| The U.S. midterm elections will be held next week. The direction of
our nation turns on how these elections play out. Prayers for a new
Congress that will be more diligent in performing its duties than the
current one are certainly in order. The Episcopal Church’s Book of
Common Prayer offers this prayer appropriate for what the
nation will be doing next week:
For an ElectionAlmighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and
privileges: Guide the people of the United States (or of this community)
in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful
administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our
nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
The prayer is taken from p. 822.
After hearing a sermon emphasizing the admonition to love one
another, I decided to write an election-oriented collect that emphasizes
a need for legislators to be motivated by love (as opposed to financial gain,
re-election prospects, etc.). My offering along these lines is the following:
For an ElectionAlmighty God, governor of the universe, who has taught us to love one
another, lead us to select legislators whose service will be guided by
love and concern for the people of this nation, advancing the kingdom of
heaven announced by Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for all eternity. Amen.
I thought it important to avoid creating a prayer that was
conspicuously partisan. Of course, not all members of Congress, even if
motivated by love and concern for their fellow citizens, will think of
their efforts as advancing the kingdom of heaven. But they likely will
be. I hope that Christians of all stripes will find this prayer
acceptable, perhaps even serviceable.
I worked on writing this collect over several days, producing a
number of drafts. Perhaps it could be improved with additional effort,
but I think it likely is good enough. Besides, I wanted to finish before
Movember3.
— LED, 10/30/2026 |
