A PRAYER FOR THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 

Psalm 79

9 Help us, O God of our salvation,

    for the glory of your name;

deliver us, and forgive our sins,

    for your name’s sake.

10 Why should the nations say,

    “Where is their God?”

Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants

    be known among the nations before our eyes.

11 Let the groans of the prisoners come before you;

    according to your great power preserve those doomed to die.

12 Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors

    the taunts with which they taunted you, O Lord!

13 Then we your people, the flock of your pasture,

    will give thanks to you forever;

    from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

Every way we turn

violence reigns

creating an atlas of

death and destruction 

Damascus

Baghdad 

Kabul 

Aurora

Sandy Hook

Hear us O God

We cry unto you 

for the killing to end

and wars to cease

Nation turns against nation

Tribe attacks tribe

Neighbor wreaks vengeance 

upon neighbor

Conquering for hatred

fighting for greed

marching for land

reclaiming what we had

and what we want

Hear us O God

We cry unto you 

for the killing to end

and wars to cease

We desire to make

the things that make for peace

turning our plowshares 

and our swords into pruning forks

We want to care and nurture

for those who have bourn 

the burden of violence

The widow and the orphan

the soldier and civilian

Hear us O God

We cry unto you 

for the killing to end

and wars to cease

Lord Jesus 

Gentle Shepherd

Lead us away from

hatred and violence

into green pastures

Lord Jesus

Prince of Peace

Lead us in paths

of righteousness

beside the still waters

Lord Jesus

Giver of Salvation

Forgive us our sins

and teach us to forgive

those who sin against us

Lord Jesus

Lord of all creation

bind us together 

and make us

sisters and brothers

now and forevermore 

Amen