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Prayers

 

Surround us with your love

O God, you have given us love and beauty,
roses and chocolate,
passion and joy.
Be with us now and guide us,
That our love may be true
That we may honor beauty,
savor life's riches,
tenderly treasure our passion
and know the wonder of joy.
Surround us with your love and show us the way. Amen

   By Linda Gehman Peachey, 2/06

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As God spoke light

As God spoke light into the world at the time of creation
may our voices
speak light into a world of darkness and abuse.

Give us the courage to name the evil
to expose it and address it.

Give us the strength
to walk with the wounded
to share their pain
and become their voice.

Give us the endurance
to work towards justice for the weak and vulnerable
in a world where power and strength are worshipped.

May God’s grace be ever present to open blind eyes
to heal wounded souls
and mend broken lives
to bring restoration, reconciliation
where there is brokenness and grief. Amen.

   By Judith Snowdon

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O God, unite us

O God, unite us with your grace and wisdom.
Shower your blessings upon us as we look forward to the age of peace,
     when violence is banished,
     both women and men are able to love and to be loved,
     and the work and wealth of our world is justly shared.
We look forward to the future in faith and hope.
     May it come soon. Amen.

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Prayer for Children

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.  During this time, let us pray for God’s wisdom and guidance in order to open ourselves to these realities and respond with love and action.  

Leader:  Loving God,

R: Open my eyes       
    To see the girl who won't take off her coat because she is ashamed of the clothes underneath.
    To see the bruises left by a human hand. 
    To see the wounds on a child's heart that will not easily heal.

L: Open my arms       
    When a teen needs comfort after a friend’s betrayal.
    When a young parent just can't stand a baby's cries another minute.
     When a boy needs someone to play ball with.

R: Open my mind
     When I'd rather deny that violence in our families exists.
     When I don't know how to help.
     When a child asks, "Why does Mommy drink so much?"

L: Open my mouth       
    To scream, "STOP!" when stopping is needed.
    To say, "I care." when caring is needed.       
    To seek help when help is needed.

R: Open my ears       
    To hear the cries of babies who need love and care.
    To hear the stories of children tell about the monsters that visit at night.
    To listen to the frustrated parent.

L: Open my heart       
    To care.  To notice. To not forget.

All: Help me to be the eyes, arms, mind, mouth, ears, and heart of Jesus. Grant me the courage to see, touch, think, say, hear, and care.

Leader: "Let the children come," Jesus said.  Will you be ready when they do?

   Adapted from Harder (2010, April 8). Let the children come. Weekly prayers for peace. Mennonite Church USA, Peace and Justice Support Network.  For a bulletin insert layout, go to Dove's Nest.  

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Prayer for healing

Reader 1:   Loving Creator, we come before you with special concern for all who suffer from violence.

Reader 2:   For children who are harmed and humiliated by adults, we pray for healing and intervention.

Reader 3:   For women who are not safe in their own homes, we pray for healing and courage.

Reader 4:   For all people who are treated as commodities by others, we pray for healing and
                     empowerment.

Reader 5:   For people seeking change in institutions only to find retaliation and fear, we pray for
                     healing and hope.

Reader 6:   For all people who suffer the violence of poverty, we pray for healing and positive change.

Reader 7:   For women and men, adults and children who suffer rape, molestation or assault, we pray
                     for healing and justice.

Reader 8:   For all people who suffer from war and conflict, we pray for healing and reconciliation.

Reader 9:   For all people who suffer from discrimination and hostility by others, we pray for healing and
                     wholeness.

Reader 10: For all people everywhere who are oppressed and harmed by the sin of violence, we pray
                     for healing, intervention, courage, empowerment, hope, positive change, justice,
                     reconciliation and wholeness.

  All:  May all for whom we pray, experience your compassion and love.
          May we all know that you never forget us.  Amen.

   Adapted from Fire in the Rose.

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God of compassion,

Give us openness and compassion for those who suffer from domestic violence and other forms of abuse.

May our churches be a safe place where those whose lives are affected by abuse can name the truth of the violence in their lives and be heard with a spirit of oneness and caring.

May it be a place where perpetrators of abuse are called to account.

May it be a place where all can find justice and healing.

May we hear and respond to Jesus' call "Come, follow me" as we work to end violence in all its forms.

This is our prayer in the name of Jesus Christ who knows the pain of violence. Amen.

  Adapted from Lord, Hear Our Prayers MCC Domestic Violence Worship Resources.

