Jeff, we are praying for you.

Will you join me in the prayers of concern. Let us pray.

God the Creator, we adore you for creating the universe, full of potential to unfold; for creating our world, teeming with life and the possibility to develop.

God the Christ, we marvel that you have come among us; that we can find you in the least of these, the most unassuming of our neighbours.

God the Holy Spirit, we ask you to fill us with your power, now comforting, now challenging, as you invite us to participate in the continuing creation, transformation, and renewal of our cosmos.

We confess the shortcomings in the past few weeks, the inadequacies we felt in ourselves, especially in our democratic processes, during the election campaign.

We first confess that we have seen injustice but failed to speak out. God, forgive us in your mercy.

We confess our lack of compassion, our inconsiderate thoughts and ill-considered words against our neighbours.

God, give us time to amend our ways and the occasion to say sorry, to heal our community.

God, we thank you for the chance to talk to our neighbours – to find common ground in discussion, to argue the best way forward.

We thank you for the election officers, the vote-counting staff, and all who carry out their duties without fear or favour.

We thank you for the glimpses of heaven as we campaign for your realm to realize itself, so your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

We thank you for the kairos moment, the opening, that three days after the elections, we still feel empowered, not resigned to fate, but actively watching and participating in the formation of our common history.

We thank you for the camaraderie among friends and comrades, as we walked together, ate and drank together, struggled and worked together.

We thank you for the civility and courtesy between rivals during the election campaign: A polite nod across the hall, leaving room for manœuvre; firm handshakes at the platform, building bridges for future co-operation.

We pray for the winners. May they retain their spirit of service. May they gain in humility and in wisdom.

We pray for those who lost. May they not be devastated in disappointment and grief, but stay hopeful and connected, continuing to contribute to their neighbourhoods.

We pray for our country, having elected a hung parliament for the first time in decades.

We pray for those in the process of forming a new government, not just those behind closed doors, but also those who gather to continue to engage, and those who contact their representatives to support and advise them in their exploration.

We pray that this process does not simply become an abstract power game, but a transformation that will hold this society together more coherently, keeping in mind all of our neighbours, especially those most vulnerable in our community, those who live among us but have no voice, and those in faraway lands whose lives are nonetheless affected by what happens in these our islands.

Almighty Father, we pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit: one God, now and forever. Amen.

See also the earlier prayer ‘Praying for the elections, seriously’.

Lord, have mercy; Christ, prends pitié; Heer, ontferm u over ons.

Christ our Saviour, we remember your people
who entered the catacombs in the hope of rising to the light.
They knew, as David knew,
that you hear them when they cry out of the depths.
That if they ascend up into heaven, you are there:
if they make their beds in the depths, you are there also.
If they take the wings of the morning,
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
even there shall your hand lead them,
and your right hand shall hold them.

Seigneur, prends pitié; Christus, ontferm u over ons; Lord, have mercy.

Holy Spirit,
we remember your coming on Pentecost, as tongues of fire
completing the blessing of diversity and reconciliation that started in Babel.
We remember your saints in these several lands,
of various traditions, but united as one in the Communion of Christ.
Among these, we particularly remember
all the pilgrims who followed the examples of Saint James and Saint Augustine,
who knew how to walk with you and spread your Good News in these lands.
Bless those whose hands and minds built this Tunnel.
Bless those who care for us on the trip.
Bless those who manage and operate the the trains.
Bless our journey and our fellow travellers.

Heer, ontferm u over ons; Christ, have mercy; Seigneur, prends pitié.

(See also last January’s litany for transport.)

With John Seymour, companion of Saint Fritz Schumacher, we remember the nitrogen cycle: We recall how humanity has split this one wonderful system into the two problems of pollution and the need of artificial fertilization.

We grieve for the wasted material containing fixated nitrogen, polluting the rivers and seas rather than fertilizing the land. We commit to you our anxieties about the Haber–Bosch process, which fixates nitrogen to make fertilizers by burning large amounts of fossil fuels.

God the Holy Spirit, give us wisdom and courage to repair and complete the nitrogen cycle.

Now we join the Society of Ordained Scientists in this collect: Almighty God, Creator and Redeemer of all that is, source and foundation of time and space, matter and energy, life and consciousness: Grant us in this Society and all who study the mysteries of your creation, grace to be true witnesses to your glory and faithful stewards of your gifts.

We pray all this through Jesus Christ, who is Alpha and Omega – who completes the cycle and reconciles all things to himself. Amen.

There’s a 12-hour prayer vigil for Main South at King & Main in Worcester tonight, organized by The Woo.

