A Time of Prayer and Lament for Our Nation

Welcome

Prayer

Gracious God, the news of yesterday has ripped our hearts and torn our souls. We are walking through the valley of the shadow of death. In the depths of pain and anger, we gather before you, O God, our rock and our refuge. You are our only comfort. You are our only hope. Merciful God, you know the depth of suffering.

Faithful God, surround us with your everlasting arms. Hear our cries of despair, heed our calls for justice, and do not let us lose hope, in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior, we pray. Amen.

HYMN: There is a Balm in Gilead (ELW #614)

Refrain
There is a balm in Gilead
to make the wounded whole;
there is a balm in Gilead
to heal the sin-sick soul.

1 Sometimes I feel discouraged
and think my work’s in vain,
but then the Holy Spirit
revives my soul again.  Refrain

2 If you cannot preach like Peter,
if you cannot pray like Paul,
you can tell the love of Jesus
and say, “He died for all.”  Refrain

3 Don’t ever be discouraged,
for Jesus is your friend;
and if you lack for knowledge
he’ll ne’er refuse to lend.  Refrain

Text: African American spiritual

READINGS

Psalm 94

How long, O Lord,
How long shall the wicked triumph?
They bluster in their insolence;
All evildoers are full of boasting.
They crush your people, O Lord,
And afflict your very own.
They kill the widow and the stranger
And put the orphans to death.
Yet you will not abandon your people,
Nor will you forsake your very own.
If the Lord had not been my help,
I should soon have dwelt in the land of silence.
As often as I said, “My foot has slipped”
Your steadfast love, O Lord, upheld me.
The Lord has become my stronghold,
My God is my rock of refuge.

HYMN: How Long, O God (ELW #698)

1 “How long, O God?” the psalmist cries,
a cry we make our own,
for we are lost, alone, afraid,
and far away from home.

2 The evil lurks within, without,
it threatens to destroy
the fragile cords that make us one,
that bind our hearts in joy.

3 Your grace, O God, seems far away;
will healing ever come?
Our broken lives lie broken still;
will night give way to dawn?

4 How can we hope? How can we sing?
O God, set free our voice
to name the sorrows, name the pain,
that we might yet rejoice.

5 “How long, O God?” the psalmist cries,
a cry we make our own.
Though we are lost, alone, afraid,
our God will lead us home.

Text: Ralph F. Smith, 1950-1994
Text © 2003 Augsburg Fortress.

Revelation 21

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth;
For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,
And the sea was no more.
And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem
Coming down out of heaven from God.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“See the home of God is among mortals.
God will dwell with them,
And they will be God’s people.
God will be with them
and will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
Mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
For the first things have passed away.”
One the one who was seated on the throne said,
“See, I am making all things new.
I am the Alpha and the Omega,
The beginning and the end.
To the thirsty I will give water
As a gift from the spring of the water of life.”

PRAYERS

Let us pray for all those in need, saying:
We wait for you, Lord,
And in your word we hope.

Holy God, you watch over our going out and our coming in, and your Spirit upholds us in every circumstance. Your Son, Jesus Christ, is our Alpha and our Omega, and our hope and trust is in him. In our despair we turn to you.
We wait for you, Lord,
And in your word we hope.

Lord in our waiting, we pray for the people of Washington D.C., around the country, and around the world, who are reeling after yesterdays unrest. Be with those who feared for their lives and safety. Be with their loved ones who didn’t know if they would be okay. Make us instruments of your peace and justice in this world, to dismantle systems of violence.
We wait for you, Lord,
And in your word we hope.

Our help comes from you, O Lord, you who made the heavens and earth. In the midst of grief, you are our comfort. In the face of every uncertainty, you are our rock. In the wake of tragedy, you are our hope. So even as we weep, we praise you, and place our trust in you. We pray in the name of the one who suffered and died and was raised for us, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

HYMN Do Not Be Afraid (ACS #1027)

Don’t be afraid.
My love is stronger.
My love is stronger
than your fear.

Don’t be afraid.
My love is stronger
and I have promised,
promised to be always near.

CHARGE AND BLESSING

Go out into the world in peace;
Have courage;
Hold on to what is good;
Return no one evil for evil;
Strengthen the fainthearted;
Support the weak;
Honor all people;
Love and serve the lord,
Rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thanks be to God.

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy.
The Lord look upon you with favor and ☩ give you peace.
Amen.