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Liturgies in Response to Terrorist Events
Prayers of the People
The following prayers can be spoken or may be prayed using the music of the South African Hymn, “Thuma Mina” or “Send me Jesus”. The cantor or soloist begins with the words to be sung, followed by the congregation, singing the verse once between prayer petitions as intoned by the cantor. Petitions may be added or changed as needed.
S=solo cantor
L=prayer leader
C=Community
At the beginning, it is suggested to sing the first verse
twice.
S. Hear us Lord.
C. Hear us Jesus, hear us Jesus, hear us Jesus, hear us Lord.
(Sing twice)
L. Almighty and gracious God, we come to you with our hearts
full of prayers both spoken and those that cannot be put into
words. You are our Rock, our fortress in a world shaken by
violence and hate. Gather us under your wings, calm our fears,
and keep our faith strong.
S. Hear us Lord.
C. Hear us Jesus, hear us Jesus, hear us Jesus, hear us Lord.
L. Help us to seek your justice, teach us your will and turn our anger
from revenge and balance what we seek for ourselves with compassion
for others. Keep us walking on your path of truth and light.
S. Hear us Lord.
C. Hear us Jesus, hear us Jesus, hear us Jesus, hear us Lord.
L. We pray for those who grieve the loss of family, friends, and coworkers,
for those that were injured, for those who have been traumatized and ask
for your continued healing presence in their lives and we commend to your
care all those who died.
S. Heal us Lord.
C. Heal us Jesus, heal us Jesus, Heal us Jesus, heal us Lord.
L. We give to your care all those who work as police officers, firefighters,
rescue and emergency personnel that you would heal them and sustain them
through this year of tremendous loss and stress.
S. Heal us Lord.
C. Heal us Jesus, heal us Jesus, Heal us Jesus, heal us Lord.
L. We commend to your care all those who worked in debris removal who walked
on holy ground unprepared, for the steel and construction workers, equipment
operators and others and ask also for your healing for them.
S. Heal us Lord.
C. Heal us Jesus, heal us Jesus, Heal us Jesus, heal us Lord.
L. We pray for those whose livelihoods have been lost or impacted by the
terrorist attacks and ask that you would raise them up and bless them.
We pray also for those whose workplaces have become places of uncertainty
and fear and ask for you assurance and wholeness.
S. Heal us Lord.
C. Heal us Jesus, heal us Jesus, Heal us Jesus, heal us Lord.
L. We pray for the people of Afghanistan, for the healing and freedom of
their nation that women and men, girls and boys may live and learn and
have have joy in their lives. Rebuild their cities, fill their streets
with music, their courts with justice, and their plates with food. Bring
them peace and healing from the evils of war.
S. Fill us Lord
C. Fill us Jesus, fill us Jesus, fill us Jesus, fill us Lord.
L. We pray for President Bush, the Cabinet and Congress that they will
filled with your wisdom, patience, and the strength to do your will. Guide
them and all the world leaders to seek your peace and justice for the good
of all people.
S. Fill us Lord
C. Fill us Jesus, fill us Jesus, fill us Jesus, fill us Lord.
L. We pray for all those who work to serve our country and ask that you
keep them safe, give them courage, and bring them safely home. Fill the
world with your light of truth that evil may have no power here.
S. Fill us Lord
C. Fill us Jesus, fill us Jesus, fill us Jesus, fill us Lord.
L. We give these people and all our needs, spoken and unspoken, into your
hands, trusting in your gracious love.
C. Amen.
Christine Iverson