Abiding in Hope: A Prayer for Post-Election Healing and Connection

Beloved - This is a challenging day for so many of us. Today I want to offer a brief prayer, following the pattern we've held this past month of sharing a prompt and a prayer each week with our prayer team focusing on "A Posture of Prayer: Politics, Activism, and Abide." Even now as we walk into the aftermath of the results, we know we have work to do, space to hold, abiding to practice. And one of the first things to do is to make space to grieve and to care well for each other. To feel and to breathe. Use this prayer prompt as a guide this week if helpful and know that our staff is praying for you and also available if you reach out.  With much love and abiding hope - Rev Liz

A Posture of Prayer: Politics, Activism, and Abide

Prompt: This week, join in praying for space to grieve, healthy places to heal, protection and safety for the most vulnerable, wholeness and connection for the isolated, care and kindness for ourselves and one another, and for wisdom, hope, and faith to saturate our church, community, families, and the wider nation.

Prayer: 

Jesus, our true vine -  

Today we come before you with heavy hearts. So many of us are grieving - we may be numb, frustrated, in denial, afraid, discouraged, and tempted to despair. We grieve not as ones tied to any partisan platform or person, but as ones watching pain, fear, dehumanization, racism, misogyny, and deceit impact so many on the margins. Today and in these first few days of sitting with the results of our national election, remind us that you - Emmanuel, God With Us – meet us in our humanity. Reminds us that we can bring all of who we are to you God, to sit with the full range of feelings, needs, questions, and pain without despairing permanently. Help us to not rush from the reality of grief, the work of self-care, rest, and metabolizing all that we have been witnessing and what we are worrying about for our future.  Keep us connected to You, Oh God.

Remind us to stay rooted in hope, and to fully feel. 

To take breaks and to connect with others when needed.  

To be kind and slow down other demands on us and others where possible this week.  

To reach out and check on those most impacted by this election and the dehumanizing language being spoken and allowed. 

To find healing and authentic reconciliation with others.

To resist the lies that creep in about who has voice, belonging, worth.

Remind us that we are beloved, we are beloved, we are LOVED by You and by others.   

God, in the coming days and weeks we will continue to follow you, to be advocates for your kingdom, and to gather with one another in faith. We will choose to cling to hope even as we know there are real costs to injustice and to power shifts, and from the ways that the witness of the church is eroding. We ask you for wisdom, direction, and courage as we lament and listen for your voice to guide us up ahead. We know as those who came before us that we will endure, we will stay focused on life and on liberation, on truth and light. Protect, encourage, refresh, and connect us to one another, oh God. 

Remain in me, Jesus reminds us; even as I remain in you; apart from me you can do nothing.

May Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.