Peace and Justice

Praying for Peace and Justice on September 29, 2024

Lord, what can we pray that has not already been prayed? We join our hearts with the millions of people who, for centuries, have cried out for peace and justice in Israel and Palestine. This conflict is so complex, and so intertwined with the roots of antisemitism and colonialism and anti-muslim rhetoric and white supremacist ideology and we do not see the way out. But we believe that you are the God who turned Saul into Paul, that you can turn the hearts of those who would do violence out of their own oppression and fear, and change them into those who walk the way of love.…

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Praying for Peace and Justice on September 1, 2024

Oh God, this week, we have been encouraged by your text in 1^st James to be generous, as you are generous, but we often are stingy with our money and our time. When we give it, we are tempted to only help our friends, not the stranger, the foreigner, the person of another faith tradition, the person of a different political frame. Help us to model your generosity.

Oh God, we have been encouraged to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger, but we often do not follow this guidance.…

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Praying for Peace and Justice on August 18, 2024

Creator God, we grieve this morning for the volcanoes of rage and hatred erupting around your earth.

Saddened God, we grieve this morning for the teenagers and youth slaughtered by armed militants at an outdoor music festival.

Merciful God, we grieve this morning for the scared babies, mothers and grandmothers abducted into strange and terrifying places and awaiting an unknown future.

Weeping God, we grieve this morning for the patients and families who sought healing and comfort in a hospital, only to find more death, maiming and terror.

Searching God, we grieve for those trying to flee only to discover that their world offers no place of safety.…

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Praying for Peace and Justice on August 11, 2024

All around us are reminders of a world divided on so many issues and hatred of the “other” used as a wedge.

Social media is full of false debates and angry words.

Holy One, help us remember that our words matter.

Guide our words towards civility and wisdom in discourse and discussion.

Teach us to model love for our neighbors in all conversations, whether public or private.

You have called us to be salt and light to our nation and to the world.

(Adapted from A Prayer for Civility in a Divisive World – United Methodist Church –https://www.umc.org/en/content/a-prayer-for-civility-in-a-divisive-world…

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Praying for Peace and Justice on August 4, 2024

I pray for the wisdom and attention of policy makers to fund adequate recovery programs as
well as adequate mental health treatment programs for the people in our community and across
the country.

Background

Mental Health is becoming far more important to policy makers as Americans become willing
to admit to mental health issues and seek help and treatment.
More than 1 in 5 US adults live with a mental illness.
Over 1 in 5 youth (ages 13-18) either currently or at some point during their life, have had a
seriously debilitating mental illness.…

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