Pastor Ralph J. Mineo, St. Luke's Lutheran Church

Dear God, how grieved you must be,
as you look down upon your created ones.

How grieved you must be at the murders,
the suffering, the senseless violence.

The days are filled with grief and pain,
for your children are being killed all around.

Dear God, how grieved you must be,
when your children are killed and murdered.

Dear God, in your mercy, grant your healing
to those who still live, but are injured.

In your Spirit, be present with those who grieve,
and grant wisdom to those called to counsel.

Grant your Resurrection-power and your hope
to those whose loved ones have died.

Let them know you are with them,
in their tears, in their anger, in their pain.

Dear God, keep your children from wickedness,
from self-centered mindlessness, from hatred.

Grant us what we need to reject evil and sin.
Grant us what we need to repent, to love, to care.

Send helpers, send servants, day by day,
to channel your love into this time.

By the Spirit of your Love, draw us closer to you.
Draw us closer to each other and to our Savior-Lord.

Dear God, how grieved we are, and sometimes scared,
as we look around our troubled world.

And yet, we experience your never-failing love,
blessings from on high, love for one another.

Accept our prayers and all our thoughts,
for we need you in these days. We need your Love.

Dear God, how grieved we are.
Dear God, how grieved you must be. Amen.