Prayer for the Poor
This page has three prayers for the poor. The first offers the least, the last and the lost to God and reflects on our response to the marginalized and vulnerable in our community. The second is a traditional prayer from the Episcopal Church which considers the forgotten and neglected in society. The final prayer is that justice might "flow like a river" to those who are lie forgotten and hopeless:-
Prayer for the poor and needy
Lord God,
You came to give honour to the least, those forgotten, overlooked and misjudged.
You came to give first place to the last, those left behind, misunderstood and undervalued.
You came to give a warm welcome to the lost, those who are orphaned, abandoned and destitute.
Help us to be your ears to listen to their cries.
Help us to be your voice speaking out love and acceptance.
Help us to be your feet walking beside those in need.
Help us to be your hands to clothe, feed and shelter them.
You came for the least, the lost and last of this world.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Amen.
(a contemporary prayer for the poor and vulnerable from www.lords-prayer-words.com)
• click here for a modern prayer for justice, suitable for praying for a nation or needy people group in mind.
Episcopal Prayer for the Poor and the Neglected
Almighty and most merciful God,
we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget:
the homeless and the destitute,
the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them.
Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy.
Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget:
the homeless and the destitute,
the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them.
Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy.
Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
(Source: 1979 Book of Common Prayer, Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA)
When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed.
Mother Teresa (1910–1997)
Come, O Spirit of God
A prayer song of justice for those who are brokenhearted or in great sorrow, based on Isaiah 61:-
A Prayer for Justice
Lord, may justice flow like a river
Reaching barren lands and sun scorched deserts
Where people feel forgotten and hopeless
Let your water of life
Comfort them
Where children lie abandoned or abused
Let your water of life
Protect them
Where communities suffer at the hands of prejudice
Let your water of life
Shield them
Lord, we ask for a mighty downpour from Heaven
May your sons and daughters hear your voice
May we live as you lead us to live
Go as you bid us to go
Serve as you inspire us to serve
Give as you teach us to give
Until the earth is covered with the glory of God
As the waters cover the sea
Amen
(an example of a modern prayer for justice from www.lords-prayer-words.com. Suitable for use with a nation or people group in mind)
read sample prayers of the faithful including a short article on how to write good bidding prayers.