I offer this weekly #LetUsPray as a way to stay anchored amidst the turmoil of the day. For paid subscribers (and last-minute worship planners), I also offer some liturgical resources and sermon prompts based on the week's readings from The Revised Common Lectionary and/or The Narrative Lectionary. Each offering is written on Wednesday and published on Thursday, allowing me to focus on current events or issues.
This weekend, after months of fighting his deportation, a community organzier who many of us had been supporting was arrested by ICE. While I would love to tell you about his resilience in the face of life's struggles and his courage in the face of injustice (both true), today I need to remember that even the bravest among us have moments of terror and fear. I do not know what he felt when he was surprised by ICE as he left his home on his way to turn himself in, but for him and countless others, I can only imagine the terror that people are today. Rather than falling into the trap of "moving on" as a way to avoid conflict, this week's prayer sits in the middle of terror and fear as best as it can — maybe it will be enough to make us realize that this is no way to live.
For Those Who Live in Terror #LetUsPray
Let Us Pray —
For those who live in terror today, we pray For those who must hide their terror, we pray For those who have known terror for generations, we pray And for those who have chosen to reign terror upon others, we pray.
God, in the face of struggle, the world tells us be resilient be brave do not be afraid just move on already
You know that terror and fear are real terror traumatizes terror intimidates terror menaces terror paralyzes
God, be present with your beloved however and wherever terror is felt
be with individuals who live in terror with the stranger who lives in terror of isolation with the friend who lives in terror of violence and with everyone who lives in terror of the unknown.
be with families who live in terror with the guardian who lives in terror that they will not come home with the child who lives in terror that their parent will not return with anyone who lives in terror of the abuser in their home.
be with communities who live in terror with those who live in terror of gun violence with those who live in terror of economic betrayal and with those whose terror has been ignored.
be with those who live in terror of poverty the terror of hunger the terror of eviction and the terror of sickness.
be with those held captive by institutions of terror the terror of incarceration the terror of environmental injustice and the terror of militarism.
be with those to dismiss the terrorized the privileged the powerful and the perpetrators.
and be with those who terrorize may they know Your presence in their lives may their souls break open to see You in others and may they have the courage to resist when powers and principles call upon them to terrorize again.
