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Post-Election Worship Resources for Pastors and Church Leaders

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Post-election worship resources for pastors and church leaders

This post is for all church leaders, particularly those planning worship on the Sunday morning after Election Day. It provides post-election worship resources, guidance on gathering your community after the election, ideas for sermons, hymn suggestions, prayers, and additional resources.

Looking for Post-Election Resources for Kids & Youth?

Be sure to check out our companion post, Post-Election Resources for Kids, Youth, and the Grown-Ups Who Love Them. We include a set of four coloring pages you can use with your children, youth, and adults as a freebie in the post.

If you would like to use the Prayers of the People as a bulletin insert or to send home with families, click below to download an 8.5×5.5 formatted version of the prayer.

Dear Ones, 

First and foremost, you are loved. Breathe.

You are not alone. Breathe.

You belong. Breathe. 

The morning after Election Day, we all woke up to election results that we were dreading. What many anticipated to be a long, drawn-out process came quickly and unexpectedly. With it came feelings of anxiety, fear, grief, sorrow, and anger.

What do we do now? We remind ourselves what we know is true. We hold on to those we love. We turn inward and grant ourselves peace. We turn outward and offer help to others. 

Here at Illustrated Ministry, our hearts are heavy. We hold with great care all of you who are leading communities in worship this Sunday. Our prayers are with you. May these resources support and guide you. And may we immerse ourselves in and remember these things that ground us in faith:

  • God goes with us. 
  • God hears all our prayers. 
  • We are called to love God, neighbor, and self. 
  • We have been taught to pray, “Thy kingdom come.”
  • We can abound in hope.

We’re also aware that many of you may not have spaces where you can vent and get support. If you need a space for that kind of support, we hope you’ll check out our Facebook Group. There’s been quite a bit of conversation, sharing, and support happening there this week. If you aren’t a member, you can join here.

Peace and grace to you and yours, 

–The IM Team

Remember that God goes with us.

Our scriptures contain countless stories of disorientation, and every time, whether God’s people are walking in the wilderness or hiding in the upper room, God shows up. Through frustration, grief, hopelessness, and confusion, God shows up and guides God’s beloved community. The same is true today. We face division and discord, dissonance and danger, but God has not abandoned us. God’s Spirit is as close as our breath. The light of Christ warms and illuminates the way. 

In many moments throughout scripture, God reminds humans, “Do not be afraid.” This instruction does not guarantee a swift resolution to their problems, nor does it come with assurance of ease. It is, however, often followed by a care-filled promise from a loving God: “I will always be with you.” With this, we are empowered to live courageously, knowing God is always with us. And from there, we are inspired to show kindness and work for justice in the long days ahead.

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14–21

Sermon Prompt: From generation to generation, God is with us. God has been, is, and will always be with us. When days seem long and dim, the reminder of God’s presence can be our guiding light. There is comfort in knowing generations before us, too, have struggled, wandered through the wilderness, and were left with unanswered questions. As Rachel Held Evans writes in her book Wholehearted Faith, “For better or worse, there are seasons when we hold our faith, and then there are seasons when our faith holds us. In those latter instances, I am more thankful than ever for all the saints, past and present, who said yes and whose faith sustains mine. They believe for me when I’m not sure I believe.” Ephesians 3 reminds us that regardless of what’s going on, good work and positive change still happen by the grace of God through the communion of saints and the work of the people. 

Resources: 

God hears all our prayers.

When the world is unraveling, we may be unsure how to pray—could our honest thoughts and unfiltered feelings offend God? The Psalms remind us we can boldly share our emotions and concerns with God. The psalmists talked to God about their anger, disappointment, delight, shame, joy, desperation, and loneliness long before us, and God heard it all. These writings empower us to be honest about our emotions and openly share all of our longings with God. Even when we aren’t sure how to fix what is broken, there can be relief when we welcome God into the fullness of our hearts. Consider what burdens you can share with God. What anxieties can you name in prayer?   

Scripture: Psalm 31:1–10

Sermon Prompt: What else can we do but pray? After reading the headlines, watching the news, and processing this reality—on top of everything else it takes to be a living human being—at the end of the day, we are left with the simple yet powerful invitation of prayer. The psalmist in this passage asks God to be a place of refuge. Refuge is defined as “a condition of being safe.” When we feel safe, we can bring our full range of emotions to God. The psalmist also asks, “Be gracious to me, O God.” When times are as turbulent as these, our ability to seek understanding, monitor our emotions, and put our best foot forward becomes limited. Perhaps this could be our simple yet powerful prayer during these times: Be my safe space and my grace. Abide in me.

Resources: 

Love God. Love neighbor. Love self.

Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. These are still the most important things, regardless of who is in office. Even as serious matters divide us, we are all neighbors in the human community. In his parables, Jesus suggested that those who appear to be our enemies are also our neighbors. 

What can you do to care for your own heart and mind? Are there people in your community affected by this election to whom you can show extra care? Working for justice often heals our spirits, even as it helps those we serve. 

Scripture: Matthew 22:34–40

Sermon Prompt: According to Jesus, it’s simple: Love God. Love Neighbor. Love Self. But is it really that simple?

