A PRAYER FOR VOLUNTEERS AND THE ORGANIZATIONS THEY SUPPORT
Let us pray that volunteer non-profit and human development organizations may find people willing to commit themselves to the common good and ceaselessly seek out new paths of international cooperation.
– Pope Francis, Challenge for Humanity and for the Mission of the Church, December 2022
A PRAYER FOR THOSE SUFFERING ABUSE
God, our redeemer and sustainer, we pray for survivors of violence, abuse and neglect.
Give your power to the powerless, your fullness to the empty of spirit.
Heal their wounds, free them from fear and restore them to true health.
Grant this through Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Saviour who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
– A Prayer for those Suffering Abuse, The Anglican Communion
A PRAYER FOR MOTHERS AND MATERNAL FIGURES
God of our Mothers, whose almighty hand called forth matriarchs to lead, liberate and love your people. You inspired mothers and sisters, daughters and aunts, to be your divine messengers throughout time. Surround, we pray, the fierce, fearless and faithful women of our day with grace and courage to boldly contend with injustice and oppression. That, following the example of those who have gone before, they may cast the mighty from their seats and lift up the lowly and downtrodden. God of our Mothers, hear us!
– Adapted from A Prayer for Matriarchs, The Right Reverend Deon Johnson, Bishop of Missouri
A COLLECT FOR A FRUITFUL SEASON
Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth: We humbly pray that your gracious providence may give and preserve to our use the harvests of the land and of the seas, and may prosper all who labor to gather them, that we, who are constantly receiving good things from your hand, may always give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
– A Collect for Fruitful Seasons, Book of Common Prayer, p. 258
A PRAYER FOR CHILDREN
Eternal God, you sent us Jesus, hope of the world, who came to us first as a child in poverty, who fled the threat of violence as a refugee. Help us to follow him through as servant leaders to bring your love and justice to children; through Jesus Christ your Child who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.
– From The Episcopal Liturgy for the Children’s Sabbath, thechildrensagenda.org
COLLECT FOR PEACE
Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquility your dominion may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
– A Collect for Peace, Book of Common Prayer, p. 258
