SHANNON CRAIGO-SNELL

God of New Life, bless Randy Bryce, an Army veteran, iron-worker, and union leader who has announced he will run against Paul Ryan in 2018. I don't know Bryce, but I do know what Ryan has done and is currently doing in office. I ask Your blessing on everyone who runs, campaigns, volunteers, and votes in order to change things for the better. May 2018 be a year of powerful compassion and mighty solidarity. Amen.

God of Grace, bless the members of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS who resigned in protest against the current administration's complete lack of care for people suffering from this disease: Scott Schoettes, Lucy Bradley-Springer, Gina Brown, Ulysses W. Burley III, Grissel Granados, and Michelle Ogle. Grant them opportunities to continue their advocacy and success in their efforts to curtail HIV/AIDS. Amen.

Everlasting God, bless the people of NBC Connecticut who decided not to air Megyn Kelly's interview with a hate-monger. In the five years since the school shooting in Newtown, bereaved parents have been tormented by gullible and vicious strangers who believe the shooting never happened. NBC Connecticut will not grant a platform to a person who spouts such harmful lies. May the practice of valuing truth over profit be contagious. Amen.

God, our souls ache. Help us. Black Lives Matter is a theological claim. We know black lives don't matter to many people and in many systems. But we attest that those people and systems are wrong, because Black Lives Matter ultimately. A Christian way of saying that is Black Lives Matter to God, to You, the measure of all. When our souls ache with sorrow and outrage, it is faith that makes them so. In faith, we know we are called to be better than this. We know that this u

Triune God, I give thanks for Nikos Giannopoulos, Rhode Island Teacher of the Year, who made sure his photograph in the Oval Office reflected his queer identity. In Beacon Charter High School for the Arts, Giannopoulos encourages and advocates for LGBTQ students. His approach to a single photo op brought the rest of us into his classroom, as he demonstrated how to act in courage, joy, and resistance all at once. Shield him from hatred; surround him with love. May his work imp

God of Knowledge, bless the senators--both Democrat and Republican--who are resisting Mitch McConnell's attempt to write and pass a healthcare bill in secret. May their efforts draw attention to this end run around democracy. Amen.

God of Mercy, I pray tonight for the members of Sandy Hook Promise, an organization formed by parents and spouses who lost loved ones in the shooting in Newtown, CT in 2012. They aim to protect children from gun violence through programs including education and advocacy for sensible policies. In the midst of mourning and lament, they moved toward peace, compassion, and care for others. May their efforts inspire us and bear fruit. Amen.

Holy God, I pray for the bean-counters, the note-takers, the record-keepers, and the fact-checkers. For those who care about accuracy and detail. May they have voice and influence in the days ahead. Amen.

Holy God, I pray for the Attorney General of Maryland, Brain Frosh, and the Attorney General of D.C., Karl Racine. They have filed a lawsuit against the current occupant of the White House for violating the emoluments clause of the Constitution, which states that a president cannot receive funds from foreign governments or officials, as this would invite corruption and influence peddling. Aid them in their efforts to uphold the best of our democracy. Amen.

Gracious God, bless Jimmy Carter, who made the news this weekend for his kindness. In his consistent efforts on behalf of those who are poor and those who are sick, President Carter has been an exemplar of Christian values. His advocacy on behalf of the environment was groundbreaking. On matters of race and gender, he became a steadfast ally, standing for justice even when the personal cost was high. Throughout, President Carter has embodied a deep Christian faith that has no