Gracious God, you are the Lord of new beginnings. In the wisdom of Christ you make all things new. Make us agents of your transforming power and storytellers of your justice and peace, so that all may share in the healing Christ brings.
Holy Father, Father of Christ whose birth dissolved the barrier between the divine and human, whose life broke down the dividing walls between friend and enemy, and whose death and resurrection crucified the stumbling block between life and life everlasting. Nothing can separate us from your love. By your gift of faith, help us to believe it to be true.
Sovereign Lord, Father of all by the power of the Holy Spirit, keep us in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion. When violence seems to be the answer, help us to offer better questions. Where hate is the motivation, help us to offer preemptive love. When the world seems broken beyond repair, send us forth to mend in love. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever, 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