A Prayer After Charlottesville
A number of folks have emailed me of late with requests for resources for their congregations during this turbulent time. At this point, it’s hard to answer all emails (though I try!), but I will share when I can things I’ve found or created. Below is a prayer we used in our congregation last week that I modeled after St. Francis’ “Peace Prayer.” Use and/or adapt it as you find helpful and, as always, feel free to share resources you’ve found helpful in the comments.
A Prayer after Charlottesville, based in part on St. Francis’ “Peace Prayer.”
Lord God, we pray that you would arm us with courage and compassion sufficient to the challenges of these days and make us heralds of your grace and instruments of your peace.
Where is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is harm, let us bring healing;
where there is prejudice and intolerance, let us offer understanding;
where there is enmity, let us be agents of reconciliation;
where there is despair, let us speak hope;
where there is doubt, let us spark faith;
where there is fear, let us kindle courage;
and wherever there is darkness, let us offer the light of your mercy that enlightens the whole world.
Meet us in our fear, Lord God, and embolden us to side always with the defenseless. Protect all who put themselves in harm’s way to keep others safe. Thwart the plans of those who harbor hatred and plot violence. Grant our elected leaders the wisdom to know what it is right and the courage to do it. And bless this nation and people that we might be a blessing to the world you love so much.
This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Wonderful prayer! Thank you for sharing!
I’ve been partial to this one attributed to ArchBp. Tutu
As always, your comments, poems, prayers, and all are spot on.
Thank you for offering your time.
prayer is attributed to Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu adapted from an original prayer by Sir Francis Drake.
Disturb us, O Lord
when we are too well-pleased with ourselves
when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little,
because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, O Lord
when with the abundance of things we possess,
we have lost our thirst for the water of life
when, having fallen in love with time,
we have ceased to dream of eternity
and in our efforts to build a new earth,
we have allowed our vision of Heaven to grow dim.
Stir us, O Lord
to dare more boldly, to venture into wider seas
where storms show Thy mastery,
where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.
In the name of Him who pushed back the horizons of our hopes
and invited the brave to follow.
May I recommend Marshal Rosenberg’s “Nonviolent Communication” as an immensely useful resource for actually living this.
An excellent resource, Mary. Thanks for commending it!
Thank you for sharing this prayer. I will use it in our worship and with parishoners. I studied preaching with you, Dr. Lose, at Luther Seminary and now I work in the Episcopal Church that faces Emancipation Park in Charlottesville. It has been a hairy ride to say the least. Many have expressed compassion for our city but our city’s name has become shorthand for how bad things can get. As mentioned in a comment, we have been gathering in clergy groups to pray and be trained in using Nonviolent Communication to prepare ourselves and to deal with our traumatized congregations. I am very grateful for your website to help me preach in my context.