Yet again as news unfolded of tragedy and violence this week, I was at a loss for words to pray with. It is at times like these that I turn to scripture – and then to books of prayer and poetry. I have a stash of favorites., but invariably one of the first places I look is the back of our Book of Common Prayer. Beginning on page 809 there are beautiful and thoughtful prayers and thanksgivings for the world, the church, national life, the social order, the natural order, and personal & family life. If you haven’t taken the time to look these over for a while – or if you never knew they were there to begin with – I invite you to check them out, and keep a prayer book on hand. Today, I offer this prayer:
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Yours in God’s peace,
Kristin+