God, I stand in prayer for a country where guns are so glorified
That shooters Think that to go out in a blaze of gunfire is better Than getting Care
Lord hear our prayer
Prince of Peace We pray for all the Victims of Violence Those who lost Their Beloved ones Those who witnessed the Devastation
Messiah Comfort them
Holy Spirit we pray For all those who are experiencing and are experiencing trauma as a result of this tragedy We pray That we find a way to change the Policies to prevent gun violence Before every single person has to be touched by Gun Violence
Come Holy Comforter, and hold us til we stop crying
Teach us to Move beyond Thoughts and Prayers
And how to Move and Act With Purpose and Dfenition of Peace and Kin(g)dom Care We Place ourselves In your Tender Care During this Time of Trouble Amen
Breathe I hear the Holy Spirit whisper as I try to figure out what it is I am feeling
Anxiety? Excitment? Grief? Fear?
I am trying to catalogue
Natural Disasters Wars
Politicians Name-Calling Which let’s be honest God, the last two are the same thing (usually)
Now this violence
Breathe, I hear God And I think about how my family, where allergies and asthma runs prevalent says joking but not
that breathing is highly
Underrated
Breathe, says Jesus laying down a pillow Inviting me in to take sanctuary to rest
But I don’t have an answer a solution I haven’t even figure out how to tell the story of what is going on
In the universe and how to relate to it all
God nods And I nod and sigh and my eyes begin to droop
And I realize that God knows all of these things are important
Breathe in: God will see to the humans Breathe out: It’s ok not to have the answers
Amen
Image of breaths in Blues and slight pinks and yellow “Breathe on me breath of God” “Vene Sancte Spiritus” “Bo Ruach Elohim” Entitled: The Promise of the Holy Spirit from https://boruachelohim.com/tag/breathe/
Good God who is glorious, generous full of bounty, food and other good things
I feel too exhausted to pray about pieces of metal that explode into messes of blood tragedy and annihlation
As the weeping of babies across oceans haunt my dreams at night and the artwork of Banksy decorates the walls, the walls of hate
My words seem like a meager choice the cry of Peace while those with nothing are crying in war
Who will share this burden? The prophets cry
And the artists will paint with their tears
Call your Congressperson I pray
Do not tell the story of the downtrodden: the Palestinian Christian, the hungry senior citizen the beaten Black Lives Matter Activist the forgotten Trans Teen the shot kindergartener Do not tell the story after the tragedy has happened
God I am so tired of praying about pieces of metal empty of bullets emptying lives emptying souls
Teach me another prayer Teach me the prayer of Peace Because
Because I am all too familiar with the vocabulary of hate it contains words like animals revenge and dehumanization
Reteach me the languages of love teach me the me the lexicon of humanization
Melt our hearts our weapons our souls into another shape I pray. Amen.
Feel Free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “Katyandtheword”
God, We are so tired of the cries of the worries of the texts Grant us the strength and cunning to change our policies once and for all so that we might grant our children and our children’s children safety
Call to Worship Let all who are afraid come The Shepherd is here Let all who are weary come The Shepherd is here Let all who hunger come The Shepherd is here Let all who are looking come Truly, the Shepherd here. Let us come, and find the Shepherd together
Call to Confession: Come, the gate is open, we do not need to fear the one who is calling, let us confess ourselves to God.
Confession: Jesus Christ we are weary, too long we have put our trust in money and stuff and weapons and governments and institutions and we look around and realize, that we are still not but confused sheep. We long for your voice. We long for green pastures and still waters, we long for goodness and mercy. We want a land where good food is so plentifully even our enemies get it. Forgive us, teach us your voices, so we can hear it, and follow it, and live in fear no more we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: Hear the good news, Jesus is calling us towards grace, In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Fear not the angels said, Peace be with you Jesus said. God, you come and comfort your sheep, reminding us to live without weapons or fear. You remind us we are meant to flock together. God may we go forth building a world of green pastures, safety and hope we pray. Amen.
God, I am praying for the young adults, the teens, the kids who take the wrong turns Sweet Resurrected Jesus You and I know, that I have no sense of direction– How many times have I been lost and alone in the car Making my way across the country (Pre-cell phone directions even) –Luckily I am a white girl But the shooting mere miles from my house In upstate NY proves that it’s the guns the guns the guns. And Lord save all the Black Boys, The beloved Beautiful, made in your image Black Brothers My soul keens for them
God, you hung up your weapon, your bow, your version of a gun in the sky–way before Jesus In the time of Noah–so that every single time we see it
We might, maybe possibly remember That you are a Disarmed God A Weaponless God A God who refuses to Destroy anymore
A God of Peace
And when we refused to believe it You sent your Son What-His-Name The Prince of Peace
Down to Earth You don’t bring the Weapons I’ll bring the Revolution “Drop your swords” He says When he is being arrested– By the Empire no less “And I’ll heal your ears, so you can hear my words of peace”
And when you were resurrect Jesus Among the huddled and fearful disciples Did they raise arms against you in “defense” and fright (Its a question I don’t want to think about)
You replied to the fervor of frightened humans “Peace be with you”
When we are lost or feel invaded or scared or alone
“Peace be with you”
Disarm yourselves God demonstrated coaxes whispers
If you really trust God, I promise, you won’t need any guns the end of the world won’t be with a bang
It will be with the whisper “Peace be with you”
I’m still praying for the kin(g)dom come
Peace be with you Amen.
Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
Rainbow and clouds with an orange car heading towards it, created on canva by Katy Stenta, feel free to use
Image is a pair of AK47s crossing, covered with the words Hosanna and palms layered, and Save us at the Top and Prince of Peace, Flip the Tables, Policy and Change on the Bottom. Created by Katy Stenta on Canva, free to use with credit.
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