Sunday, January 20, 2013
Offered by Victoria G. Curtiss, Associate Pastor

Almighty, loving God, you are the creator of all people, making us all in your image. You see us all as equal and cherish each one. Help us to see and love one another as you do.

You call your people to live in community with one another. We thank you for teaching us the ways of peace and reconciliation, of mutual respect and love, of justice and dignity for all peoples. We thank you for the witness and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who gave his life working for a world in which no one goes hungry and no one is diminished because of their race. We pray that Dr. King’s modeling of nonviolence and loving one’s neighbor and enemy would permeate our country anew.

Move us and all your people to action to end the epidemic of gun violence in our nation. We confess and lament that we have grown hardened to the pain of others, or so overwhelmed by suffering that we become paralyzed and numb. Another death leaves us unmoved. A widow’s tears fall unnoticed; our violent words explode into violent actions. The young who have little hope for their future bring destruction without much thought or reason. Lead us as a nation to repentance.

You call us, your church, to witness to your light in the darkness, bringing hope where there is despair and love where there is fear. Ground us in the security of your love so that the forces of power and wealth are outweighed by your forces of peace. Wherever people are enslaved, bring your liberation. If we fall, help us to rise again, and put within us a faith and hope that cannot be quenched.

All this we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray together saying, Our Father . . .

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church