Each Sunday morning, bridging our informal gathering time, during which we share from our lives, and our formal worship time, a different person, usually from Seekers, offers a prayer for peace and justice. Each person chooses what to say, with no prompting or guidance from the coordinator other than to be brief, prayerful and focused on peace and justice. On this page, we offer the text of some of those prayers.
A Prayer for Greater Mental Health Awareness
Praying for Peace and Justice on April 27, 2024 Let us pray—Holy one, we ask that you help us all be more aware of the role that mental healthplays in each of our lives and that the providers, organizations, systems that are taskedto help us continue to lead and grow strong in their efforts. Amen Background May is almost here and May is Mental Health Awareness month. Most of you know that I’ve been in the children’s mental health field for most of my career either as a special education teacher, a program administrator for young children, or as a…
A Prayer for a Peaceful and Just Future for Nicaragua
Praying for Peace and Justice on April 21, 2024 Two days ago, on April 19, 2024, we marked the sixth anniversary of themassive civil protests in Nicaragua against the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega.His government responded with brutal violence, killing more than 350people, incarcerating hundreds of protesters and injuring thousands others. It’s been six years of resistance despite this brutal repression of a policestate. The country faces a massive exodus of people. Half a millionNicaraguans, roughly 10% of the population, have left the country due topolitical persecution or due the economic crisis. There are currently 100political prisoners. Civil rights are violated….
A Prayer for God’s Help in Sowing the Seeds of Peace
Praying for Peace and Justice on May 5, 2024 Let us pray: Creating Spirit, how can we create with you? We confess that we don’t seem to be doing a very good job. Our world is full of heartache and fear, of hunger and need, of violence and greed. So many thousands of us are running for our lives, unable to feed and protect even our children. Show us how we can achieve true peace, not just the absence of violence. Our means toward peace are like seeds. If we want corn, we don’t plant tomatoes, we plant corn. If we want healthy food, we don’t…
A Prayer for Unity and Civility as We Promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Our Institutions, Organizations and in Our Human Family
Praying for Peace and Justice on March 10, 2024 Holy one, we know that there is no peace without justice. We ask: hear your people’s prayer. Inspire a spirit of cooperation among all people that we may restore a desire for promoting the common good, along with non-violence, justice and peace. We pray for unity and civility within governments, organizations and within the human family as we seek to implement changes that lead to diversity, equity and inclusion. May we demonstrate compassion that incorporates the seeing, hearing, and honoring others and using that compassion to spread healing energy and to…
A Prayer for the Wisdom and Strength to Practice Justice and Peace
Praying for Peace and Justice on April 7, 2024 Holy One, we come before you today with hearts heavy from the injustices and acts of violence all over the earth that you created for all of us. Virtually every conflict arises from an issue of racism. You sent Jesus, and other prophets and leaders to teach all people the ways you would have us follow. Some of us gathered here are carrying a particular burden of fear and heartbreak because of the horrific violence in Israel and Gaza. Some of us have friends and family on one side or the…