How do we love God? How do we love neighbors who spew hate? How do we love ourselves when we receive messages that self-care is selfish? Spend time during the sermon to specifically address ways to achieve all three. Love God by praying, meditating, reading, spending time in nature, or serving. Love neighbors by caring for immediate needs. What needs have your neighbors expressed? If you don’t know, try asking, “How can I help?”

Do they need help navigating or filing government forms? Do they need a new healthcare provider? Do they need help weeding their garden, doing their taxes, or carrying groceries inside? 

And finally, love yourself by setting down your phone, turning off the TV, eating good food, staying hydrated, resting, playing, etc. Encouraging your community to focus on these simple (but not really simple) things in the midst of disruption and uncertainty can help center and ground them. It would be good to note, too, that this story appears in all of the synoptic gospels.  

Resources: 

Thy Kingdom come.

When politics become overwhelming, it may seem like the easiest option is to separate church and state, focus on our faith, and let the politicians do what they may. However, we can’t dismiss that Jesus was, as we would say today, “politically active.” Jesus’ political activism is what caused such alarm among the local Roman and Jewish leaders. He wasn’t staying in the abstract realm of religion, Jesus was concerned about the way political leaders and systems treated people. Yes, the elections, debates, political ads, and difficult conversations are exhausting, AND this is essential work. Engaging with political systems and governments looks different for everyone; that’s why it’s imperative to take care of ourselves and each other. 

Scripture: Luke 4:16–22

Sermon Prompt: The article below specifically defines how Jesus was political. If this is a direction you choose for your sermon, consider highlighting the intentional choice of the word “kingdom.” Jesus could have said “the community of God” or “the family of God,” but he specifically said “kingdom of God.” A political term that people of Jesus’ time could relate to. Just as Jesus did, we are called to care about what the government is doing (politics being the activities of the government) and how it is treating its people. To be faithful is to be political. 

Resources:

Abound in hope.

Because we are people of faith, we abound in hope, not optimism. Living with hope means acknowledging the problems around us while still believing that, with compassion and imagination, a beautiful future is possible. Our faith rests on the hope that death never gets the last word. Because Jesus lives, new life is always breaking through! Where do you see signs of hope in the world? How can you be a sign of hope to the people around you? 

When everything feels troubled, we can find solace in the peace of Christ and the knowledge that God goes with us. These truths bring us hope and allow us to put love at the center of all we do.    

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:7–8

Sermon Prompt: Using the image of a tree, this scripture reminds us that those who trust and hope in God will continue flourishing. When we are rooted in faith, we can grow and produce good things, even when times become challenging or our faith wavers. It’s important to note, too, that sometimes hope looks different at different times and for different people. Sometimes, hope is quiet and steadfast—a whispered prayer or a small gesture of encouragement to someone in need. Other times, hope is bold and defiant, rising in protest or in a call for resilience against those trying to extinguish it. However it appears, hope endures.

Resources:

Prayers of the People after Election Day

Prayer written by Rev. Emma Nickel

Living and loving God, you know what we have been through this week. 
You know our frayed nerves and anxious stomachs. 
You know that even though Election Day is over, our ministry continues. 
We ask your Spirit to bless us with good courage to speak the truth, to put service over self, and to remember that we worship you and you alone. 

Do not let us stray from you.
Let us be like trees planted beside living water.
Let us remain rooted in your love.
Let us bear fruit and not be anxious.  

We ask you to let Christ’s light shine in our community, in this country, and in the world you have made. 
Let peace reign. Let justice roll down.
Let there be a table set for those who do not have enough to eat.
Let Christ the healer touch those who are ailing.
Let the Spirit’s wisdom guide those making consequential decisions. 

Remind us, Holy God, that we are human. 
On our own, we cannot fix all that is broken. 
We cannot heal all who are in need. 
Yet, we can be part of the change we wish to see in the world.
We can act with intention.
We can respond in love.
We can advocate for change that serves the common good.
We can trust in you, Lord. 
We can lift our prayers to you.

[Insert prayers of the faith community here]

God, you have led your people in the past: out of slavery, through the wilderness, and into beloved community.

Lead us once again through the unknowns ahead, through the challenges yet to come, toward a time when your promises of new life begin to appear all around us.

This we pray, as we always do and as we always will, in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen. 

You have permission from Illustrated Ministry to use the above prayer in worship. Please give credit to Illustrated Ministry.

And if you’d like to download a formatted version of the prayer you can use as a bulletin insert or to give to members of your congregation, you can download it below.

Hymn Suggestions

  • Great is Thy Faithfulness
  • Hymn of Promise
  • This is My Song
  • Our God, Our Help in Ages Past
  • For Everyone Born
  • There is a Balm in Gilead

Picture Book Recommendations

Here you will find a link to some fantastic children’s books for whatever your community needs. For the anxious child, for the child needing community, for the child who feels angry, scared, or sad…there are books for all. Perhaps there’s a book that would make the perfect Children’s Moment for this Sunday. If you don’t have time to sort through the whole list (there are 80 books!), here are some of our favorites:

When you get to the full list, you can sort books by the following categories:

Here’s a quick sneak peek at a portion of the book list:

Book List

Additional Resources

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Emma Nickel

Through preaching and writing, Emma loves cultivating images and stories to share good news in a challenging world. Emma holds degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and the College of Wooster. Congregational ministry has always been her calling. Emma joyfully pastors a Presbyterian church in Metro Detroit, where she lives with her husband and daughters.

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