SHANNON CRAIGO-SNELL

Gracious God, I pray tonight for the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court, which ruled that the congressional district map is an unconstitutional gerrymander that must be redrawn. May their ruling be a decisive step towards functioning democracy. Amen.

Fierce God, bless all who are participating in Women’s Marches this weekend. May we draw strength from our unity and wisdom from our multiplicity. Amen.

Holy God, I pray tonight for every person who manages a household budget, making serious decisions about priorities and values that affect the members of the household and the broader community. Every week, every month, every year, people of good will do all they can to use their financial resources in ways that support, nourish, shelter, and care for their families, broadly defined. This work—at the kitchen table with bills and statements—is unglamorous. There are no news ca

Holy God, I lift up the Israeli organization Rabbis for Human Rights. The prime minister of Israel is planning the expulsion of asylum seekers from Eritrea and Sudan. Rabbis for Human Rights is overseeing the Anne Frank Sanctuary movement, in which people who honor the Jewish tradition of human rights and the legacy of Anne Frank prepare to hide the African refugees. There were brave souls who hid Jewish people when they were being rounded up. These faithful Jews are ready

God of Truth, today we honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his leadership in the civil rights movement. Some people become leaders by offering easy answers, promising quick rewards, scapegoating outsiders, and telling reassuring lies. Rev. Dr. King did none of that. Following him involved personal risk, long-term struggle, refusing hatred, and telling unwelcome truth. Tonight I give thanks for the many people who chose to follow Rev. Dr. King. The mothers and fathe

Gracious God, bless Senator Dianne Feinstein. In recent days she released transcripts of testimony shedding light on the Russia investigation, short circuiting deceptive attempts to undercut the inquiry. She also made a clear, strong statement condemning the Occupant’s racism. Grant her continuing wisdom and courage. Allow her honesty and bravery to spur her fellow lawmakers to bold action for the common good. Amen.

Merciful God, I have a lot of prayers tonight. Earlier this week a man named Imamu Baraka saw a woman being left outside in 30 degree weather, wearing a hospital gown and socks, as she was discharged from a hospital in Baltimore. Baraka videotaped the event and attempted to help the woman. First, I pray for this woman. Please come to her aid, God; surround her with support and enable her healing in every way, including healing from this trauma. Second, I pray for the hospit

God of Creation, I give thanks for the Republican-controlled Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which rejected the current administration's plan to prop up coal-fired and nuclear power plants over other energy sources. I suspect I disagree with every person on this committee on almost every political and environmental issue. I give thanks for them anyway for this action, and I pray blessing upon them. May the beauty of creation inspire them--and me--to ongoing action. Am

God of Grace, I lift up U.S. District Judge William Alsup, who ruled that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals legislation (DACA) must remain in place while legal challenges to the Occupant’s decision to rescind it are resolved. May we all be wary of decisions to round people up, kick them out, or send them into dangerous situations. Amen.

God of Justice, bless the federal judges who ruled that the highly gerrymandered North Carolina congressional district map must be redrawn. Bless the lawyers and advocacy groups who filed the lawsuit. Bless the people of North Carolina who have stubbornly refused to acquiesce to the violation of democracy. Bless us all with a sense of ownership, accountability, investment, and vigilance regarding our democratic processes. Amen.