Oh God, you who are always listening to us; you who hear the bird singing in the topmost branch against the blue, blue sky; you who know of the sobbing deep in the rubble after a bombing or the utterings of the newly-born. You, who are the heart of compassion, who gave your son Jesus to show us a life of compassion, awaken in us compassion. Forgive us when we are indifferent, blindly ignorant, willfully deceitful and outwardly contentious. Guide us in our trust of one another. Open our hearts in expressing love. Deepen our humility. Help us to show remorse for our wrongdoings. Help us to understand that we are broken and that your love has bound us, and in that binding is the promise of grace and wisdom for rebirth.

Bring your mercy to the peoples of Iowa and Nebraska, U.S., as floodwaters continue to rise in the Missouri River basin. Comfort those impacted by tornadoes and flash floods across the southern U.S. as rescue teams work long hours and emergency shelters are put in place. Sustain those who are called to tend and care and safeguard for hours and days on end.

We abhor the direct attack on an ambulance in Tripoli, Libya, that not only critically injured workers but also took away the vehicle, leaving victims imperiled in this civil conflict. Bring compassion and a sense of rectitude when such humanitarian violations occur. We pray for your mercies on the people of this nation, and wherever war continues to create a hell on earth for so many people throughout the world. Shed truth on the 15 countries in Africa where wars or post-war conflicts continue, especially where resources are extracted for the benefit of the wealthy few, and black- marketing of small arms escalates violence and instability and citizens are forced to flee conflict.

We ask for a unified voice of conscience against the abuse of power and imprisonment of the Vice President of the National Assembly in Venezuela. Bring your mercies to Venezuelan refugees now in Maico, Colombia, and across so many borders. Surround the nearly 50% of refugees that are children with care and reassurance. Reduce their hunger and fear. Sustain their faith. Empower leaders to help resolve this crisis.

Sustain the health care workers as they tend to the Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where nearly 66% of the cases have ended in death. We give thanks for a vaccine that may protect and shorten this scourge. Wrap in your arms the family and World Health Organization colleagues of the late Dr. Richard Valery Mouzouko Kiboung of Cameroon, shot by assailants in the DRC as he was meeting with frontline health care workers on the outbreak. We grieve this loss and senseless killing.

We pause in silence for all those in mourning…

We lift up joys. There are many even in all the trials and deep concerns. Help us to remember that you would never have us despair, that you are listening and are always there to speak comfort.

We are grateful for emergency responders who evacuated 1.1 million people in Odisha, India, and sheltered them out of harm’s way as Cyclone Fani struck over 15,000 villages.

We celebrate the passage of bills in the state of Washington, U.S., to protect and preserve the Southern resident orca population. You who have made the oceans, their depths and vast watery horizons. and filled them with life, we are grateful for this step in our renewed stewardship of your creation.

May we live in your abundant life, do your will, and know of a peace that passes all understanding.

In your name,
Amen.