Responsive Reading

In the spirit of the ancient Hebrew prophet, Amos, whose thunderous voice still comes to us afresh: “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an everflowing stream.” We lift our voices in a new vision for our state and all its people.

We lift up a vision, that EVERYONE will have their basic needs met regardless of income, geography, citizenship, or other condition.

We offer a vision where EVERYONE will have access to nutritious food and affordable housing.

EVERYONE will have comprehensive and affordable health care. High quality education will be offered at every stage of life.

In the spirit of the non-violent revolutionary, Mahatma Gandhi who said, “Poverty is the worst form of violence,”

EVERYONE will be given a way out of poverty, as all will have the opportunity to work, be compensated fairly, earn enough to meet their basic needs, and be treated with dignity.

In the spirit of the illustrious civil rights leader of our nation, Martin Luther King, Jr. who said, “There’s nothing new about poverty. What is new, however, is that we now have the resources to get rid of it,”

We advocate for all FAMILIES, so that they are given respect and support for their care-giving responsibilities. We seek changes in policy regarding childcare, sick leave, and support for those balancing the needs of young and elder dependants.

In the spirit of Jesus, who came to bring “good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free and to proclaim the year of God’s jubilee,”

We proclaim that we will work for the day when EVERYONE is valued by our society and poverty is known no more.

(adapted from the National Council of Churches ‘Let Justice Roll’ Campaign, www.nccusa.org/letjusticeroll/)

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Prayer of Confession

Almighty God, who through your Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit has created all that is, we confess as your Church that we have not done enough to speak against an unjust national and state budget. We recognize that the early Church had a strong sense of the ‘common good,’ where all were entitled to share in what societies could offer. This concept has been trampled on in our present day. We confess that we have allowed our society to move away from the notion of a ‘common good’ and have instead benefited from the perks of wealth. Our own brothers and sisters have suffered due to our inattention and unwillingness to raise our collective voices for just state and national budgets. Convict us, Holy Spirit, for our complacency. Empower us, Benevolent God, to work tirelessly for a renewed understanding of ‘the common good,’ and to speak the truth and beauty of the gospel to our policymakers. Heal our reluctant hearts and minds. In the name and power of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

(by Jason R. Jenkins)

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Prayer for a Generous Spirit

God of all, eternally kind and gracious, we thank You for all we are and all we possess.

This is all fruit of Your unlimited generosity and benevolence. We thank You because we do not possess anything, not even our lives, that has not been a gift from You.

Enlighten our minds so that we can use wisely all the gifts that we receive from You daily.

Help us understand that it is better to give than to receive,

because giving helps our soul give up the material and temporal in order to ally it with a spirit of altruism and charity.

Help us comprehend more each day that by means of giving, we can adjust the inequalities of the human race. This is the only way the strong and powerful can help the weak, so that social peace can reign among us.

We place this in the name of Your beloved Son, Jesus, who lives and reigns in unity with the Holy Spirit, forever and ever.

Amen .

(adapted from the official prayer of the 1999 National Catholic Stewardship Conference, Archdiocese of St. Louis, www.archstl.org/stewardship)

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Easter Prayer

We thank you, Risen Christ, for the empty tomb. Your victory over death has given us life everlasting, as well as life abundantly here on earth. We humbly ask of you, Risen Christ, to impart wisdom to those who purport to lead our communities and our nation, so that they may make shrewd decisions in order to provide literally this abundant life. Give them a sense of responsibility and purpose, that they may follow your rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Open their eyes to the plight of the “least of these.” Show them that their decisions are not merely written words on paper, but policies and monies that significantly affect peoples’ lives. We ask this in the name of the One who lives and reigns forever and ever,

Amen .

(by Jason R. Jenkins)