Gracious God, bread of heaven, you feed us in the depths of grief, sin, and hostility. Nourish us with your word through the long hours of darkness, and in the dawning awareness of our need for forgiveness. Forgive us for what we have done and for what we have left undone. Take our sin and fill us with your redeeming and steadfast love.
Holy Father, Father of Christ, the bread of life, you taught us to put away grumbling and arguing, and with kindness to share the fruit of our labor with the needy. Strengthen us by your grace, that in communion with you, we may transform the world. Help us to lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good things, care for the sick, visit the prisoner, and set the oppressed free.
Sovereign Lord, Father of all in the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray for an end to violence and suffering. We pray for the families of the victims in Aurora, Colorado. We pray for those who are mourning from the Sikh temple shooting in Wisconsin. We pray for all of those around the world who suffer at the hands of lunatics. Inspire your church to lament with those who are mourning, comfort those who are suffering, and struggle with those who are working to transform the world for the good of your kingdom.
We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, as we continue to pray saying:
Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.