May 3: Prayers for Peace and Justice

Mayday Conference: May 3

            Let us pause now to pray for peace and justice in our communities and in our world. We pray we do not become desensitized to violence and injustice, but instead continue to listen to those impacted and bear witness to their tragedies. May we not only pray but also commit ourselves to working towards ending violence and creating healing for the victims. May we use our votes and our voices to create concrete change in our communities, our countries, and our world. Before we begin or continue our work, let us pause to meditate on the need for peace and justice for all of humanity.

Photo by author, taken in Sabino Canyon, AZ

April 3: Recognizing the Nourishing Power of Family and Friends

            We recognize the nourishing power of the love of our family and friends. We give thanks to God for the loved ones who accept us and care for us no matter how long we have been apart. May God grant us the empathy to show the same towards them. May our time with our family and friends heal past wounds of betrayal and grief. Let us use this break to express our appreciation towards those who nourish and renew our spirits, and commit ourselves to continued gratitude.

Photo by author

February 23: Finding Grace in Forgiving Others

             May we find grace in learning to forgive others. In accepting others’ flaws, we acknowledge our own humanity and allow ourselves space to make mistakes. We release ourselves from grudges and begin to heal our wounds. We strengthen our faith by emulating Jesus’ characteristics of compassion and forgiveness. May God encourage others to accept the forgiveness we offer and may we find grace in the act of forgiving itself.

Photo by author, taken at St. Paul's Church in Malacca, Malaysia

February 3: Healing from Violence

            In times when we can see little light around us, we pray for healing from violence in our lives, our community, and our world. We ask God to listen to the cries of those suffering, the cries so often muffled by ignorance and assumption. May God use us as tools to heal others and may God send others to care for us. We ask God to grant us the wisdom to move forward, even when the path is difficult. We pray for the gifts of reconciliation, compassion, and understanding in order to heal our hurting communities. Though violence spirals seemingly endlessly throughout our world, we ask for God’s help in bringing closure through healing.

Photo by author