Prayers of the People, P15C

​When will it END, God?
When will your people stop slaughtering your children,
stop hurling murderous words at one another,
killing the spirit
in addition to the body?
When will we start sharing our blessings,
loving our neighbor,
welcoming the stranger,
and caring for the widow and the orphan
and the poor?
Where ARE you, O God?
Where are you in the midst of this chaotic,
hateful,
hurtful
generation?
Our tears are our food day and night.
Almighty God,
you have faithfully fed the hungry
and clothed the naked
and comforted the grieving
and shown hospitality to the marginalized.
You have freed the oppressed
and gathered together the scattered
and welcomed the prodigal home.
Do not desert us now, we beseech you!
Never have we needed you more ....

Send your Spirit to work within us, we pray.
Heal our brokenness as no medicine can.
Rend our hearts and turn them back to you.
End the violence of anger and of neglect.
Put a stop to our abuse of power.
Teach us how to love selflessly.
Grant us empathy
and compassion,
and send your church out
to be your heart and hands and feet
in the world.
Do not let us destroy ourselves, God,
but help us to build one another up
in your Holy name.
Do not give up on us, O God.
Ignite in us a passion that will not allow us
to give up on you.