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Are you looking for some way to take note of the fact that elections will be taking place in our communities in the coming days? Worship leaders will be including petitions for God's guidance in their prayers. Here are a few more ideas for you to include:

Scripture Readings:
Romans 13:1-7
1 Timothy 2:1-4
1 Peter 2:13-17

Prayers of the People
Consider including the following concerns in your prayers:

1. Give thanks for the freedom we have and the privilege of participating in an election.
2. Give thanks for those who have led us in the past.
3. Ask for wisdom and discernment to sort out truth from fiction as we prepare to cast our votes.
4. Ask for God's direction in the outcome of every election on every level.
5. Ask that God will give faith, wisdom, courage and insight to those who are elected to office.
6. Ask God for protection from violence in the coming days.
7. Pray for God's help for those who live under oppressive governments and have to recourse to protect themselves or participate in the selection of leaders.
8. Pray for God's protection for those who are victims of injustice and violence.

A Hymn for Election Year
We are providing information on a new hymn for election time. Perhaps you will want to consider using it with your congregation. Here is the first stanza. The full text is available at National Council of Churches USA website:

"In Times of Great Decision"
In times of great decision, be with us, God, we pray!
Give each of us a vision of Jesus' loving way.
When louder words seem endless and other voices sure,
Remind us of your promise: your love and truth endure.

By Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

The new hymn's suggested tune is Samuel Sebastian Wesley's AURELIA ("The Church's One Foundation") or Welsh folk melody LLANGLOFFAN ("O God of Every Nation").

Background of the Hymn
Earlier this year National Council of Churches USA released a document entitled "Christian Principles in an Election Year." This document applies well-established ecumenical principles to both domestic and foreign policy issues, and addresses issues of war, poverty, immigration, education, health care, racial justice, distress in U.S. inner cities and rural communities, the environment and the criminal justice system. They urge domestic policies that build "communities shaped by peace and cooperation" and a foreign policy "based on cooperation and global justice." The NCC says it hopes all persons of faith - whether liberal or conservative in their views - will study the principles and use them as they evaluate candidates for public office. Since mid-July, when they were posted to the NCC Web site (www.ncccusa.org), more than 12,000 copies of the principles and related study questions have been downloaded and duplicated by the thousands for congregational and individual use.

This document has inspired a new hymn - "In Times of Great Decision," by the Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, whose hymns are sung in a wide variety of denominational and ecumenical settings.

The Rev. Gillette and her husband, the Rev. Bruce Gillette, are co-pastors of Limestone Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, Delaware, where they moved two months ago after 10 years of service together at the First Presbyterian Church in Pitman, N.J. "Bruce found the principles on the Web, and he said, 'You know what? This would make a really neat hymn,' " said the Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. She agreed, commenting, "The principles are very biblical, and express the faith we believe, have passed down and try to follow. And they bring focus to what we feel is important in this election. Some people say we should separate the 'political' and 'religious' sides of life, but I believe we are supposed to carry our faith convictions into the way we vote and the way we choose our leaders."