Most Merciful God,
we thank you for bringing us together this day:
anoint us with the power of your Spirit,
and fill us with your light,
that we may do the work you have given us to do
and walk in wisdom and grace.
Lord, strengthen us to persevere in faith and love,
led by your gospel to be resolute and unyielding
in resisting the forces of evil, terror, and carnage.
Almighty One, make us bold to reclaim our power
to shape our communities
by the precepts of peace, justice, lovingkindness, and virtue.
Led by your Word, O Creator,
let us work together for the common good,
creating the Beloved Community you have called us to be,
where all enjoy the blessings of ease, contentment, and security.
Blessed Savior, draw within your merciful embrace
all who weep and grieve this day,
and grant your healing to those
whose bodies, minds, or spirits have been wounded by violence.
Holy One, stretch forth your hand that we may take it,
and draw within your protection all those for whom we pray.
Amen.
Image: 7,000 pairs of shoes were placed as a memorial on Capitol Hill on March 13, 2018, in remembrance of the more than 7,000 children who have been killed by guns since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14, 2012. Photo by Paul Morigi for AP Images and Avaaz, the organization that installed the memorial. Today, March 14, 2018, marks one month since 17 were killed and scores wounded at the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL.
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