Prayer

Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul?

And why are you so disquieted within me? – Psalm 42:6

There is so much sorrow and so many things to grieve in our world.

Help us, God, as we weep for all the suffering surrounding us.

For the people of Morocco who experienced a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake, with a death toll of nearly three thousand people and more than five thousand more incurring injuries.

For Libya and all her people, as they continue to search for more than ten thousand missing people after massive amounts of rainfall caused destruction to the dams outside Derna. More than five thousand people are reported dead, with over thirty thousand more left homeless and in unsafe conditions.

For Brazil who experienced heavy rains and floods in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, causing the death of over thirty people.

Mother of earth, water, and sky: You are with every living being impacted by these natural disasters. Infuse the survivors with strength and courage, for their journey will be long and hard. Cradle those who grieve the loss of their loved ones, homes, and freedom. Shine light perpetual upon those who have died.

We mourn the lives of women who were murdered by the hands of someone they loved.

We grow weary as we watch the rate of domestic violence rise worldwide. So very weary…..

For Deborah Brandao, who was stabbed to death by her lover, Danelo Cavalcante, in April 2021 in the presence of her two young children. Danelo escaped from Chester County Prison in Pennsylvania, USA, two weeks ago, days after he was sentenced to life imprisonment for Deborah’s murder. Danelo was apprehended by police on September 13, 2023.

For Lynn Cannon, whose husband, Paul Cannon, murdered her by stabbing her to death in December 2022 in Australia. Paul’s sentencing is scheduled to occur on Sept. 15, 2023.

For Temara King and Luz Hernandez, two of four women who were killed by their intimate partners in New Jersey, USA, in the first two months of 2023.

Mighty Protector: Shield us from the violence that is swirling around us. Guide potential victims to safety, nurture and challenge violent perpetrators, and open our eyes to see the truth of domestic violence. Lead us to speak the truth, holding aggressors responsible for their actions in our quest for a peaceful life for all.

At least twenty-six people, mostly women and children, died when a boat carrying more than one hundred farmers capsized in north-central Nigeria, the region’s second boat tragedy in three months.

A deadly fire at a nine-story apartment tower in Hanoi, Vietnam, has caused the death of over fifty-five people, one of the country’s deadliest blazes in well over a decade. Police have detained the owner of the building, accusing him of violating fire-prevention regulations.

At least thirty-two people have died in a huge fire at a karaoke complex near Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam.

A school shooting in Louisiana, USA, leaves one person dead, two others injured and a juvenile in custody. Law enforcement officials have arrested the suspected shooter, a fourteen-year-old boy.

To the one who weeps with us: Invite us to rest in the knowledge that we will never have the answers to most things. Protect our hearts from completely breaking open from the heavy weight we must bear. Hold our hands during the scariest of moments and whisper the words we long to hear, “You are my beloved. I will never leave you.”

Amen

Further prayer for Ukraine.

God of all,

with alarm and concern we bring before you

the military intervention in Ukraine.

In a world you made for peace and flourishing,

we lament the use of armed force.

We mourn every casualty of this conflict,

every precious life extinguished by war.

We pray comfort for those who grieve

and those who are fearful.

Hear our longing that leaders and nations