As students & others walk out to remember the victims in Parkland, FL. We take time to pray...
Lament (from Chicago)
God the Father, you gave the Law that your people might live in peace, have mercy upon us.
God the Son, you suffered violence for the sake of the world, have mercy upon us.
God the Holy Spirit, you bind us together in a community of love, have mercy upon us.
Holy Trinity, One God, you model for us the perfect and holy relationship in which you intend for all people to live: have mercy upon us.
For all victims of violence, especially those affected by the shooting in Parkland, we pray to you, O Lord: Lord, hear our prayer.
For those who have been injured, that they might be restored to health, we pray to you, O Lord: Lord, hear our prayer.
For those who are afraid, that they may know your perfect love which casts out fear, we pray to you, O Lord: Lord, hear our prayer.
For those who mourn, that they may be comforted in their distress, we pray to you, O Lord: Lord, hear our prayer.
For all who have died, that they may be received into your compassionate embrace, we pray to you, O Lord: Lord, hear our prayer.
For first responders, firefighters, chaplains, nurses, and all others who work to restore order, heal the wounded, and care for the needs of the community, we pray to you, O Lord: Lord, hear our prayer.
For all volunteers who give of their time and resources to meet the needs of those affected by this tragedy, we pray to you, O Lord: Lord, hear our prayer.
For leaders, both in the Church and in the government, who strive for greater peace, compassion, and understanding in the world, we pray to you, O Lord: Lord, hear our prayer.
That the world may one day be free of violence, we pray to you, O Lord: Lord, hear our prayer.
That war and bloodshed may one day be no more, we pray to you, O Lord: Lord, hear our prayer.
That we may no longer desire revenge when we are wronged, but your justice, which is mercy and grace, we pray to you, O Lord: Lord, hear our prayer.
That each of us might be empowered and equipped to work toward a just and peaceful society, we pray to you, O Lord: Lord, hear our prayer.
That all people might be united to seek the cause of your Kingdom, we pray to you, O Lord: Lord, hear our prayer.
We ask your forgiveness for the ways in which we ourselves are complicit in the problem of violence in the world. Lord, have mercy upon us.
We ask your forgiveness for any harm we have done to one another. Lord, have mercy upon us.
We ask your forgiveness for any unkind words we have spoken against one another. Lord, have mercy upon us.
We ask your forgiveness for any prejudice, bitterness, or hate we harbor in our hearts. Lord, have mercy upon us.
We ask your forgiveness for any ill we have wished upon one another. Lord, have mercy upon us.
We ask your forgiveness for the times when we have repaid evil for evil. Lord, have mercy upon us.
We ask your forgiveness for the times when we have been slow to forgive. Lord, have mercy upon us.
We ask your forgiveness for all we do, think, and say which falls short of your command to us to love one another. Lord, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and help us to show mercy to one another.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Remembering All Who Have Been Affected By Gun Violence (Connecticut)
(Adapted from Moral Call: a Vermont Interfaith Prayer and Remembrance Vigil, December 15, 2015)
Leader: We raise our prayers in remembrance of the victims of gun violence, both those who have been injured and those who have been killed, in Parkland, Florida; in cities and towns across our country, and close to home in Connecticut. We hold their memories dear. We treasure those lives permanently altered through injury or those taken in senseless acts of violence, and we pray that they might find rest and peace. May their lives continue to make a difference in our world. Together we pray.
All: God of Mercy, heal our broken hearts.
Leader: We raise our prayers in remembrance of the families and friends of the victims of gun violence in our nation and in Connecticut. Comfort those who mourn. Dry the tears of those who weep. Sustain those who feel diminished. Impart courage to the hearts of those who
feel helpless. Together we pray.
All: God of Peace, sustain our broken hearts.
Leader: We raise our prayers in remembrance of all communities torn apart by gun violence. We are too familiar with places like Parkland, Florida; Columbine and Aurora, Colorado; Orlando, Florida; Newtown, Connecticut; Roseburg, Oregon; Charleston and Townville, South Carolina; and the cities of Connecticut. Each incident of violence affects all of us in our daily lives and work. Renew our resolve to pursue peace in our cities and towns and to respect the dignity of all human beings. Together we pray.
All: God of Comfort, encourage our broken hearts.
Leader: We raise our prayers in remembrance of school teachers and administrators who put their students’ needs ahead of their own safety We pray for first responders, including police, fire and rescue personnel who witness the horror of gun violence while in service to our communities, and we pray for all those with responsibility for law enforcement. We give thanks for their call to protect and serve and to seek justice, which is inspirational to others, and we pray that their emotional wounds will be healed. Together we pray.
