February 1, 2011. After a week of street demonstrations against the regime of Hosni Mubarak regime, the people of Egypt are calling for a change of government and an end to the inequalities which have created a tremendous gap between the rich and the poor. Underlying all the chaos is the yearning of a repressed people for a taste of freedom.

And so we pray this news.

O God, we lift up our prayers this day
knowing that you are One who cherishes freedom.
The people of Egypt want a new government.
They want to end the 30-year rule of
an authoritarian and oppressive regime.
They have taken to the streets to make
their voices heard in solidarity with many others.
We pray that the demonstrations remain peaceful
and that the police and the military not respond
with violence and destruction.

Enlarge our hearts, O God
and help us not to turn away from this struggle.
Once again, we are seeing the pulse of freedom
that beats in the hearts of people around the world.
Enlarge our hearts, O God, to support the
cause of seekers of freedom everywhere.

The protests in the streets of Cairo
are a vivid reminder to us
that raw political power needs to be tamed
and that corruption and the violation of human rights
must be resisted.

The pictures of those who yearn for
something more remind us to be thankful
for the freedoms we take for granted.
The pictures of the demonstrators
remind us that we are not really free
until all the people of Egypt are free.

Enlarge our hearts, O God
and help us not to turn away from this struggle.
Once again, we know that you are present
in the midst of turmoil, forging the way to a new day.
Enlarge our hearts, O God, to support the
cause of peace and freedom of the people of Egypt
and their brothers and sisters all over the world.


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