Call and Response Lament for July 2016
(based on Psalm 88)
LEADER:
Lord, you are the God who saves us;
Day and night we cry out to you.
May our prayers come before you;
Turn your ear to our cries.
CONGREGATION:
Lord, hear our laments.
LEADER:
We are overwhelmed with the troubles of just one week,
and we have seen death of those who could have lived:
Alton Sterling
Philando Castile
Officer Brent Thompson
Officer Patrick Zamarripa
Officer Lorne Ahrens
Officer Michael Smith
Officer Michael Krol
Two-year-old Le’Vonte Jones killed by gang gun-fire in Minneapolis.
CONGREGATION:
Lord, draw close to those who mourn.
LEADER:
In these times your presence feels far from us.
We long for your mercy, your justice and your peace.
May your justice roll down like a mighty river.
Your righteousness like an ever flowing stream.
CONGREGATION:
Lord, have mercy. Lord, bring justice.
LEADER:
Remember us Lord, can you see our pain?
Our fear overwhelms us.
It is as though you have cut us off from your care.
We are overwhelmed with waves of sorrow
Our eyes are dim with grief.
CONGREGATION:
Lord, heal our hearts. Lord, heal our land.
LEADER:
We call to you, Lord, every day;
We spread out our hands to you.
We have seen death and destruction in our country;
We have seen terror and senseless violence in our world.
But we cry to you for help, Lord;
In the morning our prayer comes before you.
CONGREGATION:
Lord, hear our prayers.
LEADER:
God, we desire reconciliation that stems from your leadership.
Jesus, we need your perfect love to cast out fear.
Spirit, we long for unity that comes from you.
CONGREGATION:
Lord, guide our hands and feet that we may be led to action in your name.
LEADER:
All this we pray in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
(based on Psalm 88)
LEADER:
Lord, you are the God who saves us;
Day and night we cry out to you.
May our prayers come before you;
Turn your ear to our cries.
CONGREGATION:
Lord, hear our laments.
LEADER:
We are overwhelmed with the troubles of just one week,
and we have seen death of those who could have lived:
Alton Sterling
Philando Castile
Officer Brent Thompson
Officer Patrick Zamarripa
Officer Lorne Ahrens
Officer Michael Smith
Officer Michael Krol
Two-year-old Le’Vonte Jones killed by gang gun-fire in Minneapolis.
CONGREGATION:
Lord, draw close to those who mourn.
LEADER:
In these times your presence feels far from us.
We long for your mercy, your justice and your peace.
May your justice roll down like a mighty river.
Your righteousness like an ever flowing stream.
CONGREGATION:
Lord, have mercy. Lord, bring justice.
LEADER:
Remember us Lord, can you see our pain?
Our fear overwhelms us.
It is as though you have cut us off from your care.
We are overwhelmed with waves of sorrow
Our eyes are dim with grief.
CONGREGATION:
Lord, heal our hearts. Lord, heal our land.
LEADER:
We call to you, Lord, every day;
We spread out our hands to you.
We have seen death and destruction in our country;
We have seen terror and senseless violence in our world.
But we cry to you for help, Lord;
In the morning our prayer comes before you.
CONGREGATION:
Lord, hear our prayers.
LEADER:
God, we desire reconciliation that stems from your leadership.
Jesus, we need your perfect love to cast out fear.
Spirit, we long for unity that comes from you.
CONGREGATION:
Lord, guide our hands and feet that we may be led to action in your name.
LEADER:
All this we pray in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord,thank you for hearing our prayers and our cries.
Stephanie, thank you for sharing this.
Amen! There is such a need for reconciliation in so many areas. Sadly, so few people are willing to invest in the hard work of relational healing both interpersonally in all interactions and between races and cultures recognizing the dark harvest of generations of very poor choices. I weep over the literal and figurative death experienced daily! I pray with you for healing, and unity by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.
This says it all to The One who cares the most and hears our prayers. Than you for your thoughtful prayer.