These ideas are designed to be starting points for the prayers of a particular community of faith.

Joe Milner

For the Church: that we who are God’s people, both in life and in death, may faithfully mediate God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness through our words and deeds

For the grace to forgive those who have wronged us: that God will free our hearts so that we may forgive others as God has forgiven us

For a deep awareness of God’s boundless forgiveness: that in our daily living and our experiences of our weaknesses, we may recognize how God’s unlimited forgiveness each day

For all who have injured or wronged us: that God’s love will heal them and us so that we may walk together again in God’s service

For healing of anger and resentment: that the Spirit will heal those painful experiences and free us to live fully for Christ

For freedom from vengeance and retaliation: that God will turn hearts from violence and increase our desire to seek the good for each person

For all who have experienced violence, terrorism, or war: that God will help them break the cycle of violence and make life-giving choices in the midst of their pain

For healing of the nations: that God will bring an end to violence and chaos in countries, particularly in Belarus and Lebanon, and open a pathway for justice and peace to be established

For communities in strife: that God’s Spirit will open opportunities for dialogue in places of violence, bring an end acts of injustice, and help all to respect the value and dignity of each person

For all who have been impacted by hurricanes or wildfires: that God will give them strength, protect them from harm and speed the assistance that they need 

For firefighters and relief workers: that God will renew their strength, keep them safe in their service, and sustain their families and loved ones

For greater care of the earth: that God will heal the damage done to the ecosystem, free us from narrow vision, and help us to change the ways that we misuse God’s gift of nature

For all who are suffering: that God will heal the sick, bring comfort to those who are isolated, give strength to those fleeing violence, and hope to those seeking jobs

For leaders in education: that God will give them wisdom and insight as they strive to keep staff and students safe and promote effective learning

For all who are approaching death: that they may cling to the faithfulness of God as they are birthed into life eternal