Prayer is an amazing and powerful gift. It allows us to spiritually connect to God and each other in our journeys of faith. We'll use this page to post prayers for each program, special reflections on international days of awareness, and prayers during specific events on the LUCSA calendar. We also ask that you join LUCSA as we lift up those in need across our sub-region and the world in our daily thoughts and prayers. Together through advocacy, action, and prayer we will be able to holistically live out the gospel in the unity of Christ.

A Prayer on International Day of Prayer for Peace  (21 September 2011)

Our Lord and God Almighty,

we praise you,
for you created us all and made us
into many different tribes and nations,
that we may befriend one another
and that we may not despise each other.

Open our hearts, we pray,
so that we may respond to the needs
of all our brothers and sisters.

Oh Lord Jesus, bless all our lands
with more lasting peace and fraternal understanding.

Above all, heavenly Father,
touch the hearts of our political leaders
and all those in power.

We pray that they may exercise power gently,
that they may humbly seek a disinterested dialogue
that will bring about understanding,
leading us all to a place where all nations and all people
live together in peace and harmony.

Where there is bitterness teach us forgiveness and reconciliation,
replace hatred with love and indifference with care.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.     

Courtesy of The World Council of Churches

A Prayer for the People of East Africa  (5 August 2011)

Gracious God, Giver of Life and Hope,

We bring before your throne of love and mercy the humanitarian ever increasing crisis in the Horn of Africa.

We pray for your divine intervention in this drought-gripped area which has brought severe  human suffering, manifesting itself in acute hunger, malnutrition,  unbearable levels of starvation, child mortality, and the extraordinary flow of refuges in search for food, shelter and safety.

In this prayer we remember the mothers, fathers, children and families who have had to bury their children and loved ones in shallow roadside graves due to the continued conflict and crisis. We ask you Lord to be amongst them and give them comfort.

We pray for the involved governments and the Al-Shabaab organization in South Central Somalia, may their hearts be moved with compassion, to grant humanitarian access to their starving people, created in your image.

Lord, strengthen those providing necessary aid and move the hearts of your believers to give more to their fellow sisters and brothers in need. We put before you, particularly all faith-based organizations, who have volunteered to bare the burden amongst the suffering.

Lord, we pray that the countries in the Horn of Africa continue to mother the motherless and be homes for the homeless.

In Christ’s name we pray.

Amen

Written by Bishop J.M. Ramashapa - Executive Director of the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa

A Prayer for the People of Norway and for All Victims of Violence and Terror (24 July 2011)

God of life, God of love:
In the face of unbearable tragedy we turn to you;
hear our cry, listen to our prayers, to our words, to our silence ...
 
God of healing, God of mercy:
Hear our prayers for the people of Norway;
for all in deep distress, for all who grieve, for the injured and the shocked, for those in despair.
May they be cared for and comforted.
For all in the emergency services working long hours to search, to listen, to care, to protect, to heal.
May they be given strength and also find support.
 
God of mercy, God of peace:
Hear our prayers for all around the world facing terror and unspeakable violence;
May violence be overcome and the path to peace be found.
All human life is fragile, each of us is precious in your eyes,
Teach us to value one another as you value us.
 
God of justice, God of courage:
We pray for all leaders in times of crisis,
That they may act for the common good, offering hope and not fear.
 
God of courage, God of transformation:
We pray for our churches,
That they may be places of openness and forgiveness, planting the values of peace and justice in society.
Transform all fundamentalism and vengeance into attitudes that make for reconciliation.
May we learn to be children of your kingdom of love.
 
God of all  grace and all thankfulness:
In gratitude we pray, giving thanks for the prayers and encouragement which come from so many people and places at this time of suffering, pain and mourning. We learn global solidarity in a time of crisis; may we not forget one another in less stressful times ahead.
 
These prayers and the heavy silence of our hearts we offer in the name of your son Jesus Christ who trod the path of peace in the face of violence.
Amen

Courtesy of The World Council of Churches 

A Prayer for South Sudan (9 July, 2011)

Today we pray  for the people of South Sudan.

As we celebrate the birth of the world's newest nation, we offer up prayers for a peaceful transition.

May God bless and guide the people of South Sudan and its neighbors, that they may seek a future of interconnected growth and partnership.

We pray for our brothers and sisters in the Lutheran Communion in Central and Eastern Africa (LUCCEA); that they may be filled with God's grace and abundance in their mission. May God give them strength as they work to heal and uplift each other during this time of change and renewal.

We ask you, oh Lord, to comfort those who have been affected by the violence that has spread throughout the region in recent years. May the guns of conflict be silenced in the name of unity, so that the children of South Sudan and its neighbors may look forward to a future of peaceful coexistence.

Amen.

Written by Kristen Opalinski for the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa

A Prayer for Youth Day 2011 (16 June)

Today we pray

For the children of the world.

May they live
without fear of guns and bombs.
May they live
without hunger for food or love.
May they live
without the shadow of violence stunting their growth.

May each day bring them
enough hugs for a smile
enough friends for security
enough adults to provide guidance.

May they grow in faith
so that they walk as your children,
children of grace, joy and peace.

Forgive our silence.
Empower us to work with you
to shape a world of justice
for all your children.

May we never get in the way
of letting the children come to you.

Amen.

Excerpt taken from Carmen Schrock-Hurst's 'Prayer for Children' copyright l999

A Prayer For Africa Day 2011 (25 May)

O Lord, Creator of the entire world,
O Loving God,
This prayer is for Africa.
 
Bless the plains, rivers, trees 
And all the African lands.
 
Bless the birds, fish and animals
That bring beauty and abundance to Africa.
 
Bless O Lord,
Your children in Africa.
Dry their tears.
 
Bring hope into their hearts,
Health and safety to their lives, 
Food and water for their nourishment.
 
Bring peace to their countries
And still the guns of war.
 
Bless us, O Lord, 
And heal your continent of Africa.
 
Renew the land, renew the spirit 
Of all those who are wounded in any way.
 
May justice roll down like water
On the parched ground of your beloved Africa. 
 
Amen. 

-written by the staff of Education for Justice