A Lament and Call to the Work of Justice in this Challenging Time
Gracious God, we come before you this day as people yearning for justice – a nation in need of healing. We know all too well that the sins of bigotry, racism, and isolationism are thriving around us, but also in us; sins that have risen with greater measure during this time of COVID-19. Help us to push back against these forces so that love and empathy might continue to take root. Help us to heed your call to welcome the refugee and migrant in our midst with care and compassion.
Pour out your presence upon those gathered here today. Guide us to collective action in order to roll back these tides of injustice – so that the seeds of abundant life might sprout forth. Be with us as we journey together in this holy work of welcome, so that your peace is made manifest across this land.
Amen.
Prayer written by Kristen Opalinski, Manager of Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Intercessory Prayer in the Midst of the Spread of COVID-19
The Lutheran World Federation
O God our Healer, show your compassion for the whole human family that is in turmoil and burdened with illness and with fear.
Hear our cry, O God,
Listen to our prayer.
Come to our aid as the coronavirus spreads globally, heal those who are sick, support and protect their families and friends from being infected.
Hear our cry, O God,
Listen to our prayer.
Grant us your spirit of love and self-discipline so that we may come together, working to control and eliminate the coronavirus.
Hear our cry, O God,
Listen to our prayer.
Make us vigilant, attentive, and proactive in the eradication of all diseases, malaria, dengue, HIV & AIDS, and others [may be named aloud or in silence]… that create suffering and often result in death for many people.
Hear our cry, O God,
Listen to our prayer.
Heal our self-centeredness and indifference that makes us worry only when the virus threatens us, open ways beyond timidity and fear that too easily ignore our neighbor.
Hear our cry, O God,
Listen to our prayer.
Strengthen and encourage those in public health services and in the medical profession: care-givers, nurses, attendants, doctors, all who commit themselves to caring for the sick and their families.
Hear our cry, O God,
Listen to our prayer.
Inspire, give insight and hope to all researchers focused on developing a vaccine.
Hear our cry, O God,
Listen to our prayer.
Sustain all workers and business owners who suffer loss of livelihood due to shut-downs, quarantines, closed borders, and other restrictions. Protect and guard all those who must travel.
Hear our cry, O God,
Listen to our prayer.
Guide the leaders of the nations that they speak the truth, halt the spread of misinformation and act with justice so that all your family may know healing.
Hear our cry, O God,
Listen to our prayer.
Heal our world, heal our bodies, strengthen our hearts and our minds, and in the midst of turmoil, give us hope and peace.
Hear our cry, O God,
Listen to our prayer.
Hold in your gentle embrace all who have died and who will die this day. Comfort their loved ones in their despair.
Hear our cry, O God,
Listen to our prayer.
Remember all your family, the entire human race, and all your creation, in your love.
Amen.
A Prayer for Healing and Peace
America Magazine
Jesus Christ, you traveled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.” At your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love.
Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care.
Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbors from helping one another.
Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders.
Jesus Christ, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.
Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with you in your eternal peace.
Be with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. May they know your peace.
Be with the doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know your protection and peace.
Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve. Give them the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks. May they know your peace, as they work together to achieve it on earth.
Whether we are home or abroad, surrounded by many people suffering from this illness or only a few, Jesus Christ, stay with us as we endure and mourn, persist and prepare. In place of our anxiety, give us your peace.
Jesus Christ, heal us.
Prayer for a Pandemic
May we who are merely inconvenienced
remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors
remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home
remember those who must choose between
preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close
remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips
remember those who have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market
remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home
remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country,
let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically
wrap our arms around each other,
let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace
of God to our neighbors.
Amen.
Prayer for “Hope Can’t Be Quarantined”
LIRS Hope Can’t Be Quarantined Toolkit
“I lift up my eyes to the hills—
From where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2
Loving God, protect those in any danger, especially those who are ill or isolated. Care for those who tend the needs of the sick. Guide our leaders to make decisions for the good of all your people. Heal us from our fear and surround us with your peace so that we might bring your healing love to those who are frightened or alone.
We pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.
Amen.