Day of Prayer for the Millennium Development Goals

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight goals agreed to in 2000 by 189 heads of state and government - including the United States - from around the world that address the deepest material brokenness in the world today.

A special session of the United Nations is being held today, September 25, to discuss the progress (or lack of progress) that has been made toward these goals.

We are invited to join in with people of faith around the globe on this day, to:

+ pray with special intention for the extreme poor throughout the world.
+ skip at least one meal in solidarity with the nearly 1 billion people who go to bed hungry each night.
+ participate in an online advocacy action promoting our government's fulfilling its promises to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

For more information about these extremely important Millennium Development Goals, visit this page on the Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation website. Here is a suggested form of prayer from the EGR:

Most loving God,

as your desire for mercy for the poor is unrelenting,

may we be unrelenting in our pursuit of mercy for all;

as your compassion for the suffering of the poor knows no limit,

may our hearts overflow with compassion for all;

as you long for justice for the poor, may we strive for justice for all.

Open our eyes to the structures of oppression from which we benefit,

and give us courage to accept our responsibility,

wisdom to chart a sound course amid complexity,

and perseverance to continue our work until it is finished.

Breathe your life-giving Spirit afresh into your Church

to free us from apathy and indifference;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.