Prayer

Merciful God,

For many of us Halloween is a frivolous excuse to eat some sweet treats, act a little silly, and build up our sense of community. For others, however, it can become dangerous or a real cause for anxiety. Today, then, we ask for safety and protection for all, especially children and their families, as they enjoy the day’s festivities. May your light shine brightly in the darkness, guiding our paths and filling our hearts with peace. Amen.

Prayer

Eternal Light,

As the festival of Diwali continues, many celebrants will focus their gaze upon a candle’s flame and take hope in its power to dispel the darkness. We thank you for making this hope secure for us who call on your name. For all those who need hope today, we pray they be granted the gift of faith and the grace to see in their lives the triumph of victory over evil, truth over ignorance, and life over death. That all might be warmed by your joy, peace, and happiness, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Source of all virtue,

We desire to see virtuous leadership worthy of our imitation, yet we often encounter leaders who are hungry for power, fame, and privilege for themselves. Heal us as a people, that there might rise up from among us leaders whose virtue is plain to see, unsullied by the temptations of this world. May we support and encourage such leaders, even as we imitate their service to the common good. As a ministry extending your mission to communities around us, empower our own organization’s leaders to stand out in our communities for the reputations they have built, serving the needs of the vulnerable with devotion, humility, and joy. Amen.

Prayer

Loving God,

Sometimes we turn to you only when confronting a problem we cannot seem to solve on our own. Yet we know you are always beside us, even when we take you and our faith for granted. Inspire us to practice our faith in you more intensely and deliberately, such that we daily invite you to direct and guide our words and deeds, rather than wait for a crisis to ignite our search for you. At the same time, we pray especially for those who, for whatever reason, are right now on their knees before you, crying out for help and assistance in their time of trouble. Hold and sustain them in your loving mercy, and use us to support them, as a ministry of healing and compassion. Amen.

Prayer

Gracious God,

We pray today especially for those who are longing to see you do great things for them and those they love. Whether they are struggling with sickness and pain, or a sense of despair and uncertainty towards the future—whatever their plight, we pray with and for them today, that you would deliver on your promise to make a way for them, even where there seems to be no way. Be gracious to them and to us, that we all might have new reasons to praise you and say among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for us!” Humbly and gratefully, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Joyful God,

Thank you for the gift of laughter! Quite seriously, help us not to neglect this powerful, universal gift you have provided, to break down walls and build-up our common fellowship. You made us in such a way that we can find, celebrate, and share together the joy that you have laced throughout this world, even in times of darkness and pain. Inspire us, therefore, to rely more on laughter and levity in the ways we engage one another across our differences. For the sake of finding greater unity and common ground, we pray.  Amen.

Prayer

Gracious God,

Bonds of friendship grow as we spend time together, and our time with you in prayer is a way to strengthen and deepen that friendship. Hear our prayers as we call on you to be with us, to guide us, and to reveal your love to others through us. Help us to nurture our friendship with you by setting aside time each day for prayer, confident that you hear us and desire for this bond to grow. With grateful hearts, we pray. Amen.