All: God of Courage, inspire our broken hearts.
Leader: We raise our prayers for those lives taken by gun violence through suicide, and also for those lives taken through accidental shootings, especially when those shootings involve children. Console
and strengthen those whose despair is great. Together we pray.
All: God of Hope, comfort our broken hearts.
Leader: We raise our prayers in remembrance of all people impacted by gun violence, as gun violence knows no boundaries but can affect all nationalities, races, cultures, faiths, genders, and socioeconomic classes; it can affect us where we live, where we worship, where we work,
where we study, and where we play. Together we pray.
All: God of Love, transform our broken hearts.
Leader: We raise our prayers for those who have committed acts of gun violence and for their families, in our nation and especially here in Connecticut. We remember those suffering from mental illness who have gone untreated, and those suffering from loneliness and isolation. We pray for those who would use guns, power and violence rather than respect and dignity to reconcile differences. Grant us the strength to pursue justice with a voice of love. Together we pray.
All: God of Forgiveness, enlighten our broken hearts.
Leader: We raise our prayers for all community leaders and elected officials. We pray especially for the young adult leaders of the March for our Lives movement. Give them insight, wisdom, and courage to address head on the epidemic of gun violence. Pour forth your Spirit on all our neighborhoods and break the chains of violence that bind your people.
All: God of Power, strengthen our broken hearts.
Leader: We pray today for ourselves and for others in our lives who have been touched by gun violence. During the silent pause, I invite you to offer the names (either silently or aloud) of those for whom you pray. Together we pray.
All: God of Astonishing Mercy, Compassion and Immeasurable Love, restore our broken hearts and enliven our confidence to find new ways to revive our world to become one of peace. Amen
A Litany in the Aftermath of Gun Violence (Maine)
Giver of Life and Love, you created all people as one family and called us to live together in
peace. Surround us with your love as we face again the tragedy of gun violence.
For the children and adults who were killed _____ , (the brave ones who died protecting others), the many who were wounded and hospitalized, the traumatized, grieving survivors, and those known to you alone, Loving God
Make us instruments of your peace.
God of Righteousness, you have granted our leaders, especially Donald, our President, and _________, our Governor, the members of Congress and of our courts and legislatures, power
and responsibility to protect us, and to uphold our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Strengthen their devotion to our common life and give them clarity of purpose. For all who bear such responsibility, for all who struggle to discern what is right in the face of powerful political forces, Loving God
Make us instruments of your peace.
God of Compassion, we give you thanks for first responders: police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and all those whose duties bring them to the streets, the schools, the malls and the homes where the carnage of gun violence takes place every day. Give them courage and sound judgment in the heat of the moment and grant them compassion for the victims. For our brothers and sisters who risk their lives and serenity as they rush to our aid, Loving God
Make us instruments of your peace.
Merciful God, bind up the wounds of all who suffer from gun violence, those maimed and disfigured, those left alone and grieving, and those who struggle to get through one more day. Bless them with your presence and help them find hope. For all whose lives are forever changed and broken by the scourge of gun violence, Loving God
Make us instruments of your peace.
God of Repentance and Forgiveness, we hold before you ____ (the one who fired the weapon) and seek your grace for transformation. We cannot forgive - not yet - but we trust in your power to make all things new. For those who from malice or illness are the instruments of violence and death, Loving God
Make us instruments of your peace.
God Who Remembers, may we not forget those who have died, more than 30,000 in the past year, in the gun violence that we have allowed to become routine. Receive them into your heart and comfort us with your promise of eternal love and care. For all who have died, those who die today, and those who will die tomorrow, Loving God
Make us instruments of your peace.
God of Tender Mercy, be with those who are overwhelmed, enraged, frustrated and demoralized by the plague of gun violence. Give them a sense of your presence and plant in them the seed of hope. For those whose hope for life in this world is shattered and broken, Loving God
Make us instruments of your peace.
God of Justice, help us, your church, find our voice. Turn us from the worship of power. Give us courage to confront our false gods and to protest the needless deaths caused by gun violence. Help us rise above our dread that nothing can be done and grant us the conviction to advocate for change. For your dream of a world where children are safe and all of us live together without fear, Loving God
Make us instruments of your peace.
All this we pray in the name of the One who offered his life so that we might live, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
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