Resources that may be helpful in response to what is happening with Venezuala
A Prayer for Venezuela
God of life and mercy,
we hold before you the people of Venezuela –
beloved of you,
yet long burdened by hardship and fear.
You see the daily weight carried by families:
poverty that narrows choices,
uncertainty that steals rest,
illness untreated,
and futures delayed by forces beyond their control.
You know the quiet courage it takes simply to endure.
Creator of life, Christ our peace, Spirit of hope:
lead us in the way of justice and non-violence.
We grieve the ways violence continues to shape our world.
Every act of war tells of peace left undone,
of dialogue abandoned,
of humanity forgotten.
Turn us again, O God,
toward the patient, demanding work of peace.
Plant deep within leaders and nations
a commitment to listening rather than overpowering,
to understanding rather than domination,
to justice rather than fear.
Open pathways of dialogue where voices have been silenced,
and make reconciliation possible where wounds feel too deep.
Creator of life, Christ our peace, Spirit of hope:
lead us in the way of justice and non-violence.
We pray for freedom from fear and uncertainty –
for children to sleep without dread,
for elders to live with dignity,
for communities to know safety, care, and hope.
Let access to healing, to daily bread,
and to a future worth trusting
become signs of your justice at work.
Creator of life, Christ our peace, Spirit of hope:
lead us in the way of justice and non-violence.
Spirit of peace,
strengthen all who labour nonviolently for change –
those who organise, advocate, serve, and refuse despair.
Keep alive the vision of a society
where every person’s dignity is honoured,
and no one is expendable.
Teach us, too, to be people of peace:
steadfast in compassion,
courageous in truth,
and unwilling to accept violence as inevitable.
Creator of life, Christ our peace, Spirit of hope:
lead us in the way of justice and non-violence.
We place Venezuela, and all who suffer in the shadow of conflict,
into your wounded yet hopeful hands,
trusting that your justice is stronger than fear,
and your peace more enduring than any force of harm. Amen.
(Source: Rev Sandy Boyce)
In this time of uncertainty and change,
we hold before God the people of Venezuela –
those who are celebrating,
those who are fearful,
those who are grieving,
and those who long for peace, dignity, and a future shaped by hope.
We pray especially for Venezuelan communities here in Australia,
for families living with distance, anxiety, and deep love for home.
May God’s peace surround all who suffer.
May wisdom guide leaders.
May justice be pursued without violence.
And may the voices of ordinary people be heard and honoured.
We join our prayers with those offered across the global church, trusting in God’s promise of peace, restoration and life. Amen.
(Source: Rev Charissa Suli, President, Uniting Church in Australia)
Prayer
Gracious and merciful God,
You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble.
We come before you with hearts that are heavy yet hopeful, lifting up the people of Venezuela and the very complicated realities they face in these challenging times.
Bring calm where there is fear, clarity where there is confusion, and restraint where there is anger or despair.
Guide leaders, institutions and communities toward decisions that honor life, dignity and the common good.
We pray especially for our Lutheran church in Venezuela, for pastors, deacons, lay leaders and all who serve faithfully amid uncertainty.
Sustain them with courage, wisdom and perseverance.
Let your church be a living sign of your grace and a place of refuge, truth, accompaniment and hope for all who suffer.
God of justice, where systems oppress and voices are silenced, raise up pathways of accountability, reconciliation and peace.
Protect the most vulnerable, the poor, the displaced, the elderly and the children, and strengthen all who labor for justice, healing and reconciliation.
God of hope, when the future feels fragile and unclear, remind your people that you are not absent.
By your Holy Spirit, kindle hope that does not disappoint and peace that surpasses all understanding. We entrust Venezuela, its people and your church into your loving hands, trusting not in our own strength but in your steadfast love made known in Jesus Christ, who is our peace.
In his holy name we pray. Amen.
(Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)
A Prayer for Venezuela
Holy and merciful God,
You who hear the cries of your people and never abandon the work of your hands,
we lift before you the people of Venezuela.
Pour out your peace upon a land weary from hardship and uncertainty.
Strengthen families who struggle to find food, medicine, and safety.
Guard those who are vulnerable, displaced, or living in fear.
Bless those who work for justice, dialogue, and reconciliation.
Grant wisdom to leaders, courage to communities,
and resilience to all who continue to hope against hope.
Let your Spirit move through acts of compassion,
through neighbours helping neighbours,
through the quiet persistence of those who refuse to give up on one another.
May your light break through every shadow,
your healing mend every wound,
and your love restore the dignity and peace your children deserve.
We ask this in the name of Christ,
our companion in suffering and our source of unshakeable hope.
Amen.
(Source: Trinity Anglican Church, Cottam, Ont., Canada)
God of mercy and peace, we come before you today with hearts heavy for our brothers and sisters in Venezuela. Our hearts are with them in their hour of fear. Lord, hear our prayer and bring your peace.
We pray for the families in Caracas and across Venezuela who were awakened by the sound of explosions. Protect the children, the elderly, and the vulnerable from the physical and emotional scars of violence. Prince of Peace, guide us toward a nonviolent path.
We pray for our leaders and the leaders of all nations. Soften hearts that seek power through force and enlighten minds to see the path of dialogue. May they remember that every life is sacred and every act of war is a failure of peace. Holy Spirit, grant them the wisdom to be peacemakers.
Loving God, grant us all the strength to be your hands and feet in a time of darkness. Amen.
(Source: Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns)
God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
BEACH SPRING 8.7.8.7 D (“God Whose Giving Knows No Ending”)
God, whose love is always stronger than our weakness, pride and fear,
In your world, we pray and wonder how to be more faithful here.
Hate too often grows inside us; fear rules what the nations do.
So we pray, when wars divide us: Give us love, Lord! Make us new!
Love is patient, kind and caring, never arrogant or rude,
Never boastful, all things bearing; love rejoices in the truth.
When we’re caught up in believing war will make the terror cease,
Show us Jesus’ way of living; may our strength be in your peace.
May our faith in you be nourished; may your churches hear your call.
May our lives be filled with courage as we speak your love for all.
Now emboldened by your Spirit who has given us new birth,
Give us love, that we may share it till your love renews the earth!
Text: Copyright © 2003 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.
Email: carolynshymns@gmail.com New Hymns: www.carolynshymns.com/
