Prayers for the USA

The President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Dr Deidre Palmer, has called church members to hold in prayer churches and people in the United States in the coming weeks and months.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took their oaths of office early on Friday 21 January Australian time, as more than 1500 Americans a day die of COVID-19 and right-wing extremist groups threaten further unrest in the wake of the Capitol riots of 6 January.

“We pray for strength and the Spirit’s sustaining power to uphold all those people of nonviolence and peace, who are resisting the hate and lies that are undermining the flourishing of civil society,” said Dr Palmer.

“The Uniting Church is part of the global communion of churches, who are witnessing to the good news of Christ’s peace, love, reconciliation and renewal in their nations and local contexts.

“I invite you to join in prayer for the churches and the people of the USA and particularly for those in which we share a partnership – the United Church of Christ in the USA and the United Methodist church.”

Dr Palmer highlighted and endorsed statements by leaders of the UCA’s partner churches in the US, the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church. 

“We join in hope with those Christian leaders who have called for a new day.”

“Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, President of the Council of Bishops in the United Methodist Church has said we must be willing to adopt the new hearts, minds and skills necessary to build a church and world where all belong and are embraced as beloved of God.”

“That message resonates with us in our Australian context as well.

“We pray for God’s vision of grace, justice and love to shape the hearts and minds of all those who follow Christ,” said Dr Palmer. 

“And we pray for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and their administration, as they begin their service to the American people.

“We pray for wisdom, courage and strength, as they respond to the health crisis and as they work for unity, and the wellbeing and common good of all Americans.”

Download Dr Deidre Palmer's Letter