Note: All of the prayers included on this page were composed by me and originally written for use in Craig Chapel at Drew Theological School.
18 March 2020
God of quiet moments and holy rest, we lay our fear and anxiety at your feet. Help us to find comfort in your peace, and rest in these strange and challenging times. Help us to feel your presence here with us. May we hold on to our sense of community in the chaos so that we might foster relationships built on trust and not fear, even from afar. Let us extend grace and blessing to ourselves, our neighbors, and especially to the most vulnerable among us. In the name of the one who walks beside us we pray, Amen.
25 March 2020
God of hope, you make a way where there isn’t one. Help us to find joy in our new reality — in the morning sun streaming through our windows, in the rain that turns dead grass green and lush, in the quiet moments of slow living that this time requires of us. Remind us that there is joy to be found even here, even now. May we lose ourselves in the everyday ecstasies of life even as we look toward a future of renewed wholeness, for ours is a resurrection hope. In the name of the one who was and is and is to come we pray, Amen.
1 April 2020
Holy wanderer, each day you are with us as we tread into the unknown. In this season of lent, your journey has become our own. As we move toward the peak of infection, the moment of greatest loss, remind us that you have already overcome death. The grief of Friday is upon us, O God, help us remember that Sunday is coming so that we might work with renewed energy for restoration here and now. May the palms we lay this Sunday be at the feet of the healthcare workers, the grocery clerks, and the delivery people who risk themselves so that we might be cared for and fed, for they are surely your hands and feet, your hope in our sick and fearful world. In the name of love triumphant we pray, Amen.
15 April 2020
Creator God, bringer of sunlight and keeper of the stars, we lean upon your steadfast presence today. Help us to offer one another compassion when the frustration and anxiety of social distancing becomes overwhelming. As the days and weeks of this pandemic pass with no end in sight remind us that you have already made all things new. May we await the day we emerge once more into our communities with a sense of advent hope, confident that the seeds of patience we nurture today will bloom in a healthier world. In the name of the one who heals us and sets us free we pray, Amen.
22 April 2020
God of beginnings and God of endings, as this spring season of our scholarly life together approaches it’s conclusion, remind us that this is a goodbye for now and not forever. Help us look toward the future with hope for new opportunities and to step into the unknown with the confidence that we will always have a place here in the forest. May we bear the seeds of a better world with us as we go. In the name of the one who meets us where we are and journeys with us as we go, we pray. Amen.
9 September 2020
God of the dreamers, who makes a way where there seems to be none, help us to build a better world so that we might experience your kin-dom made real in our communities. May our dreams be worthy and our intentions true: to love our neighbors, welcome the stranger, and care for all of your good creation. Through the one who is love and life, we pray, Amen.
16 September 2020
Redeeming God, lover of mercy, shepherd of the brokenhearted, we cry out to you today in pain, longing for justice. When the violence of the past and the violence of the present seem to swallow us whole, help us to find the courage to stand for what is right — for the safety, health, and wholeness of each and every one of your children. Today we remember especially the six young people who lost their lives 57 years ago in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church of Birmingham, Alabama and the shootings in its aftermath: Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, Carol Denise McNair, Virgil Ware, and Johnnie Robinson. We remember them even as we stand in protest of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many others for whom justice has not yet been found. May we be people of justice and joy, emboldened for the work of anti-racism and the dismantling of systemic injustice, for it is the work of us all. In the name of forgiving one, the one who restores all to abundant life, we pray, Amen.
23 September 2020
Everlasting God, in whom we find a refuge from turmoil, be with us today in our grief and anger. These past months have weighed heavily on us as we watched the death toll climb. Surround the families and friends of the more than 200,000 people taken from us by COVID-19 with comfort and love. Imbue us with hope for the fight ahead, strengthen us in the wake of the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg who for so many was a beacon of righteousness in this sea of despair. May her memory be a blessing. May we walk in her footsteps and pursue justice for the women whose bodies were altered without their permission in ICE detention camps. May we mourn with them and stand with them against regimes that strip people of their autonomy and humanity. Embolden us for the work ahead so that your kin-dom might yet come — even here, even now. In the name of the healing one we pray, Amen.
7 October 2020
God of breath and silence, whose words whisper through our hearts like wind rustling autumn leaves, stir up the dead, dry, and broken parts of us so that we may come alive once more to the wonders of your creation. Though we so often forget to listen, remind us that even the rocks cry out in your name. May we create space enough in our day to listen for your still small voice. In the name of one who creates, redeems, and sustains us, Amen.
15 October 2020
Mighty and powerful God, who heals broken hearts and restores our very being, we ask that you lend us your strength today. We are weary of the hateful talk and fear-driven actions that have engulfed us this year. We are weary of death, heartache, and grief. Enliven us for the ongoing work of justice. Embolden us to continue to speak truth to power in your name, even though we are exhausted. May we find rest in you. In the one who provides perfect peace we pray, Amen.
28 October 2020
Merciful God, who knows our innermost fears and desires, be with those who wait today. Bring comfort to those who wait in grief, energy to those who anticipate the future with hope, and mindfulness of the present to those who only know how to look ahead. May we find peace in being present to the people and places we encounter today for we know that you are in the midst of each and every moment. In the name of our holy companion we pray, Amen.
