SHANNON CRAIGO-SNELL

God of Hope, I lift up the Black Student Union at duPont Manual High School in Louisville, KY. The group organized a sit-in this week to protest principal Jerry Mayes’ discriminatory comments to African American students and to a transgender student. I give thanks for the 100+ students who demonstrated. Grant them tenacity in their work for justice, that they may influence our country’s future. Amen.

Steadfast God, I pray for the Democrats in Congress who are resisting the proposed tax bill that primarily benefits the wealthy. The bill now includes deconstruction of the Affordable Care Act. Republicans tried to pass a “healthcare” bill that was really a tax cut. That didn’t work. Now they are trying to pass a “tax cut” that is also an attack on healthcare. God bless the elected officials who remain vigilant in the face of numerous, drawn-out, multi-faceted threats to the

God of Grace, I pray tonight for Alabama Republicans who have decided not to vote for Roy Moore. May none of us be so partisan as to overlook evil because it plays on our team. Grant us discernment, that we might be self-reflective and self-critical instead of assuming those with whom we identify are always right. At the same time, grant us moral courage, that we might avoid the laziness of false-equivalencies, what-about-ism, and cynical abandonment of ethical standard

God of Wisdom, this year has certainly expanded my prayer list. People and businesses and groups I did not expect to be politically engaged have pressed toward the common good in multiple ways. Tonight I pray for the people of GQ magazine, who honored Colin Kaepernick as citizen of the year. Bless them. May there be more and more resistance from unexpected quarters. Amen.

God of Justice, bless the American Bar Association for telling the truth about some of the Occupant’s judicial nominees—that they are “not qualified.” Bless them with back-up, God. May they not stand alone in resisting this damage to our federal courts. Amen.

Merciful God, today I give thanks for those who make the effort to encourage the people around them. We are surrounded by messages telling us to fear one another and compete with one another. Then along come these gracious souls who call out strengths, not weaknesses; who remember accidental kindness, not accidental foolishness. These silly people act as if the world is not ruled by scarcity in a zero-sum game. They act like there is plenty of room and love for all of us. I

Holy God, I lift up every person who voted in today’s elections. Bless us with democracy. Nurture our hope for equality and good governance. Inspire us to work together for the common good. Amen.

Gracious God, tonight I lift up all who have worked with the Princeton and Slavery Project, including Professor Martha Sandweiss, Craig Hollander, and Joseph Yannielli. Telling the truth about our past is necessary to create a better future. Amen.

God of Life, I pray for every person who curses vehemently when told, “now is not the time to talk about gun control” or “don’t politicize this.” May they swear with the tongues of angels. May their bold impatience with stupidity inspire others to intervene in the NRA sponsored, money-driven, death-dealing, immoral bat-shittery of American gun laws. Amen.

God of Life, I give thanks for the protesters in Hawaii who met the Occupant with pithy signs. My favorite: “Welcome to Kenya.” Bless us with humor in the midst of struggle. Amen.