I stopped by tonight and joined about 15 others in a little silent prayer, a little spoken prayer, a lot of conversation, and the occasional psalm. As a Catholic, when I think “12-hour prayer vigil” I think of rosaries, litanies, and the Divine Office. This group is coming from a different place, and it’s interesting watching them figure out how they want to use this time. I’ll be back for more in the morning.

For more info, call Dan at 508-341-1103.

Will you pray with me? Let us pray.

God, we thank you for inviting us to create and form the world with you.
God, we thank you for giving us a society which we can try to transform.
God, we thank you for allowing us to inspire others in our community
and be inspired at the same time.

God the Holy Spirit,
In every debate, every one of the hustings,
no matter how contentious:
Let every question, every argument, every response,
be a tiny sermon of your Gospel,
a small prayer breathed in harmony with your noiseless sigh.
Let every speech be worthy of such a prefix:
In the name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
(بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم).

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

God, Creator of time and Master of history,
as the manifestos are drafted,
the propaganda leaflets printed,
whether in professional presses
or from a personal printer in the backroom:
Let every statement in them
be a modern restatement of your Good News,
blessing the meek and the hungry,
challenging the rich and the proud.
Let every manifesto, every leaflet,
be drafted as if the Shema were on its masthead:
(שמע ישראל יהוה אלהינו יהוה אחד).
Hear O God’s people!
the Lord our God, the Lord is one;
you shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your mind, and with all your strength.
You shall love your neighbour as yourself.
(Mark 12:29f NRSV)

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

God our Redeemer,
as the voters mark their ballots,
let the cross be reminders of your crucifixion;
may they be participants of your mysterious redemption of the world.
We pray for the electoral officials, the tellers, the observers.
Let there be no injustice, no falsehood in the whole process.
We pray that you sanctify every emotion:
whether apathy, disappointment, sense of duty, enthusiasm, or joy.
Make them wholesome and make them work to your purpose.
Above all, give us your peace!

God, if we fall short of your standard, forgive us.
Give us time to change our mind.
Send someone to knock on our door, to help us think things through,
perhaps someone with a rosette on the lapel, clipboard in hand.
And may you, O Christ,
be present at our conversation at the doorstep.

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Finally we pray for Police Constable Paul Phillips,
our Neighbourhood Specialist Officer,
whom we have promised to keep in our prayers.
God, we pray that you bless his work
in the upkeep of peace and justice in our neighbourhood.
We also pray that we find the best way
for us to support him and his colleagues in this work.

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Almighty Father,
we pray all this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Seventy-five percent of the money we raise through Commitment for Life goes to Christian Aid. In this way, the United Reformed Church raised more than half a million pounds for Christian Aid last year. A tenth of the money goes to World Development Movement, a radical campaigning organization tackling the underlying causes of poverty. There is more information on the Commitment for Life website.

The United Reformed Church, through the Commitment for Life programme, supports partners in four countries: Bangladesh, Israel/Palestine, Jamaica, and Zimbabwe. Today we pray for two of these, Israel/Palestine and Zimbabwe. Will you pray with me.

First, we join in prayer with Patriarchs, Bishops and the Leaders of Christian Churches in Jerusalem.

God, we share their deep sorrow at the renewed cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians and the continued absence of peace in the Holy Land. We hold seriously our responsibilities as part of the international community to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with a just and comprehensive solution, based on international resolutions.

We pray that Christ will inspire the authorities and decision makers on both sides, the Israelis and the Palestinians, for immediate action to end the current tragic situation in the Gaza Strip. We pray, O God, that your will be done in the aftermath of the Israeli election this week.

We pray for the victims, the wounded and the broken-hearted. Lord God Almighty, grant all those who have lost loved ones consolation and patience. We pray for all those living in panic and fear. God, bless them with calm, tranquillity and true peace.

We pray for justice and peace, in the land of peace.

Now, we join the All Africa Conference of Churches in prayer.

We pray for the church in Zimbabwe to take its appropriate role in responding to the needs of the people.

We pray that the formation of a Government of National Unity this week will ensure delivery of services to the people of Zimbabwe.

We pray that the food supplies reach the dying people in remote parts of Zimbabwe, and that there be enough food for everybody. We pray that medical supplies are made available to all areas of the country and save threatened lives.

We pray that there be unity, tolerance, love, and mutual respect among all Zimbabweans, regardless of political differences.

Lord, have mercy on Zimbabwe and give enough rain for a good harvest which will result in the restoration of human dignity.

We pray that Christians worldwide may be inspired by the Spirit to remain in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe until the end of crisis. We pray that the faith of Christians in Zimbabwe may be made stronger by their suffering, so that in hope they retain their joy and commitment to Christ.

