brothers and sisters for others, above all for refugges and immigrants, giving witness to your love by their lives.
Touch the hearts of terrorists so that they may recognize the evil of their actions and may turn to the way of peace and goodness, of respect for the life and for the dignity of every human being, regardless of religion, origin, wealth or poverty.
O God, Eternal Father, in your mercy hear our prayer which we raise up to you amidst the deafening noise and desperation of the world. We turn to you with great hope, full of trust in your infinite mercy. Made strong by the examples of the saints who have rendered courageous testimony to the gospel, to the point of offering their blood, we entrust ourselves to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We ask for the gift of peace and of the elimination from our midst of the sore of terrorism.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Loving God,
welcome into your arms the victims of violence and terrorism.
Comfort their families and all who grieve for them.
Help us in our fear and uncertainty,
And bless us with the knowledge that we are secure in your love.
Strengthen all those who work for peace,
And may the peace the world cannot give reign in our hearts.
Amen.
A Prayer for the United States at this Time of National Elections
God of mercy, we pray for the United States of America in its time of political turmoil and presidential elections. With all of the injustice and fear in our world today, we ask you to inspire and guide the people of that nation as they participate in their democratic process. May they seek a government that upholds and protects human rights and justice for all its citizens, regardless of race, class, gender, or religion. Move and inspire them by your presence among the most vulnerable in their society, for their tears are your tears, their pain is your pain, their suffering is your suffering.
Amen.
Creator of us all: you are the source of every blessing, the judge of every nation and the hope of earth and heaven.
We pray to you on the eve of this important and historic election in the United States. May all citizens call to mind the best within them and that that liberty and justice extend to all.
Be with them in the days that are near. Remind your people that your ways are not our ways, that your power and might transcend the plans of every nation, that you are not mocked.
Let those who follow your Son Jesus Christ be a peaceable people in the midst of division.
Send your Spirit of peace, justice and freedom upon the people of that land, break down the walls of political partisanship, and bring unity in the pursuit of the common good.
Give us wisdom to walk in your ways, courage to speak in your name, and humility to trust in your providence.
Amen.
A Prayer for Canada
--Inspired by Matthew 6:9-13 from the First Nations Version of the New Testament.
O Great Spirit, our Father from above,
We honour Your name as sacred and holy.
We thank You for placing us on the land we call Canada; our home on native land. Open our eyes in gratitude for all we have been given. Humble our glowing hearts, that all people will rise strong and free.
Bring Your good road to us, where the beauty of Your ways in the spirit world above is reflected in the earth below.
From far and wide, North and South, East and West, we marvel at the diversity of Your creation, the beauty of this land, and the complexities of relationships. Guide us to walk in a good way with one another and all living things.
Provide for us day by day – the elk, the buffalo, and salmon. The corn, the squash, and the wild rice. All things we need for each day.
Help us walk lightly on the land, not exploiting, wasting, over-consuming, or polluting it. Let our hearts be grateful for the abundance we have and willing to share the excess we’ve accumulated. Let no one be without enough food or clean drinking water. Help our governments and leaders make decisions that protect and steward our natural resources, and all creatures that we share this land with.
Release us from the things we have done wrong, in the same way we release others for the things done wrong to us.
We ask your forgiveness for the ways we have systematically harmed the First Peoples of this land. For taking that which was to be shared; for breaking treaties; for forced assimilation; for the horrors of residential schools; and so much more. Let our repentance be more than mere words, but embodied acts of true reconciliation.
Guide us away from the things that tempt us to stray from your good road, and set us free from the evil one and his worthless ways.
God make our land glorious and free, for all people. Let us walk in unity, celebrating diversity and learning from one another. May we walk in the way of harmony and peace.
Aho! May it be so!
A Prayer for All
We pray,
O God, for all Christians, Muslims, Hindus or Jews,
and for all whose hearts are consumed
by a zeal that has hardened them;
All
whose vision is partial,
whose mind is narrowed,
whose perceptions are simplified,
whose soul is poisoned.
And yet, O God,
we read of Jesus that,
"zeal for your house consumed him".
His life teaches us that
without the zeal of a burning love for you
that will endure through
the night-time of our enmities
we shall not see your kingdom come.
So we ask, O God,
that you give us
a zeal that insists on acceptance
a commitment that endures in non-violence
and a patience that works for your coming;
And teach us to hate
only our tribalism and prejudice
which separate us
from those different to us.
We ask it in the name of the Prince of Peace,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Mid-day Prayers
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Evening Prayer
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