Therefore, this week your action is to take care of yourself. Relax, do something you enjoy, do something that rejuvenates you. Because we suspect that there will be plenty of things on which we will need to take action in the coming weeks and months. God bless you all and thank you.
PRAYER FOR AN ELECTION (from our Book of Common Prayer)
Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States 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.
PRAYER FOR OUR WORLD (Prayer for meditation from November 4 Noonday Prayer)
Let the rain come and wash away the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds held and nurtured over generations.
Let the rain wash away the memory of the hurt, the neglect.
Then let the sun come out and fill the sky with rainbows.
Let the warmth of the sun heal us wherever we are broken.
Let it burn away the fog so that we can see each other clearly, so that we can see beyond labels, beyond accents, gender or skin color.
Let the warmth and brightness of the sun melt our selfishness, so that we can share the joys and feel the sorrows of our neighbors.
And let the light of the sun be so strong that we will see all people as our neighbors.
Let the earth, nourished by rain, bring forth flowers to surround us with beauty.
And let the mountains teach our hearts to reach upward to heaven. Amen.
—Rabbi Harold Kushner (b. 1935)
PRAYER FROM OUR PRESIDING BISHOP
As the people of the United States cast their votes for the office of president and many other offices throughout the land, we gather to pray to the God who is the Creator of us all. We pray that we might learn to stand and hold each other’s hands as the children of God. – Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
