A prayer for voters
Loving God, we face a choice.
Be with us as we consider the options
weigh the arguments
and assess the claims and the candidates.
But also prompt us to listen:
to the voices on the margins
to the cry of the earth
and to those who reach a different conclusion to us.
God, we pray that you would
stimulate our minds
stir our hearts
and sanctify our choosing.
Help us also to remember
your command to love our neighbours
both during and after this election.
Amen
Prayer ahead of voting
Gracious God,
As we go [today] to sign a cross in a box,
We pray that we will do just that,
And our vote would be a mark of our faith in you.
We pray that as we walk into the polling station,
we will carry your concerns for the world,
your sacrificial love for our neighbours,
and even for those who oppose us.
Help us to be ambassadors of your kingdom,
Today, and in the months to come,
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen
Prayer for political campaigners
Holy God,
May we be campaigners with compassion
and for your kingdom come.
Challenge us where our embedded ideologies rule us,
Help us to hear the voices of those unlike us,
And to listen to the silence where voices need to be raised up.
Give us the wisdom to talk to those in power,
And the gentleness to bless those who oppose us.
Encourage us when we are weary of working for good,
And enable us in all things to seek your will,
Rather than our own authority.
For yours is the kingdom,
The power,
And the glory,
Forever and ever, Amen.
A lectionary-based prayer for the second Sunday in Advent, the Sunday before the election
As we prepare to vote in this general election,
bless us with a spirit of wisdom and understanding
and help us to make good judgements.
We pray that those who seek to lead
would pursue pathways to equity, justice and prosperity for all people
so that righteousness may flourish and peace abound
As we debate the way forward for our country
may the God of steadfastness and encouragement
enable us to live in harmony with one another.
We pray in the name of Jesus, in whom we have our hope.
Amen
The cross
The cross was
a vote for love
a vote for peace
a defiant vote for hope.
In these dark December days
may we remember what you stand for
as we make our own cross,
and also vote
for love,
for peace,
for hope.
General Election
Sovereign and all-knowing God, we pray that we may be given wisdom, vision and compassion as we consider our votes in this election.
We pray that those who seek to represent us may be guided by wisdom, vision and compassion as they consider their policies and aims.
God of goodness and faithfulness, the media constantly bombard us with bad news about your world, in crowing exposés, fatalistic observations and cynical comments.
We feel tempted to walk the easy path of apathy, cynicism and comfortable ignorance. Forgive us, loving God, and restore us.
Remind us again of the Good News of Jesus who, by his life and teaching, death and resurrection, offers hope and fullness of life to humankind and challenges us to set our feet on the difficult path to your kingdom.
God of holiness and justice we pray for those looking to be elected to Parliament, especially for the local candidates.
May your Holy Spirit give them the gifts and skills they need and fill them with integrity, understanding and compassion.
May they commit themselves to serve us faithfully and to improve the quality of life for those in need.
God of our lives, in the Bible you grant us beautiful visions of the kind of governments you want for your world.
Help us not to be selfish in our voting but to consider prayerfully how we should honour you with our decisions.
Amen
(Chris Odell (Sheasby), Open With God, Inspire Publishing, 2004)