Today in our prayers for the people of Ethiopia.

Prayer for Peace

World Conference 2023 Opening Prayer

Will you please turn and face the East with me:

Creating God, we know that from the East comes the sun, of course, every morning, but there is illumination to our souls from there that reminds us that this is where courage is born and reborn. Let us this week feel the interconnectedness of all of us with all the world.

And now to the South, it is from here that we feel the warmth and it is here that we realize we have courage to journey through our fears and to bring others through theirs. We can take uncertainty and turn it into faith. And given the capacity, we can prepare for these days where we will bring others to Christ. We have the ability, God, if you will help us to serve by putting other things aside and discern what you would have us do the most.

And now as we turn to the West, this is land of the thunder-beings, of the lightnings and the thunders, and it is also the bringers of power to heal. And so, Creator, we ask that there be immense healing and that we can take that healing home from here to our homes. Teacher, help us shut down the clutter of the world with the newness of the hard rain so that the new sprouting of wonderous love can grow.

As we turn to the North, we recognize that courage is balanced with wisdom, and we also realize that we need to stand firm in those things that we have been given to do as a mission. We also pray for those in the north country that they be brought.

And now down below, Mother Earth, oh all things, all things, the winged-ones, the standing-talls, the two-leggeds, the four-leggeds, the finned ones, those with wings, all struggle.

Father, we know that our mother groans for the liberating truths of this gospel. And we pray that we may see this week a need to make this a priority because we know that Christ is in and through all things first spiritually and then physically. Father Sky, let us bring down your righteousness upon the Earth this week. Let us be your peoples that bring the peaceful kingdom of Zion to Earth.

And now in our hearts we are reminded of the covenant that we have made. But may we this week look to the heart of Jesus and may his heart and what he desires for us come full into our midst, into our families, into our towns, into our provinces, into our congregations, into our small groups, into our laughter at lunch this week and in our debate in a loving way. And last of all, I pray that we may act for the tiniest child on this planet to the oldest elder that we may be able to be stirred to become Community…of Christ, anew.

Aho! Mitkuye Oyasin (to all my relations)