Gracious God, we grieve the violence in our country and our world. We mourn the deaths of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, Brent Thompson, Lorne Ahrens, Patrick Zamarripa, Michael Smith, and Michael Krol. We pray for peace.
We confess the sin of racism. Give us grace to acknowledge that all people are our neighbors. Give us the eyes to see those of our neighbors who are lying in the road or in the ditch.
Show us how you are calling us to respond to the recent tragedies. Give us a vision for how we might extend your healing grace into the world at this time.
"Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life."
Prayer of St. Francis, ELW p.87
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