Bishop Park on the National Day of Prayer

Grace to you in the name of Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, Healer of our
Brokenness, and Hope of the World!

Today we observe the National Day of Prayer. This day was set aside by the
United States Congress beginning in 1952 as a time when people of all faiths
might unite their hearts before God.

Please join me in making this a special day of prayer. Indeed, we have much to
pray about. Let us come into God’s presence asking for healing from the ravages
of COVID-19. Our prayers and tears flow for those who are sick, those who are
hospitalized, and for those who have lost loved ones. Many are also living in
the anxiety of having lost employment due to the pandemic. In general,
communities of color and the poor have been hurt most by the pandemic and the
resulting precautions. We grieve for all these concerns.

Please join me in praying also that God would lead scientists and researchers
as they work hard to find effective treatments and a safe vaccine that will allow
people to heal and live healthy lives. We know that our God is a God of
revelation in faith and science.

Our prayers of lament are also mixed with prayers of gratitude. For family and
friends who have remained healthy or recovered well, we are grateful. For the
signs of hope we see around us, particularly as creation awakens into spring,
we give thanks. For God’s gift of creativity to our clergy and lay people who
have found new ways faithfully to worship God and care for neighbors, we praise
God. As Easter people, we rejoice that even now, God is working for the renewal
of life.
 

May our voices ascend to our God, who hears all of the people of the world and
is quick to answer our prayers.