"We Are Hungry"—Opening of Worship Litany Based on the Lord's Prayer

Published November 1, 2026

Updated November 1, 2026

Bundle of weat, loaf of bread, honey jar
By Roy Berkenbosch, Cheryl Mahaffy

This opening of worship litany originally appeared in "Rattling Heaven's Doors—Week 3: Give Us Today Our Daily Bread."

Opening Litany

Leader:

 On this day, we step boldly, 
humbly into the presence of our God, 
praying with our suffering Savior the prayer he taught us to pray:
 

All:

 Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name, 
your kingdom come, 
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread.
 

Leader:

 With voices around the world, we call:
 

All:

 Give bread!
 

Leader:

 Give us today our daily bread:
 

Reader 1:

 This day, God, people are hungry—
 

Reader 2:

 Children lie down at night with empty stomachs.
 

Reader 1:

 People everywhere search with broken hearts.
 

All:

 We are hungry for justice and mercy, 
for peace and compassion.
 

Leader:

 We call out for daily bread, for daily needs:
 

Reader 1:

 for water that flows pure from a mountain,
 

Reader 2:

 for air that blows clean across the prairies,
 

Reader 1:

 for foods planted, tended, harvested, and shared,
 

Reader 2:

 for land and sky filled with life and renewal,
 

Reader 1:

 for governments that are just,
 

Reader 2:

 for homes that are places of rest and play,
 

Reader 1:

 for families, 
friends, 
partners, 
neighbors who walk with us, 
comfort us, 
love us . . .
 

All:

 Give people everywhere their living Bread.