Posts Tagged ‘Congressional election prayer’

 

For Wisdom during Mid-Term Elections

Posted on: November 1st, 2018 by Alden

Go out to vote. With wisdom. And encourage others to vote, as well. Early mid-term voting is open in most U.S. states. This prayer has a much different tone than my Psalm of Protest 12, sung on the eve of an election.

For Wisdom during Mid-Term Elections
G-d of Justice,
Protector and Redeemer,
Grant guidance to our nation
As we select leaders
To serve and to govern,
The men and women who promise
To bring prosperity to our land,
The men and women who promise
To protect our homes and our democracy.

Grant wisdom and courage to voters
To entrust our government to visionaries,
To consensus builders and peacemakers,
To those luminaries who will serve our citizens –
And all who reside within our borders –
With honor and integrity
To forge a flourishing and peaceful future.

Bless our current and future government
With vision and strength,
Fortitude and insight.
May this new government lead us to a time
When liberty and equality will
Reign supreme throughout the land.

G-d of Truth,
Source and Shelter,
Grant safety and security to all nations,
So that truth and harmony will resound
From the four corners of the earth.
Let the light of our democracy
Shine brightly,
A beacon of hope
For every land and every people.

© 2018 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com.

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Postscript: This is an adaptation of “For Wisdom during U.S. Primary Elections.”

Please check out my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer,” and This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

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Voter Suppression: Psalm of Protest 12

Posted on: October 9th, 2018 by Alden

This Psalm of Protest is to be “sung on the eve of an election.” The third stanza quotes verses from Psalm 94. The fourth stanza echoes those lines with a modern voice and a modern response: a call to action. See also “Psalms of Protest 1, 2 and 3,” “Psalms of Protest 4, 5 and 6” and “Psalms of Protest 7 to 10.”

Voter Suppression: Psalm of Protest 12
A psalm of protest,
Sung on the eve of an election,
Before the seats of power.

What malice,
What cynicism,
What blatant manipulation of democracy,
To perpetrate injustice and pervert the will of the people!
Voter suppression.
Gerrymandering.
Turning a blind eye to attacks from hostile governments.
Woe to the usurpers who gain power falsely.

G-d of retribution, (Ps. 94:1-2)
G-d of retribution, appear!
Rise up, Judge of the earth.
Repay the arrogant what they deserve.
Can a corrupt throne be aligned with you? (Ps. 94: 20-21)
Can injustice be framed into law?

People of conscience,
People of conscience, appear!
Rise up to reclaim the ballot box,
Repay the deceitful,
Reject them and deny them office.
Will a corrupt government stand?
Will injustice be left unanswered?

Rise up, you of faith,
You of hope.
Rise up, to stand stalwart
Against threats to democracy.

© 2018 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com.

New here? Subscribe here to get my newest prayers by email.
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Postscript: See also “For Wisdom during Democratic Elections.”

Please check out my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer,” and This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo Source: Dayton Daily News

In Thanks for U.S. Democracy, Revised

Posted on: October 20th, 2016 by Alden

img_0713Unlike any other nation in history, the United States has a resilient system of electing leaders that consistently yields the peaceful transition of power, a system that’s being challenged by those currently in power. This is a simple prayer of thanksgiving for our democracy. Here’s a related prayer “For Wisdom during U.S. Presidential Elections.”

Addendum: I added reference to the 25th Amendment on Feb. 19, 2017, after seeing this video. In the wake of Covid-19 and social justice protests, I made further adjustments July 3, 2020.

In Thanks for U.S. Democracy
G-d of history,
We give thanks for the blessings
Of democracy in the United States,
Blessings unparalleled throughout the world.
No nation can match these gifts.

We give thanks:
For free and fair elections,
For the 15th Amendment,
For the 19th Amendment,
For the 25th Amendment,
For the Voting Rights Act,
For decentralized control of balloting,
For decentralized control of vote tallying,
For the peaceful transition of power,
For the two-party system,
For third party and independent candidates,
For robust debate and political compromise,
For patriotism above partisanship,
For the separation of power,
For leaders taking an oath of office,
For leaders taking an oath to serve the people,
For leaders taking an oath to defend the Constitution,
For a military and judges sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution,
For a free press and the right to assemble,
For three branches of government, two chambers of Congress, and the Supreme Court, our checks and balances,
For accountability to constituents,
And for one another, citizens of a great nation.

Let us cherish the right to select our government.
Let us cherish the right to select our representatives,
The national, state and local leaders
Who will steer our nation and guide our communities.
Our system is strong.
On election day, our voices are heard.
We, the People, are blessed.

© 2016, 2017 and 2020 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: Like many prayers aimed at fostering gratitude, the core of this prayer is about recongnizing and counting our blessings. See also: “For Wisdom during U.S. Presidential Elections.”

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Photo Source: Eagle Mountain Flag

For Wisdom During Democratic Elections

Posted on: October 26th, 2012 by tobendlight

The citizens of the United States are about to elect a president. Two months later the citizens of Israel will also go to the polls. And so, I’ll be voting in two national elections. Let us select well. This prayer can be used for any of the world’s democratic nations. Specific selections to customize the prayer for specific nations are shown in [brackets].

For Wisdom During Democratic Elections
G-d of Justice,
Protector and Redeemer,
Grant guidance to our nation
As we select leaders
To serve and to govern,
The men and women who promise
To bring prosperity to our land,
The men and women who promise
To protect our homes and secure our borders.

Grant wisdom and courage to voters
To entrust our government to visionaries and statesmen,
To those who will serve our citizens,
And all who reside within our borders,
With honor and integrity
To forge a flourishing and peaceful future.

Bless our [President / Prime Minister / (title of chief executive)] and
The [Congress / Parliament / Knesset / Legislature / (name of legislative body)]
With vision and strength,
Fortitude and insight.
May they lead us to a time
When liberty and equality will
Reign supreme throughout the land.

G-d of Truth,
Source and Shelter,
Grant safety and security to all nations,
So that truth and harmony will resound
From the four corners of the earth.
Let the light of [this / our / U.S. / Israeli / (country name)] democracy
Shine brightly,
A beacon of hope
For every land and every people.

© 2012 Alden Solovy and www.tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript:  Reflecting my two citizenships, click for Veterans Day prayers, Thanksgiving Day prayers and “A Liturgy for 9-11,” as well as prayers for Israel. Thanks to RJ Blog for posting this prayer for your readers.

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