Each part of creation reveals unique aspects of God the Creator,
who is both in creation and beyond it.
All parts of creation, animate and inanimate, are related.…
Creating God,
Mother of us all.
We are your beloved,
formed in your image and nurtured in the depth of your dark womb.
You breathed life into our flesh and sent us to do your work in the world,
to care for each other and for all of creation as we would care for you:
our life and our breath.
Wherever we are in your world there are survivors, victims, bystanders, and perpetrators of gender-based violence.
God of peace,
give us the courage, strength and perseverance needed,
to challenge the systems of racism,
so that we can clear a path for your justice, peace, and equity.
We believe racism is present
in our society and in our church,
and throughout time has manifested itself in many forms and in varying degrees.
We know racism is alive
in our language and in our structures,
and through our systems it actively works to deconstruct your glorious design,
blocking the path to justice, equity, and peace that Jesus brings.
A prayer for the church inspired by John 17:21 and based on The United Church of Canada’s “A New Creed” and the United Church of Christ’s “Statement of Faith (in the Form of a Doxology).” Congregations are invited to share in this prayer on Sunday, October 18, 2015, in celebration of the full communion of these two denominations.
God,
you are our hope, we shall not let go.
You help us seek peace, justice, hope, and dignity for Palestinians and Israelis,
You lead us towards courageous actions.
Our failure to care for creation continues to cause pain and suffering beyond imagining.
Across Africa
lush lands are becoming barren;
water is becoming scarce;
soil is eroding;
livestock are dying;
and people are in growing need of food assistance.
we are surrounded by images of violence, and we are called to wrestle with how to respond to the devastation, death, fear, and hatred around us with compassionate and prophetic love.
We encourage people to pray with all those affected by acts of terrorism, including
those who were killed or injured as a result of the horrific bombings in Brussels
those who mourn the death of loved ones
and those in our global and local communities who are the victims of violence and who mourn the loss of life and the loss of security.
God, we are peacekeepers and kin-dom builders —lost— in search of how to best support a peaceable resolution to the conflict in Syria.
We seek stability for the people of Syria, who are displaced from their homes, millions fleeing to other countries for safety. Steadfast God, provide safe shelter.
We seek healthy living conditions for all; while reports of chemical warfare and poor living conditions continue. Nurturing God, provide access to humanitarian aid.
