A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis for May 31, 2020

May 31, 2020

A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis

During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and the members of the Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week.
You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions.

Today’s prayer

​O God, we admit too often we are hidden behind locked doors:
Doors of racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, xenophobia.
We hear our neighbors say they can’t breathe,
but are we truly listening? 
Come, Holy Spirit, come. Venha, espírito santo, venha.
The violent rushing wind from heaven comes to stir us up.
People are crying out “I can’t breathe.”
Our nation is on fire,
are we willing to respond?
Come, Holy Spirit, come. Ven, espíritu santo, ven

Send your ruach* to your people once again,
turn our lives upside down.
Help us repent of our individual and communal complicity in the racism in our society,
to care for those gasping to catch their breath.
Come, Holy Spirit, come. 
Your Holy Spirit gives abilities beyond our wildest imaginations,
to see and hear our siblings when they cry out, unable to breathe.
Give us the courage to take a stand and speak,
so that all can hear and understand in their own language.
Come, Holy Spirit, come. Njoo roho takatifu. Amen.

* Ruach is the Hebrew word for the breath of God, the Holy Spirit.
By Rev. Megan Stowe, Central MA District Superintendent
Based on Acts 2:1-21