February 28, 2026
Good afternoon dear friends,
You may have seen the letter from Presiding Bishop Rowe on the military strike on Iran today. I am in sorrow over these strikes. Please join me in prayer for protection for all those affected and for a speedy resolution.
As Archbishop Naoum of Jerusalem and the Middle East wrote in his letter, “In the face of such overwhelming force, we recall the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matt 5:9).”
We share this prayer for use in your service tomorrow from the Women’s Uncommon Prayers, Our lives Revealed, Nurtured, Celebrated, published in 2000 by morehouse Publishing.
Prayer in Time of War
Our Father, who art in heaven, slow to anger, and of great mercy, lover of all the peoples of the earth, Hallowed be thy Name.
Remind us that “all the nations are as nothing before thee,” their governments but a shadow of passing age;
Thy kingdom come on earth.
Grant to thy children throughout all the world, and especially to the leaders of the nations, the gift of prayerful thought and thoughtful prayer; that following the example of our Lord, we may discern what is right, and do it;
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Help us to protect and to provide for all who are hungry and homeless, especially those who are deprived of food and shelter, family and friends, by the tragedy of war;
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us for neglecting to “seek peace and pursue it,” and finding ourselves in each new crisis, more ready to make war than to make peace. “We have not loved thee with our whole heart; we have not loved neighbors as ourselves”;
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Let us not seek revenge, but reconciliation;
Let us not delight in victory, but in justice;
Let us not give ourselves up to pride, but to prayer;
Lead us not into temptation.
Be present to all thy children ravaged by war:
Be present to those who are killing and to those who are being killed;
Be present to the loved ones of those who are killing and to the loved ones of those who are being killed;
Deliver us from evil.
Subdue our selfish desires to possess and to dominate, and forbid us arrogance in victory;
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and
ever.
Amen.
—Ms. Wendy Lyons
Here are more resources to help the people of Holy Land, Gaza and the surrounding areas.
In Christ,
Bishop Megan
Prayer For All Victims of ICE’s Violence and Raids
God of abundant life, who judges injustice, hears the cry of the oppressed, and calls your people to bear witness to your life-giving righteousness, we pray for all who have died because of our present immigration system. We pray for the victims of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s violence on the streets of American cities. We pray, too, for those who have died trying to find a path to a better life for themselves and their loved ones. Send your Spirit upon all those who grieve and sit in fear, and grant governing authorities the wisdom to safeguard due process, fairness, and human dignity. Grant this, Lord, for the sake of Jesus Christ, your only Son. Amen.
