Let the peace of this place surround us as we offer our petitions.
Let the hurry and worry of life fall away.
We are God's children.
God loves us and cares for us.
God is here with us now and always.
People of God,
The Lord is in our midst.
He is a God of mercy and healing,
Who hears the cries of the oppressed.
Let us gather our faith and lift our petitions
For all who are troubled
For all who need peace
For all who need courage and comfort.
Let us pray:
You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father
Lord Jesus you prayed that your people would be one.
Forgive us Lord,
and take away the pride and arrogance
which divides your church.
Break down the walls which separate us;
And unite us with bonds of love.
We pray that by the power of your Spirit
your healing would work in the body of your church
and through us,
to bring about the purpose of your will.
You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father
Lord Jesus, your Kingdom is good news
For a world caught in racial hostility.
We ask that you would give us grace
To face the deep challenges facing our country.
We confess our anger,
Deep sadness,
And collective sense of weakness
To see this world healed through our own strength.
O God, we confess that the gospel is good news
For both the oppressed and the oppressor.
Both are raised up.
Both are liberated, but in different ways.
The oppressed are raised up from the harsh burden of inferiority.
The oppressors are raised from the destructive illusion of superiority.
Only you can make all things new.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.
Lord, we pray for our enemies,
For those overcome by principalities;
The principality of white supremacy,
The principality of racial oppression and hostility.
Grant them deliverance by your love and mercy.
Enable this church to do your will;
Make it vulnerable, that it may speak with calm humility;
Make it outward-looking, that it may care deeply;
Make it a community of peacemakers and bridge builders;
In the midst of turbulence, let the church make space
To hear your still small voice,
For your love is spacious,
And only you can make all things new.
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Loving God, often in our lives
we feel as if we have battled against the wind and the waves
and we feel weary to our bones.
May Jesus come to us
across the waters of our fears and doubts,
and filled with his Spirit,
may we continue to believe
even in the midst of the most difficult situations.
Life-giving God,
heal our lives,
that we may acknowledge your wonderful deeds
and offer you thanks from generation to generation
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy