Prayer of Hope for the World
Lord God, we come to you in our need;
create in us an awareness of the massive and seemingly irreversible proportions
of the crisis we face today and a sense of urgency to activate the forces of goodness.
Where there is blatant nationalism, let there be global, universal concern;
Where there is war and armed conflict, let there be negotiation;
Where there is stockpiling, let there be disarmament;
Where people strugle toward liberation, let there be noninterference;
Where there is consumerism, let there be a care to preserve the earth's resources;
Where there is abundance, let there be a choice for a simple lifestyle and sharing;
Where there is reliance on external activism,
let there be a balance of prayerful dependence on you, O Lord;
Where there is selfish individualism, let there be an openness to community;
Where there is the sin of injustice, let there be guilt, confession, and atonement;
Where there is paralysis and numbness before the enormity of the problems,
let there be confidence in our collective effort.
Lord, let us not be much be concerned to be cared for as to care,
no so much to be materially secure as to know that we are loved by you.
Let us no look to be served,
but to place ourselves at the service of others whatever the cost to self-interest,
for it is in loving vulnerability that we, like Jesus,
experience the fullness of what it means to be human.
And it is in serving that we discover the healing springs of life
that will bring about a new birth to our eath and hope to our world.
Amen.
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