Prayer

God over all,

We celebrate the world you have woven together with such beauty and grace. The array of colors and creatures and delicate living things is breathtaking in its vibrant diversity. We give you thanks for it all and for giving us the vision to see how it all fits together. May we take our thankful awareness and translate it more and more into actions that protect all this beauty’s vitality. Amen.

Prayer

Unifying God,

We’re not required to become best friends with everyone, yet you call us nonetheless to be free of all judgment, bias, and partiality. Lead us further in this, for our own sake as much as for those we are serving. Help us reflect on our tendencies and willing to admit that our instincts and preferences are often in need of correction. With sympathy and understanding, may we grow closer together as people before you, committed to ensure that prejudice will not survive proximity. Amen.

Prayer

God of hospitality,

Lead us to be more hospitable. To strangers and acquaintances and all those we encounter, may we open our hearts as much as our doors, welcoming anyone who needs a safe place to belong. Inspire us to remember the significance of even the simplest gesture of inclusion. We may never know what these actions mean, yet you encourage us with the thought of there being angels among us. And in the faces of all those we serve, you invite us to see your very image standing before us. May we be hospitable servants to all these your children today, Amen.

Prayer

Just God,

The senselessness of the violence we see grieves our hearts and boggles our minds. As we continue extending compassion to victims, impassion us also to stand up to the injustice itself, insisting that systems be changed for the sake of real and lasting peace in our land. Give us courage and wisdom for this, so we can better defend the vulnerable by commanding the aggression around us to stop! Through the power of your gospel and our daily commitment to justice and peacebuilding, may the violence around us come undone and may peace come to flourish for all. Amen.

Prayer

God of action and truth,

Our culture is prone to indulge in empty speech, lacking in purpose and action. Yet let it be different among us, as we commit ourselves to a higher standard of integrity. May we reveal your love for all those we encounter, not just in what we say but even more in what we do. Let our actions speak louder than words, bearing witness to the sincerity of our purpose and mission, as we extend your compassionate love to all those who are vulnerable. Amen.

Prayer

God who knows our pain,

Our familiarity with the pain of sickness and disease doesn’t make these realities any easier to accept. And yet we must. Today, on World Cancer Day, we ask for strength to better confront the pain caused by cancer rather than avoid it. May we be devoted to the cause of supporting and empowering all those who are challenged by cancer. With dedication, diligence, and determination, may we accompany those in pain and journey together towards new paths of prevention, treatment, and cure. As we strive to heal rather than avoid the pain, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Heartbeat of life,

There are so many reasons to guard our hearts. Yet today we are concerned, quite literally, with the dangers of heart disease and the need to promote heart healthy habits. For the women whose health is most at threat, lead us to support them as we encourage each other, to pursue every opportunity for prevention and healing. For the researchers and clinicians engaged in discovering and promoting new interventions, we ask you to guide them with wisdom and excellence in all their endeavors. May we all be more conscious of the choices we’re making and the impact these have on our sources of life, health, and well-being. Amen.