compiled by Dr. Jason Myers

Litany Against Isolation and Loneliness

During the season of Lent, we have been spending time in our Prayers of the People to acknowledge corporate sins in our world of which we need repentance and amendment of life. Today’s prayer is a litany against alienation and loneliness. We heard from our Old Testament reading in Isaiah, that God desires to meet the needs of his people. Today we lament the role that loneliness and isolation play in our world. We ask you, God, to restore, like rivers in the desert, that you might meet the needs of your people and that we might offer our praise to you.

After each prayer, I will say Lord in your mercy and you can respond with hear our prayer.  With these prayers, we as a community ask for God’s redemptive presence in the church, world, community and individual lives. And we offer our own lives to God’s mission of healing and reconciliation in the world. Let us pray.

Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you today all neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, widows, and orphans, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lord in our mercy, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, Grant that those who live alone may not be lonely in their solitude, but that, following in his steps, they may find fulfillment in loving you and their neighbors; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lord in our mercy, hear our prayer.

O God of justice and mercy, we pray that no more daughters and sons in this world feel unloved or in some cases even die as the result of bullying simply because of who they are. We pray that our schools and colleges become places of nurturing and hope rather than shame and derision.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Oh loving God, you give breath to each person you made. You treasure the gifts of each unique person. When life seems like a burden rather than a gift.
God of life, hold us. When darkness strangles the will to live, when days become endless nights, God of light, shine on us. When no one seems to understand, when we walk and wait alone, God of love, embrace us with your presence. When we walk through

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Oh caring Lord, we pray for those who live with mental illness. For those crippled by depression and anxious feelings, bring peace. For those who suffer from the high and lows of severe mood swings, bring peace. For those who find it difficult to cope with tasks of daily living, bring peace.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Oh God, who weeps with us, we mourn, grieve, and remember those who ended their life before it was time. Comfort those who grieve and bring healing.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Oh God of comfort, where there is despair, bring hope; where there is shame, give value and worth; where there is emptiness, bring fulfillment; where there is suffering in mind and body, bring healing. God of hope, hear our prayer for life.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Triune God, we celebrate the gift of life for each person. We commit to nurturing the well- being of each person here. We know for some, life is a burden filled with suffering. Help us to talk about our fears, our anger, and our despair with someone we trust. We celebrate that life has purpose and meaning.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Oh faithful God, remind us that You know us by name. You know our place and purpose in this world. We are created to live in community. Some feel alone, unloved and disconnected. May we the church be a light in the world where technology alienates us from one another. May the world see us loving one another in great tenderness and fellowship. Give us courage to reach out with love to someone who needs us. May we be Your presence with them.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.