We pray for everyone who has been affected by Covid-19. For those who have died; for those who have been ill; for the family members that this has affected; for those whose jobs and livelihoods have been affected by the economic downturn that this pandemic has caused; for all of us as our lives and our “normals” have changed.

At the burning bush, Moses learned that God is attentive to circumstances of the oppressed: “I have observed the misery of my people.... I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters…. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them.” (Exodus 3:7-8a, NRSV)

God of the Exodus is paying attention to world events today. In response to yet another police killing of an unarmed black man in the USA, protests have broken out in North American cities and elsewhere in the world. Looting and vandalism have occurred. Police in the USA have fired rubber bullets and tear gas even upon journalists reporting about the protests.

We lament systemic racism that leads to killings and daily indignities for people of colour. We grieve the violent actions by both protesters and law enforcement. We confess the lack of equity and justice that at times from characterizes our own responses. We acknowledge the long, intercontinental roots of racism that include complicity in the slave trade.

We reaffirm the following Mennonite World Conference Shared Convictions: “As a world-wide community of faith and life we transcend boundaries of nationality, race, class, gender and language... The Spirit of Jesus empowers us to trust God in all areas of life so we become peacemakers who renounce violence, love our enemies [and] seek justice...”

Creator God, reach into our hearts and our troubled world to bring repentance and right relationships!

We pray for those who are facing hunger due to food shortages, harvest disruptions, and the effects of climate change on local food production. May God provide and may those with many resources share with those who have less, on both local and international levels.

Pray for Communauté des Églises des Frères Mennonites au Congo (CEFMC) which continues to struggle with the loss of an older generation of leaders. Since January, the conference has mourned the loss of 5 pastors. Pray for the families and congregations mourning the loss of Reverend Muyombo from Kikwit, Reverend Mavungu from Kinshasa, Reverend Ndala from Kinshasa, Reverend Mukidi from Panzi, and Reverend Kasombo from Kajiji. May God comfort those who mourn.

Social isolation increases the vulnerability of many people. Pray for those who do not have safe homes to shelter in.

Loving God, who walks alongside the neediest and the little ones of this world, we give many thanks for helping us to accompany our refugee and migrant brothers and sisters. We wish to assist them with bread, with comfort, with a willing and attentive ear and heart. We also desire a more just and humane world where we all have a place to be with dignity and joy. Thank you for your faithfulness; at no point has the oil run dry. Just as you did for the widow and the prophet, you have generously provided. We also thank you because we have felt your presence more closely, and we have become more aware of your being God with us.

—Refugee and Migrant Peoples Project, Iglesia Menonita de Quito, Ecuador

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We are so thankful for the good rains that are covering the whole country of South Africa. They have come late for good crops in areas, but we are glad to get water. The countryside is good and green. We are very thankful. We do need our dams to fill up though.

—submitted by MWC regional representative for Southern Africa Barbara Nkala

मलावी के संविधानिक न्यायालय के द्वारा 2019 में हुए राष्ट्रपति के चुनाव के परिणाम को यह कहते हुए अवैध करार दिया है कि मतदान में गड़बड़ी हुई है। मलावी के हमारे भाई बहनों ने हमसे प्रार्थना का निवेदन किया है कि सभी दल इस निर्णय को शान्तिपूर्वक स्वीकार कर सकें। 

जनवरी 2020ः हे हमारे सृष्टिकर्ता परमेश्वर, तेरा धन्यवाद हो, कि तू पतित मानव को विश्वासयोग्य संगति, आराधना, सेवा और गवाही के लिए एकसाथ बुला कर फिर से ज्यों का त्यों करने का प्रयास करता है। हे प्रभु यीशु, परमेश्वर के पुत्र, हम तेरी आराधना करते हैं। तेरे जीवन, तेरी शिक्षाओं, तेरे क्रूस और पुनरुत्थान के द्वारा, तूने हमें यह दर्शा दिया कि हम किस प्रकार से विश्वासयोग्य चेले बने, संसार को छुटकारा दिया, और हमें अनन्त जीवन का प्रस्ताव दिया। हे पवित्र आत्मा, हम तुझ से  प्रार्थना करते हैं कि हमारे जीवन के सभी क्षेत्रों में परमेश्वर पर भरोसा रखने के लिए हमें सामर्थ प्रदान कर। हम ऐसे मेल कराने वाले बने जो हिंसा का त्याग करते हैं, अपने शत्रुओं से प्रेम रखते हैं, न्याय का पीछा करते हैं, और जरुरतमंदों के साथ अपनी धनसम्पत्ति बाँटते हैं।