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Prayer - Prayer for Workers

  • Aaron Lam
  • May 1, 2020
  • 2 min read

Here's a prayer by the interfaith group Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ) called the Prayer For Workers. It is in the style of call-response, but can be easily modify if praying alone.


Leader: Let us continue to recognize the many people whose work is a blessing, and to call those who are in leadership positions to act with justice.


All: God of Compassion, hear our prayer.


We pray for construction workers who build our homes and places of work and worship.


God of Compassion, hear our prayer.


We pray for injured workers who are too often neglected.


God of Compassion, hear our prayer.


We pray for farmworkers and poultry workers who help provide us with our food but who often work in dangerous conditions and struggle to provide food for their own families.


God of Compassion, hear our prayer.


We pray that our legislators and elected officials act on the cries for justice in our community.

God of Compassion, hear our prayer.


We pray that all owners and managers recognize the dignity of workers and uphold the standards of our faith traditions by providing living wages, affordable benefits and the freedom of association.


God of Compassion, hear our prayer.


God of Exodus, you went to your people in Egypt, saw their pain and set them free — free from the bondage of their oppressor. You walked with them to freedom. Walk with all of us who struggle for dignity in the workplace, for a living wage and for fair benefits. Bless all of us as we continue working to bring forth your vision — a vision of justice and peace, kindness and compassion, grace and mercy.


AMEN


Amen, indeed.

 

Lutheran Resources For Worker Justice

  • Aaron Lam
  • May 1, 2020
  • 1 min read

Here's a pdf by IWJ about the Reformer Martin Luther's thoughts on the importance of fair economics and treating workers well, as well as the Lutheran churches advocacy for workers.


Luther clearly sees from the perspective of an independent producer, a small businessman, whose experience of being robbed by the powerful is primarily connected to price gouging. However, the heart of his accusations would apply equally to the modern multinational corporations that seek profit at the expense of people not primarily by raising prices but rather by lowering wages. The core violation of “using the market according to his caprice as though it were his fair privilege and right” is as characteristic of WalMart as it was of the noblemen of Luther’s time.
 
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