We pray that the resources being extracted from Zimbabwe may benefit the whole nation, including the poor, rather than individuals. God, we pray that you will change the hearts of those who do not put the interests of the people first, but think of themselves as more important than others.

We pray that your will be done.

Now we pray in silence for a moment.

God, we give thanks to you for the people in our city who feel a strong connection with Zimbabwe and Israel/Palestine.

We remember our fellow people of faith, who prayed together for Israel/Palestine in Keble College chapel this Tuesday. We remember our friends on the annual Interfaith Friendship Walk. We pray that their concern and their campaigning, and our care and action, will be acceptable unto you.

As we receive Communion, we think of the many Zimbabweans in exile, here in our country. Some of them work to serve us and care for us. Some of them are destitute or in detention. They live among us, often without us taking much notice.

God, at this table of Jesus, at this table of yours, remind us of our solidarity with them. Remind us that we are all your children, we all belong to the Communion of Saints and in the Body of Christ. Holy Spirit, move in us so we act accordingly in justice.

Here is a copy of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (Number 19) Act 2008, passed ten days ago by the Parliament of Zimbabwe, to enable the implementation of the Interparty Political Agreement. I place it next to the offertory plate, to commit it to God, and also as a token of thanksgiving. We conclude our prayer.

Almighty Father, we pray all this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

At DuPont Circle Park in Washington, DC, at 12:45 pm, leading human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, the ACLU, Center for Constitutional Rights, and 9-11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, will call for an end to the Bush policies, justice for the detainees, and accountability for US crimes. 100-200 demonstrators wearing orange jumpsuits and hoods will have a prisoner procession to dramatize the plight of the detainees still at Guantanamo.

The fast ends on Inauguration Day, when we begin a 100 day campaign to close the prison.

This will be my longest fast to date. I’m skeptical about “detoxification” and other health claims made for fasting, but fasting has always cured my spiritual malaise and helped me refocus my life.

What will my fast be like? I have this goofy super-health-food protein drink, vegan but not raw. My plan is to have 2 servings a day (440 calories) of this for the first week or so, then re-evaluate. I think most of the other fasters will stick to juice. (8 ounces of unsweetened orange juice is 112 calories, and apple juice is 117 calories.) I’m also going to avoid caffeine and alcohol.

If you’ll be fasting, in DC or elsewhere, let me know and we’ll link to your account on the 100 Days website.

100 Days co-organizer Matt Daloisio talks about the campaign:

God in Christ, we remember that after your Resurrection, you appeared to the two travellers on the Emmaus Road, and later to Apostle Paul on the Damascus Road.

God the Holy Spirit, we remember that in more recent times you accompanied storytelling pilgrims and spiritual-singing refugees.

We pray now for all who travel; may your guidance and protection be with them as in those former times.

We pray for the carpooling driver, overcoming selfishness and extending hospitality. Bless her ministry and give her the pilgrim’s awareness that she may be entertaining angels.

We pray for the shy carpooler, waiting for a lift (ride) on the kerbside (curbside).

We pray for the moment the car door is opened, that in the subsequent moments of fellowship, your kingdom is extended a little bit, as when Philip encountered the Ethiopian eunuch on the Gaza Road.

We pray that over a cup of coffee and some crumbly cake on the roadside rest station, you appear to them as you did to the two travellers on Emmaus Road, and they shall say to you: Remain with us for a little longer.

We remember Saint Harriet Tubman and her companions on the Underground Railroad; Saint Rosa Parks and her companions on the buses and marches; N.; and N.

We pray for the bus and train drivers, and all pilots, guiding their congregation as a minister hers, as Moses and Deborah for the people in the desert.

We pray for those moments when our trajectory is astray, when we need an experience as Paul encountered you. Give us the courage to acknowledge our blindness and unsafe manœuvring, and bravely to change direction.

We pray for those who design our transport strategies: particularly now for Ray LaHood, U.S. Secretary-designate of Transportation; Geoff Hoon, British Secretary of State for Transport; N.; and N. Give them wisdom to build your cities of inclusiveness, nurture your fields of harmony, and protect your wilderness of tranquillity.

We remember the migrant worker praying fervently to you, hoping to pass his driving test in an unfamiliar jurisdiction.

Finally, we pray for all passengers in your name, Jesus, by singing the spiritual People Get Ready. … Amen.

(With thanks to Ladysmith Black Mambazo; Christian Ecology Link, whose most-recent annual conference had transport as its topic; and Mike Benedetti. As a litany, it is meant to be neither entirely coherent nor complete, but a starting-point to inspire further prayers. As usual, if you use this or any other prayers found here on Pie and Coffee, please leave a message, as we always welcome constructive feedback.)