SHANNON CRAIGO-SNELL

Steadfast God, bless those who work for, are members of, or support the American Civil Liberties Union. Grant them success in their persistent efforts to protect the vulnerable and uphold the rule of law. Amen.

Holy God, I pray for every law enforcement organization and officer who has spoken out against the Occupant's endorsement of police brutality. It is not enough to say the right thing. More is needed, including serious reform that addresses racial bias in policing. However, one of the lessons of our current era is that when saying the wrong thing becomes socially acceptable, hateful actions rise. May justice and kindness be always on our lips; may we enact mercy and compass

Holy God, I pray for those taking the Presbyterian Church (USA) ordination exams this week. After years of study, those seeking ordination take difficult and exhausting exams so that, if they pass, they can apply for scarce, demanding jobs that don't pay well. If successful in this process, they will spend their lives in spaces of struggle and suffering, accompanying those who are lost or have lost or are set up to lose. Seminary students are, by many standards, batshit craz.

God of Justice, the rule of law is threatened profoundly by the current occupant of the White House, who seeks loyalty and privilege rather than truth or the common good. Tonight I give thanks for Aeschylus, who wrote a trilogy of plays that are known as the Oresteia. One of the themes of the drama is the transition from vengeance to justice through trials. The Oresteia was performed to great critical acclaim in Athens in 458 BCE. Many recent events make me feel as if the U.S

God of Presence, I pray for the doctors, nurses, staff, volunteers, and escorts at Planned Parenthood locations and women's health clinics. Many are being harassed and threatened. Set a hedge against all evil to protect them and their families. Help this country to move towards accessible and affordable healthcare for all. Amen.

Holy God, bless Ksenija Pavlovic, who resisted the administration's ongoing restrictions of the press by live-streaming the audio of a White House press briefing. Amen.

God of Compassion, I pray for the ArchCity Defenders, a civil rights law firm in St. Louis that fights abuses of legal systems, including keeping poor people in jail for being poor. There is a dangerous heat wave in Missouri and there are people being held in vermin-infested medium security jail with no air conditioning. The facility is called the Workhouse. Today, the ArchCity Defenders offered to bail out anyone kept in the Workhouse due to lack of funds. God, I give thanks

Merciful God, I lift in prayer everyone who is struggling with health issues. May each and every person have excellent medical care. Amen.

God of Revelation, we don't know what heaven will be like, because we cannot fathom Your glory. Some days, though, I imagine it will be like this: Jane Austen has been writing novels since she died, and when I die I get to read them all. This is not my most intricate theological take on beatific vision. But it isn't entirely foolish, either. There is something holy in precise and illuminating use of language. There is grace in seeing straight through human pretensions and sti

Holy God, bless the senators who oppose the GOP proposed medicaid-cutting "healthcare" legislation. Thank you. Amen.