06/05/2026
🕯️From this week's prayer liturgy: mfsaweb.org/candle
This week, we light the Candle of Light, Hope, and Peace for people who are struggling to afford food because of cuts to SNAP and other food assistance programs, and the social workers, researchers, and others whose life-saving work connecting families with nutrition assistance has been blocked or defunded. We pray for families and individuals who have to decide between paying for food or for gas, and those who are waiting in hours-long lines at food banks. As more than 3.5 million people nationwide have been cut off from much-needed assistance, we also pray for food bank workers trying to fill in the gaps.
God, we pray for policymakers to understand that hardship is not a sign of weakness, and to craft laws from a place of abundance rather than scarcity. We also pray for researchers at the Department of Agriculture whose research to help alleviate food insecurity has been canceled, and workers at state SNAP agencies who are faced with taking assistance away from people who need it.
Help us remember, God, that when we approach our neighbors with generosity and care, we are living out your love in the world. When we are tempted to judge others for needing help, remind us that we will also face difficult seasons.
God, make us examples of abundance and care in the world, and help us to find opportunities to support our communities in times of need. Help us to know that there will always be enough, and that we can make the parable of the loaves and fishes real in the world by approaching everyone with a spirit of generosity. Where fear of scarcity tempts us to hoard our resources, help us to freely share what we have and encourage our elected officials to do the same.
