Besides voting, another act of faith you can engage in on Election Day is prayer. The polls are open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. You’re invited to sign up online for a 20 minute slot to pray wherever you are during those 12 hours. You will find a guide to prayer to use during your time at the end of this message.
Prayer is always a good idea, but in anxious times it is especially helpful in reminding us that God ultimately holds the future. We know God is already at work among us. Prayer helps us remember that and moves us to act in faith.
And so we will pray that God will be at work in our electoral process. We will pray for a peaceful transition, no matter the outcome of our elections. We will pray that the demonization of one another’s opponents which has characterized this election not be further stoked by its outcome. We will pray that all those elected be moved, strengthened and guided by the Spirit, to lead us through fractious and dangerous times. We will pray in gratitude for those who, with sacrifice of self and noble intent, step up to lead our common life.
Remember these words from scripture: Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. (1 Peter 3:8)
How this prayer vigil will work: Click
here to go to our Signup Genius page. Choose a 20-minute time slot when you know you can stop and pray, click, and enter your name. You’ll get a reminder about your time later. On Election Day, during your time slot, pray. Pray for unity, for peace, and for our leaders (whoever they may be).
Guide for Prayer
I’ve listed some scripture readings, prayers, and other liturgy elements for you to use during your time of prayer. I’ve also suggested some hymns that you can read, sing, or listen to as part of your prayer. There is no prescribed order or requirement, these are simply offered to help if you’re not sure where or how to start or fill that time.
Scripture Readings:
Prayer for Illumination
Prepare our hearts, O Lord, to accept your word. Silence in us any voice but your own; that, hearing, we may also obey your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ephesians 2:13-22
Ephesians 4:4-6
1 Peter 3:8
1 John 4:7-21
Prayers:
An Election Day prayer by Presbyterian Pastor Anne Russ
Gracious and loving God,
Today, we give thanks that we live in the United States and for the freedoms and rights we often take for granted. We are grateful for the right to vote, and we honor those who sacrificed so that we might each have a voice. May we never take the privilege for granted. We ask that You would help heal the deep divisions that exist in our country. Help us come together to solve the problems we all face.
We all want:
– jobs for people who need them
-food for children who are hungry
-care for the sick, the elderly and the disabled
-a bright future for the next generations
Help us to look beyond our differences and work together to make these dreams a reality. May all Christians bear witness to our faith in God and commitment to Christ by loving one another, even when we don’t agree. Maker of us all, be with us in the coming days and weeks and months, and help us focus on all that connects us rather than on the things that divide us. In the name of the Creator and the Christ and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
For Those Who Suffer for the Sake of Conscience
(From Presbyterian Book of Common Worship)
God of love and strength, your Son forgave his enemies while he was suffering shame and death. Strengthen those who suffer for the sake of conscience. When they are accused, save them from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from despair. To us, your servants, give grace to respect their witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of our merciful and righteous judge, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
At the Time of an Election(From Presbyterian Book of Common Worship)
Under your law we live, great God, and by your will we govern ourselves. Help us as good citizens to respect neighbors whose views differ from ours, so that without partisan anger, we may work out issues that divide us, and elect candidates to serve the common welfare; through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
For Our Country(From Presbyterian Book of Common Worship)
Almighty God, you have given us this good land as our heritage. Make us always remember your generosity and constantly do your will. Bless our land with honest industry, sound learning, and an honorable way of life. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Make us who come from many nations with many different languages a united people. Defend our liberties and give those whom we have entrusted with the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there might be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, let our hearts be thankful; and, in troubled times, do not let our trust in you fail. We ask all this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For State and Local Governments(From Presbyterian Book of Common Worship)
Almighty God, bless those who hold office in the government of this state/city/town, that they may do their work in a spirit of wisdom, kindness, and justice. Help them use their authority to serve faithfully and to promote the general welfare; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
From the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer
Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of this land in the election of officials and representatives, that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
By Stanley Hauerwas
Sovereign Lord: Foolish we are, believing that we can rule ourselves by selecting this or that person to rule over us. We are at it again. Help us not to think it more significant than it is, but also give us and those we elect enough wisdom to acknowledge our follies. Help us laugh at ourselves, for without humor our politics cannot be humane. We desire to dominate and thus are dominated. Free us, dear Lord, for otherwise we perish. Amen.
Hymns: if you don’t have a copy of the new hymnal, find them on YouTube to listen to it online.
Other Liturgy:
Call to Confession
Sisters and brothers in Christ, our baptism is the sign and seal of our cleansing from sin, and of our being grafted into Christ. Through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ, the power of sin was broken and God’s kingdom entered our world. Through our baptism we were made citizens of God’s kingdom, and freed from the bondage of sin. Let us celebrated that freedom and redemption through the renewal of the promises made at our baptism. I ask you, therefore, once again to reject sin, to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, and to confess the faith of the church, the faith in which we were baptized.
Prayer of Confession
Sovereign God, in baptism you called us to turn from sin and to turn to Jesus Christ; but we stray from his ways and do not heed your call. In baptism you joined us to Christ in his death that we might be raised with Christ in new life; but we cherish old ways and fail to embrace the risen life of righteousness, justice, and love. In baptism you united us with all the baptized who confess your name; but we foster division in the church. We refuse to live as one people, and so fail to witness to your reconciling love before the world. In baptism you call us to ministry in all realms of life, but we refuse the struggle to know your will; we do not nurture the ways of peace; we allow enmity and hatred to grow among us, putting neighbor against neighbor, and nation against nation. We abuse the earth you entrust to our care, and live in discord with all you have made. In baptism you sent us to serve with compassion all for whom Christ died; but we ignore the suffering of the oppressed and the plight of the poor. We take bread from the hungry, and will not listen to cries for justice. In baptism you gave us the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us, but we rely on ourselves, and refuse to trust your direction. We spurn your eternal wisdom, preferring the luring ways of the world. Remember the promises you made to us in our baptism, forgive our sinful ways and heal our brokenness. Set us free from all that enslaves us, and raise us to new life in Jesus Christ, that we may be your faithful servants, showing forth your healing love to the world, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
Declaration of Forgiveness
Hear the good news! In baptism you were buried with Christ. In baptism also you were raised to life with him, through faith in the power of God who raised Christ from the dead. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life has gone; a new life has begun. I declare to you in the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. Amen. Thanks be to God. If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Affirmation of Faith- from the Confession of Belhar
We believe that God is the one who wishes to bring about justice and true peace among people. We believe that God, in a world full of injustice and enmity, is in a special way the God of the destitute, the poor, and the wronged.
Blessing and Charge
Lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Amen.
