Comforting God, be with us as we heal. In times like these, we collectively suffer and feel the pain of our brokenness. We, your people, need you now to show us the way out of the darkness. We need you to guide our hearts and our minds on the path back to wholeness. We do not accept that this is the way of the world now. We humbly plead for you to shake the bitterness and anger out of us. Call us into the warmth of your presence.

Give us the strength we need to be transformed by you so that we speak out for change. We pride ourselves on living in the land of freedom but ignore the countless ways in which people are not free. Forgive us, Merciful One, and teach us to how to conform our actions to be faithful only to you. There is no true peace without you. In you, we can find shalom and can be sustained by grace.

We offer our lives to you, O God. Let our prayers be felt in all the places where tragedy has left people in pain. Use us to reach those who need to experience the joy of being loved by you. We want to be your witnesses to all people for we are all in need of you. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

-Rev. Maria Campbell