These two short words introduce each Sunday’s Prayer of the Day, summoning the collected thoughts of God’s people. They’re an ordinary part of each worship service, capturing the gist of the day’s lessons and inviting us beyond what’s ordinary.
In these times, “we pray” seems more necessary than ever. As both invitation and statement of fact, these two words describe one of the core elements of faith that we hold onto fiercely. No matter the immediate circumstances or wider context.
Afghanistan collapses and its people’s lives are thrown into furor and terror about what lies ahead. We don’t know what to do. We pray.
Births, healings and other miracles continue around the world. Our gratitude needs a place to stay, to reward and nurture miracle-workers. We pray.
Fires rage out of control around the entire world, and the temperature continues to rise in the air around us. Water scarcities loom on horizons that have drawn closer in time. God’s larger solutions seem too hard to carry out. We pray.
Love and caring actions bloom in small places almost everywhere we go. Joys multiply and ask for words, but our word-finding abilities seem inadequate compared to the enormity of good that is happening. We pray.
Evil makes nests inside hateful hearts. Violence crowns angry lives with ugliness. Despite our efforts, this plague grows deeper and wider. We pray.
Our leaders twist truth, and their disciples overlook the consequences. Accountability seems beyond our reach. We pray.
The protections and cures for the pandemic are within reach of most of us. Yet, for reasons beyond reason, too many reject deliverance and protection. We pray.
Another Sunday’s worship will occur soon. On that occasion—and at this moment as well—we will turn together towards God’s grace and care.
We will pray.
