The following prayers, written by Beth Nolen, are provided for use on International Women’s Day.

Priest: We are called to be people who listen to God’s Word and respond. Let us turn to God in prayer now, so that our prayers can help make a difference to our world.

We pray for men and women who hold positions of leadership and power within the Church, that their work will help empower all those influenced by their ministry, to know their full dignity and value. (Pause to enable the faithful to pray this prayer in their hearts.) Gracious God, hear our prayer.

We pray for liberation for women who live with violence and exploitation in all countries of our world. (Pause to enable the faithful to pray this prayer in their hearts.) Gracious God, hear our prayer.

We pray for women who are considering termination of their pregnancy. May they not be lured into a false sense of expediency and so act with courage to protect the life within them. (Pause to enable the faithful to pray this prayer in their hearts.) Gracious God, hear our prayer.

We pray for all women and men in our Church, that we will find new ways to work together in partnership to reflect each of us being made in the image of God. (Pause to enable the faithful to pray this prayer in their hearts.) Gracious God, hear our prayer.

We pray for ourselves, that each of us will discern ways that we can more fully live as God calls us to live. (Pause to enable the faithful to pray this prayer in their hearts.) Gracious God, hear our prayer.

We pray for healing for those in our community who are suffering physical, emotional or mental illness. (Pause to enable the faithful to pray this prayer in their hearts.) Gracious God, hear our prayer.

We pray for those who have died, including _____________. May they rest forever in the arms of our loving God. (Pause to enable the faithful to pray this prayer in their hearts.) Gracious God, hear our prayer.

Priest: Gracious and ever-loving God, we know that you hear these and all the prayers in our hearts. We make all these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.