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Jul 12, 2016 | Kathy H. Culmer, DMin

Prayers of the People July 2016

In Response to Violence and Discord in the World

 

Leader: We pray to You, Lord God, for all those who have fallen victim to hatred and inhumanity; for those whose lives have been touched by tragedy in any way, whether accidentally or by intention; for loved ones left behind to mourn; for the souls of those whose hearts have led them to cause such acts of violence. On their behalf and for our selves’ sake, we ask for Your divine intervention in the conditions of our world that have fostered such tragic outcomes…

 

All: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Leader: For the broken and the broken hearted, the weary and the worn, for those who don’t know what to do and those who put their hope in you, show us the way, O God. For those who seek to comfort and guide, give them the wisdom and the words they need to say that will make a difference; comfort them as they are comforting others.

 

All: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Leader: For the children who are being born into this world of conflict and violence, for the mothers and fathers and the villages who will love them and care for them and do all they know and can do for them, then, in spite of their best efforts will be left with the task of trying to explain the unexplainable to them,

 

All: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Leader: For those who are misguided in thinking that their bullets will bring about peace or justice or relief, or provide any useful solution at all. For the redemption of the souls of the victims and perpetrators of unspeakable crimes, even those who contemplate them; for those who struggle to forgive and for those who can’t, yet, that in time they will, that none of these may also become casualties of troubled times and trigger-readiness.

 

All: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Leader: You may offer your individual intercessions or thanksgivings at this time, either silently or aloud. (When prayers have been offered, resume with…)

 

All: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Leader: As You, O God, have reconciled us to Yourself through Your Son, Jesus Christ, let us also be reconciled to one another, loving one another as You have loved us, forgiving others as we have been forgiven, and valuing and doing all we can to protect, preserve, and not destroy the very lives that You gave Your Son to save, including our own. Teach us to be compassionate towards the whole human family. We ask these things through Jesus Christ, whose own suffering has assured us life and new life and eternal life. Amen.