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"Oh Lord, violence has broken out again
in our land,
Striking down clergy and laity of your
church
In a city just across our state line, in
a church
Which is part of our fellow Wesleyan-Methodist
family,
In a house of worship called Emanuel (God with us).
We cannot imagine the grief being felt
by those family members
Who knew that their loved one went to
church to pray and did not return home.
We pray for all who are managing the
aftermath
in hospitals, counseling sessions,
homes, huddles of friends,
and in our congregations, where we face
the brutal realization
that even our “sanctuaries” are no
longer considered sacred or safe.
We are shocked, pained, astounded, angry
at the injuries one person has caused,
And at the injury and hurt of his own
soul that could allow him to act so brutally toward others of your children. We pray for him, O Lord, that he would
find your peace and healing from the anger and prejudice of his heart.
But we also pray for ourselves today, for
what happened last Wednesday in Charleston is still happening all over our
world and to us all the time. For if we
have even spoken ill of another
person because of the color of their skin, the content of their politics, the
character of their religion, the nature of their sexual orientation, or any
other reason then we have wounded them. Forgive
us, and give us courage and grace to confess our sin and apologize for our
un-Christ-like actions and behavior. For we know that the words once spoken by your
servant Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are true which say that “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only
light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
So, Lord, break into our world with the power of
your Holy Spirit. Help us. Save us. Redeem us. Restore us.
And help us be your instruments of love right here.
Empower us to be your church -- a church
of love that overcomes hate. A church of
peace that overcomes violence. A church
of forgiveness that overcomes fear. A
church who’s love and grace shocks the world and leads them to a better way.
Work in us. And through us. May it be
so.
Lord,
we pray this, not knowing all the answers, and beyond seeking answers, but simply
seeking you. Jesus, as the waters of
life and of our world roll and threaten to overwhelm us, let us fly to you, the
healer of our souls and the only hope for our world.
We pray this to the honor and glory of
your holy name -- the name above all names, and the name of ultimate peace and
healing -- and the one who taught us to pray, saying [THE LORD’S PRAYER]…"
[--Prayer by Rev. Dr. Brian Germano, compiled from a
variety of sources, including a prayer by Bishop
Michael
Watson, NGA Annual Conference (6/18/15), a prayer (“Prayer Following Recent
School
Violence”) by
Taylor Burton-Edwards at www.umcdiscipleship.org, & a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr.]
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