Almighty God who has given us an abundance of good things, has set our feet about these boundaried shores, and has called us to give an account for the work of our hands, we ask your blessings upon this Election Day.
Forgive us for thinking your love is a zero-sum equation in which we are held harmless in loving only those who think, speak, and vote like us.
Forgive us for refusing to let go of the hopelessness found in cold hypocrisies and bold untruths. Forgive us for painting in the light of partisanship and fear your call to love all your children. Forgive us for tending poorly to one another, separating one from the other, and dividing prematurely those worthy and those lost.
Give hope to us, oh Lord, that these days are not unknown to you. As we powerfully proclaim that you are not a God of darkness and chaos, let us with steadfast hearts participate in this beautiful exercise of democracy.
Give love to us, oh Lord, as we deepen our need to love one another. Remind us that you, not our candidates, are the fount of all holiness. Let us recall with humility our own sins as we remember that all are welcome at your table. Open our hearts to new days, new leadership, and new ideas as we pray for those who will begin the work of directing this country.
Give courage to us, oh Lord, as we act with scrutiny of word and deed toward those whose names are listed on our ballots, heard in our conversations, and spoken in our homes. Guide us as we separate what is good, beautiful, and true from the rubbish and noise of all that inevitably will come. Ignite in us the holy desire to carry out your work regardless of the outcome of this day.
Give us mercy, oh Lord, to lose with dignity and win with compassion, remembering that all those on the ballot were made in your image. Let us rise again tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow with an urgency to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, bury the dead, shelter the traveler, comfort the sick, and set the captive free.
Lord, hear the prayers of all those gathered in voting booths, in precincts, in campaign rallies, and those huddled around computer screens. Hear the prayers of your children who raise their hands with confidence just as you continue to hear the prayers of those whose hands will always tremble in silence.
See in us, Holy Father, what you love in your Son as we offer great thanks that our citizenship in Heaven will never rest upon our political allegiances, but on the sacrifice of the Cross. Remind us of the promise of your salvation as you bestow upon this land your protection and your guidance. We give you this day, and every day, to shelter and bless this country we love.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, hear our prayer. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, hold our beloved states. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
This liturgy was originally published on the Rabbit Room blog on November 8, 2016.