A Prayer Before the Election
Centering Words in a Critical Moment
My predecessor at Rockharbor, Todd Proctor, leads a beautiful initiative every Fall in Orange County called “Seek Week”— a week of prayer that unites churches across the 34 cities of our county. The prayer gatherings take place in various locations and times throughout the week. Todd reached out to me a few days ago to ask if I could write a prayer for Sunday, November 3rd, that would help us focus our hearts days before the election.
After writing it, I thought it may be something that could be useful for you in your context too. I wrote it in two formats: a collective prayer to be read out loud together, and a call and response prayer with a leader taking a few sections. Of course, Sunday has passed, but it may still be a good prayer for Monday and Tuesday, and, well…the days after as well.
Also, here’s a clip from our 11am service today at Rockharbor of us praying it together. It came right out of “Holy Forever”; and we went back into the bridge after the prayer. (Song not included for copyright reasons.)
A Prayer for the Sunday Before the Election
by Glenn Packiam
[Raise arms up high]
Almighty God,
You are the sovereign over all nations.
Kingdoms rise, and kingdoms fall,
But your name stands above them all.
As we approach election day in the United States of America,
Keep our eyes fixed on you.
Helps us to see what John saw in Revelation:
[Pause here, closing your eyes for a few seconds]
Your throne is at the center of the universe
Beside the throne stands the lamb who was slain.
Jesus, Your loving and sacrificial death
is the victory that overcame evil.
Your resurrection is the reason we have hope
For life beyond death,
For new creation coming,
and for the restoration of all things.
[Pause here, closing your eyes for a few seconds]
We pray for your rule to arrive on earth as it is in heaven.
We pray for your will to be done in the world.
We pray for the church in America to reflect the Kingdom of God
in all that we do and say.
[Open your hands, palms up]
Help us to be salt--
preserving what is good in the world around us
and preventing the rot of sin and wickedness.
Help us to be light--
putting your goodness, righteousness, and justice
on display in the world.
Use our actions and our agency,
Our votes and our voice
For the good of our neighbors
and for the glory of God.
No matter the outcome of this election,
Fill us, your people, with your peace.
Remind us of our mission in the world.
Keep us faithful to our call,
and joyful in your service.
[Raise arms up high]
Until that great day when every knee bows
and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father,
And the kingdoms of this world become
the Kingdom of our God and of His Messiah,
And he shall reign forever and ever.
Amen.