4 November 2020
Loving God, today dawned with overwhelming anxiety and fear for so many. Pandemic cases are on the rise and it feels like the future of the U.S. hangs in the balance. We ask for patience as all the votes are counted, wisdom for those overseeing the ongoing election process, and compassion for ourselves and our neighbors today. Even when the results are in, O God, help us to remember that the fight for justice is not over. It begins anew every morning until that day when you come to make all things new. May your kin-dom come — even here, even now. May we help make it so. In the name of mercy we pray, Amen.
11 November 2020
Holy Wanderer, you make a way where it seems like there isn’t one. Guide our steps as we continue to fight this pandemic. Give us courage and strength to persevere in the face of rising case counts. May we always seek to protect our neighbors, to love the strangers in our midst, and to care for the lonely. Even though we cannot physically be together, we know that your spirit weaves bonds of love among our community that cannot be broken by space or time. Help us to be an encouragement to one another as the days get shorter and colder. In the name of Love we pray, Amen.
18 November 2020
God of the ages, faithful creator and merciful redeemer, we give thanks today for our families — the people who love us and keep us — and with whom we feel more alive and less lonely. As the end of a difficult year approaches may we find joy in the little things, rest in the long nights, and demonstrate love through our continued mask-wearing and social distancing. As we reflect on this year and look forward to the day when we can be together safely once more, may we remember the glimmers of hope and goodwill, the stories of care in a year of pain. May we grieve with the brokenhearted and rejoice with the joyful for we know that in all circumstances you are there too. In the name of unending grace, we pray. Amen.
1 December 2020
God we give you thanks for the gift of friendship, for time spent together even across distance, and the miracle of laughter. We give thanks for those who continue to fight for the lives of all people, working on the front lines of this pandemic. Give us the strength and courage to stay the course and do what we must to protect our friends and neighbors from the virus. In the name of the one who loves us and sets us free, we pray. Amen.
20 January 2021
Holy One, who makes all things new, we give you thanks for all of the ways that you are inviting us into newness today. Today begins a new semester and a new presidency — this is a day filled to the brim with potential and shrouded in hope. Renew our spirits for the hard work of healing. May we have compassion for ourselves and our neighbors. May we be bold in our hope, compelled toward justice, and diligent in our search for equity. May we enter this new season of learning ready to be challenged, cared for, and encouraged to grow. In the name of the way-maker, we pray. Amen.
17 January 2021
Sacred Mystery, in whom all that lives finds it’s being, we give thanks for another sunrise, another day filled with opportunity. Though the days are short and cold, may we find warmth of heart and strength of spirit in the shared work of this community. Shape us into agents of hope and compassion, so that we may continue to build a world we can be proud of. Tonight we pray especially for missing Drew student Ajay Sah. Be with those who are searching for him, give them clarity of mind and purpose. Surround Ajay’s friends and family with love and compassion. Look upon us with mercy, O God. Hear our prayers. All this we pray in the name of the one who is love eternal, Amen.
10 February 2021
God of the Cosmos, who keeps the stars aloft and the planets spinning, hold us in your tender embrace today. We give thanks for the warmth of our homes and our hearts in this season marked by so many uncertainties. Give us the strength to continue to love our neighbors by wearing masks and social distancing. May we find opportunities to connect with each other in ways that nourish our soul. God, we celebrate the vaccine distribution efforts already underway. May these efforts only increase so that the most vulnerable among us may receive the protection they so desperately need. We look forward with hope to the day that we are all vaccinated and can safely embrace one another once more. In the name one who heals all things, we pray. Amen.
17 February 2021
Holy mystery, who breathed and spoke and danced the universe into being, remind us today of our connection to the earth. As we roll ashes between our fingers and smear them across our foreheads and hands, remind us that we are of the dust and to this dust we shall return. As our lenten journey begins once more, help us find space to reflect on the brevity of our lives, to seek repentance for our individual and communal failures, and to find ways to honor your presence in the living beings with whom we share this world. We await the coming of the fullness of your kin-dom and while we wait we work, we reflect, and we hope. In the name of the creator, redeemer, and sustainer, we pray. Amen.
24 February 2021
God of the wanderers, who dwelt with the Israelites in pillars of fire and cloud and who dwells within each one of us, encourage us to lean into your goodness and mercy as we enter this Lenten season. Help us to learn from our mistakes and to encounter our fellow humans with compassion and care. As the snow begins to melt and the days grow longer, we look forward to the signs of spring and new life that are surely coming soon. Even as we continue to mourn the more than 500,000 lives lost to the Covid-19 pandemic and to remember the life of recent alum Minister Cynthia D. Pullen, we look forward to your coming in glory. Ours is a resurrection hope, O God, for we know that nothing in life or in death can separate us from your love. In the name of the one who dries every tear, we pray. Amen.
3 March 2021
God of the wilderness, sustainer of the lost, lonely, and brokenhearted, be with us in the quiet of evening. When the busyness of the day has settled down and we are left alone with our thoughts and grief, make your presence known to us. We have spent a year sitting at the foot of the cross, staring into a world of death and pain. As we remember and contemplate our own mortality in this season, help us to lean into the hope of resurrection. Though we are still physically apart, help us to find ways to walk this Lenten journey hand in hand. May we find rest in your comforting embrace and hope in the knowledge that a new day is coming, and with it, new life. In the name of the risen one, we pray. Amen.