Our Prayers
|
Episcopal Bishops Issue A Word to the Church for the World
September 20, 2016 The House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church has issued the following: (A video of this statement from US bishops is found on the home page of this website.) Word to the Church for the World "Greetings from Detroit, a city determined to be revived. Greetings also from the city of Flint, where we are reminded that the gift of water has for many of our brothers and sisters become contaminated. "Here we have been exhorted to set our sights beyond ourselves and to minister to the several nations where we serve and the wider world. "We lament the stark joylessness that marks our present time. We decry angry political rhetoric which rages while fissures widen within society along racial, economic, educational, religious, cultural and generational lines. We refuse to look away as poverty, cruelty and war force families to become migrants enduring statelessness and demonization. We renounce the gun violence and drug addiction that steal lives and crush souls while others succumb to fear and cynicism, abandoning any sense of neighborliness. "Yet, in all this, 'we do not despair.' (2 Cor. 4:8.) We remember that God in Christ entered our earthly neighborhood during a time of political volatility and economic inequality. To this current crisis we bring our faith in Jesus. By God’s grace, we choose to see in this moment an urgent opportunity to follow Jesus into our fractured neighborhoods, the nation and the world. "Every member of the church has been 'called for a time such as this.' (Esther 4:14) Let prophets tell the truth in love. Let reconcilers move boldly into places of division and disagreement. Let evangelists inspire us to tell the story of Jesus in new and compelling ways. Let leaders lead with courage and joy. "In the hope of the Resurrection let us all pray for God to work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish God’s purposes on earth." |
Litany for Gun Violence Prevention
June 19, 2016 Written by the Rt. Rev. Stephen T. Lane, Episcopal Bishop of Maine, and offered for use in Sunday liturgies throughout the Episcopal Church: Giver of Life and Love, you created all people as one family and called us to live together in harmony and peace. Surround us with love as we face the challenges and tragedies of gun violence. For our dear ones, for our neighbors, for strangers and aliens, and those known to you alone, Loving God, Make us instruments of your peace. God of Compassion, we give you thanks for first responders, for police officers, firefighters and EMTs, and all those whose duties bring them to the streets, the lobbies, the malls and the homes where the carnage of gun violence takes place day after day, give them courage and sound judgment in the heat of the moment and grant them compassion for the victims. For our brothers and sisters who risk their lives and their serenity as they rush to our aid, Loving God, Make us instruments of your peace. Merciful God, bind up the wounds of all who suffer from gun violence, those maimed and disfigured, those left alone and grieving, and those who struggle to get through one more day. Bless them with your presence and help them find hope. For all whose lives are forever marked by the scourge of gun violence, Loving God, Make us instruments of your peace. God Who Remembers, may we not forget those who have died in the gun violence that we have allowed to become routine. Receive them into your heart and comfort us with your promise of eternal love and care. For all who have died, those who die today, and those who will die tomorrow, Loving God, Make us instruments of your peace. God of Justice, help us, your church, find our voice. Empower us to change this broken world and to protest the endless deaths caused by gun violence. Give us power to rise above our fear that nothing can be done and grant us the conviction to advocate for change. For your dream of love and harmony, Loving God, Make us instruments of your peace. All this we pray in the name of the One who offered his life so that we might live, Jesus the Christ. Amen. |
Christ Memorial Prayer List:
Mahalo for keeping these friends and organizations in your prayers: Edward, Sharon, Elizabeth, Mary, Matthew, Jason, Keith, Carol, Nell, Joey, Willie, Linda, Paul, Bob, Kelly, Barbara, Anne, Isabel, Claire, Meagan, Tony, George, Aimee, Pat, Terezia, Neil, Gary, Jimmy, Kiyoshi, Robert, James, Marilyn, Barbara, John, Linda, Matthew, Gloria, Wayne, Phoebe, Richard, Sean, Joel, Pat, Scott, Pam, John, Gary, Monique, Wanda, Diana, Don, Carolyn, James, Marilyn, Kristina, David, Jim, Starla, Irene, Mary Doug, MaryJo, Pat, El-Aina, the Bon family, David, Robin, Pat, Stanley, Jerry, Marcia, Gordon, Margaret, Jan, Renee, Joe, Russ and Scott. We pray for our sister churches on island -- the Episcopal Church on West Kauai, St. Michael & All Angels in Lihue, All Saints’ Kapaa. We pray for all people suffering and dying as a result of terrorism; the suffering refugees fleeing war and oppression in Syria, the rest of the Middle East, Africa, and around the world. |
