Fathers in Our Lives
We give our thanks, Creator God, for the fathers in our lives.
Fatherhood does not come with a manual, and reality teaches us that some fathers excel while others fail.
We ask for Your blessings for them all and forgiveness where it is needed.
This Father’s Day we remember the many sacrifices fathers make for their children and families, and the ways–both big and small–they lift children to achieve dreams thought beyond reach.
So too, we remember all those who have helped fill the void when fathers pass early or are absent; grandfathers and uncles, brothers and cousins, teachers, pastors and coaches and the women of our families.
For those who are fathers, we ask for wisdom and humility in the face of the task of parenting.
Give them the strength to do well by their children and by You.
In Your Holy name, O God, we pray.
Amen.
– Rev. Chuck Currie, Xavier University
Prayer for Pride Month
God of wild love and extravagant acceptance…
Spirit of boldness and beauty…
You are faithfully present in both the grit and glitter of life,
and you are present here with us now.
Awaken us to your dream for creation:
A world in which every member of the human family is free
to flourish however you have made them.
Forgive us for the moments we have held back
your ever-flowing current of love, dignity, and justice.
Remake us into a people eager to see you
in the faces, bodies, and expressions of all people.
Remind each of us to step out of the shadows of our lives
and shine fearlessly and courageously.
Ignite the Divine Light within us to sparkle through the prism
of our bodies and brighten every corner of this Earth.
Holy One, You call each of us beloved.
Each of us cherished.
Each of us desired.
Each of us sacred.
And so, we give you thanks now and forever.
Amen.
Written by the Rev. Sam Lundquist for a Pride 2023 Worship Service at St. John’s Presbyterian Church in San Francisco
One People, One Prayer: Seeking Peace Between India and Pakistan
God of peace and compassion,
You have created all people in Your image
and called us to live together in love.
We bring before You the nations of India and Pakistan—
diverse in culture, faith, and language,
yet bound by a shared history and humanity.
In the face of division, we pray for dialogue.
In places of conflict, we ask for reconciliation.
In hearts filled with fear or anger, we seek Your peace
that passes all understanding.
Strengthen our member churches in both nations
as they bear witness to Your gospel of peace.
Empower leaders, communities, and all people of goodwill
to choose the path of nonviolence, justice, and mutual respect.
May swords be turned into plowshares,
And may hope take root where hostility once grew.
In Christ, our peace, we pray. Amen.
Prayer for the Israel Palestine Ceasefire
As relentless as the rising sun,
may we, steadfast God,
pray relentlessly,
until the violence, war, and bloodshed in Gaza ends.
Give us the fortitude to pray, without ceasing,
until the safety, well-being, and dignity of all people is cherished and held as sacred; and
until elected officials and those in positions of power safeguard the most vulnerable and protect the human rights and dignity of people in Palestine and Israel.
Give us the courage to pray boldly with
our hearts, our words, our actions, and our resources
until all people in Palestine and Israel can enjoy freedom, justice, and peace in abundance.
May it be so,
Amen
—Alydia Smith, United Church of Canada
A Prayer for Ukraine
Lord God,
We ask you to hold the people of Ukraine deep in your heart.
Protect them, we pray;
from violence,
from political gamesmanship,
from being used and abused.
Give, we pray,
the nations of the world the courage
and the wisdom
to stand up for justice
and the courage too,
to dare to care―generously.
Lord, in your mercy,
take from us all
the tendencies in us
that seek to lord it over others:
take from us those traits
that see us pursuing our own needs and wants
before those of others.
Teach us how to live in love
and dignity
and respect―following your example.
In your name and for your sake,
Amen
―Issued by Lord Wallace, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and the Very Rev. Dr. Susan Brown, convener of the Faith Impact Forum, Church of Scotland
