Litany for Haiti

Haiti has been devastated once more, this time by a hurricane. Entire towns have been ruined, and over 300 people have lost their lives. Right now people in Haiti are struggling to survive in the wreckage of a terrible storm. We can participate prayerfully in their healing. I have also written this litany, which can be used in times of natural disaster.

God, author of Creation
Giver of Life:
We call upon your mercy and compassion now.
We pray for the people of Haiti.

We pray for the hearts of the world
To be moved with compassion
We pray for the feet and hands of the world, ourselves included,
To be moved to help.

Where there has been devastation,
Bring renewal.
Where there is suffering,
Bring comfort
Where there is need
Bring provision.

The world has great need of the mercy of God
As demonstrated by Christ,
As demonstrated by the global Church
As demonstrated by individuals.
May your spirit alight on that place as never before,
Bringing life where death has reigned.

We pray for Haiti
For your kingdom come
Your will be done,
In Haiti as it is in heaven.

Amen

 

Litany for Compassion

The Lectionary text from the Gospels for Sunday, September 25 (Proper 21) is from Luke 16:19-31. It is the story of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar.

Here are things I’m coming to believe:

Compassion = Heaven on Earth

and

Compassion Bridges Chasms

God of Compassion and Love,
You care for sparrows and sinners.
Your heart is bent toward the disadvantaged
Your justice covers the rich and the beggar.

We acknowledge our obstacles in participating in your work:
Self-centeredness
Apathy
Disgust
Blindness
Pride.

These things keep us from seeing the beggar at our gate.
We need you to teach us your way.
We need you to forgive us
And have mercy upon us;
That we may, by having compassion, bring heaven to earth
And break down the walls of hell.

Give us courage to face the agony of those around us
And strength to help.
When we are asked to get our hands dirty, to stoop to lift the downtrodden,
Help us to be faithful and obedient.
 

Amen.
 

Litany for Natural Disaster

I am a Texan now, but a good-sized chunk of my heart lives in Louisiana. I half-way grew up there. I have many friends and family there still, and reports from them along with news reports and images that are coming out are terrible. So many homes lost and lives disrupted by a natural disaster which is not a hurricane or an earthquake; just a hell of a lot of rain. Seems so crazy and so sad. And completely devastating for so many. Animals and livestock are dying, entire farms flooded and crops lost, towns completely flooded and abandoned. This story has not been well-covered by mainstream media, and we need to help get the word out about the folks who are in need of help in Louisiana.

My cousin Collin Wade, an attorney based in New Orleans, has compiled a list of items needed for donation that are being accepted by various relief organizations servicing flooded areas of Lousiana. HERE IS THE LINK. Sharing this post and this link helps raise awareness of the needs our brothers and sisters currently have.

In addition, you can pray. By yourself. At your dinner table with your family. With your small groups. In your congregations. Here is a prayer. Join your voice with us.

(This is a litany for Louisiana, here in the floods of 2016, but it can also be prayed for places and people who are victims of natural disasters elsewhere, such as the wildfires in southern France, and recent mudslides in Mexico.)

God, we lift to our brothers and sisters whose lives have been disrupted and devastated by natural disaster.
You are an ever-present help in times of trouble.

We mourn with them for what has been lost:
Homes
Businesses
Possessions
Lives
Hope

For those whose homes have been destroyed
Shelter them.
For those whose possessions have been lost
Provide for them.
For those whose means of making a living has been disrupted
Sustain them.
For those who have lost loved ones in the chaos
Comfort them.

We pray for the people who are at hand, working to help:
Give them strength
That they may have the fortitude to do hard things
In the ministry of compassion.
We pray for state and government officials:
Give them wisdom
That they may see problems and envision solutions
To care for the people.
We pray for the people as they work to rebuild their lives:
Give them hope and perseverance.

May the rain stop
And the waters recede quickly.*
And may the heart of the Church, the body of Christ on earth
Be aroused to compassion and care;
And remember that we are all connected near and far,
Beloved by you.

Amen

*These two lines are optional, depending on the situation
 

Litany for Refugees

I am hoping that this prayer can be a practical way that congregations of Jesus-followers can engage with the European migrant crisis. It is a responsive prayer intended for congregational and small group use. May we all have the mind of Christ toward refugees.

God, we lift up to you the plight of our sisters and brothers fleeing from their homes
Escaping war, extermination, persecution.
We pray in solidarity with those who must uproot themselves and their families in order to survive.
Be with them now, Oh God.

We remember that Jesus himself, along with his parents, were refugees escaping genocide.
Give us Christ's compassion for those endangered.

For refugees from [Syria, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq] we pray:
For provision for practical needs,
For safe passage through distressed regions,
For a home, a hope, and a future.

For aid organizations and workers in those regions, we pray:
For the love of Christ to flow through them,
For world awareness and support of their needs and work,
For effectiveness in helping distressed people.

We are reminded of mandates you’ve given us, to extend hospitality to strangers,
To love our neighbor as ourselves.
May we live in light of your commands, and in the light of Your love, even when it is inconvenient.
We love because You first loved us.
May we generously give, serve, and listen, sharing in the richness of the Kingdom of God,
Extending grace and mercy to all.

Amen