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Prayer For Survivors of Abuse

Did I see you?
When I was hungry you broke bread with me.
    When I was sick you sat by my bedside.
When I was in prison, you petitioned for my release.
    When I was sexually assaulted, you listened to my pain.
When I was afraid to be alone, you stayed with me.
    When I felt guilty and ashamed, you told me it was not my fault.
When I had to go to court, you went with me.
    When I was filled with anger and hatred, you did not reject me.
When I was filled with sorrow and hopelessness, you held my hand.
    When I kept my story secret for years, you understood why.
When I called on God for help, you came and helped me.

    By Carol Penner, 5/04.

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Prayer for Male Survivors of Violence

God of Comfort:
We pray today for men and boys
    whose lives have been scarred by abuse and violence.
We pray for boys bullied and molested
    by people who should be their friends.
We pray for boys sexually abused and exploited
    by people they trust who should protect them.
We pray for boys who cry their tears alone
    with no one to comfort them.
We pray for men who have suffered physical assault
    and have fear as a constant companion.
We pray for men who have been sexually assaulted
    and who are not allowed by our society to name their victimization.
Jesus, teach our church to see your face
   in all men who suffer from the effects of violence. Amen.

   By Carol Penner, 5/04.

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Prayer for Children in Need

We pray today for children in our communities who live
without either of their parents:
children whose parents have died,
children who have been abandoned,
children taken away from their parents because of abuse or neglect,
and children who have run away from home.

You care for these little ones God,
and not one of them is lost from your sight.
Guide, guard and protect these children
as they move in with relatives,
as they live with foster parents
as they are adopted into new families
or as they struggle on the street.

Comfort each one who feels unloved, unwanted and afraid.
Give wisdom to people who make decisions about children's lives.
Empower those who care for them to be loving and compassionate.
Instill in our government leaders a passion for protecting the most vulnerable.

Help us to reach out as individuals and as a congregation
to those who live without the protection and love of parents.
We also pray for parents and children who have been wrongly separated,
that you will end their agony and help them to be reunited.
We pray this in the name of Jesus, who loves the little ones. Amen.

   By Carol Penner, 5/04.

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 Great God of compassion

Great God of compassion, 

     We come before you this day as a people who are broken and battered.

     We come as a people who need your healing.

Be with us and among us, so that we may leave this time of worship

      strengthened and empowered to seek wholeness in our lives. Amen.

  Adapted from Fire in the Rose.

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Prayer of Remembrance and Intercession

Leader:  God of hope and compassion, we ask that everyone may be free to serve you in truth and grace. We remember our foremothers who recognized that a person of faith must have the courage to act upon injustices. For them we say...

All:  We remember.

Leader:  Let us remember the women of Scripture who assumed leadership in difficult circumstances and became role models for us. For them we say...

All:  We remember.

Leader:  Let us remember the women who have face the unknown in faith and have met fear with courage, who dared to step forward and lead, who challenged stereotypes of society and accepted the consequences. For them we say...

All:  We remember.

Leader:  We remember the fourteen women who were killed in Montreal, especially the engineering students who chose to pursue non-traditional professions and paid for it with their lives (Each of 14 candle holders say the name of one of the women and then blows out her/his candle): Geneviève Bergeron; Hélène Colgan; Nathalie Crouteau; Barbara Daigneault; Anne-Marie Edward; Maud Haviernick; Barbara Maria Klucznik; Maryse Laganière; Maryse Leclair; Anne-Marie Lemay; Sonia Pelletier; Michèle Richard; Annie St-Arneault; Annie Turcotte. For them we say...

All:  We remember.

Leader:  We remember the families, friends, colleagues and peers whose lives were profoundly changed by the deaths of these young women. For them we say.

All:  We remember.

Leader:  We pray for all women who have died of violence, and we mention now the names of some... (people may call out names) and for those we name in our hearts... (silent prayer). For them we say... (as the last candle is blown out)

All:  We remember.

Leader:  We pray for all women who have survived violence, that they will have the courage and strength to reach out for the support they need to make their lives safe and whole. For them we say...

All:  We remember.

Leader:  We pray for those individuals and systems that perpetrate violence, that they will be challenged to seek healing and wholeness, forgiveness and accountability. For them we say...

All:  We remember.

Leader:  We pray, too, for all victims of terrorism and way, especially for those who have died since September 11th of this year. For them we say...

All:  We remember.

Leader:  We pray for each other, our families and friends; we pray for those in the helping professions and in our government services. We pray for all who give physical, emotional, and spiritual guidance to victims, and for all who work to change the cycle of abuse and violence. For them we say...

All:  We remember. Compassionate God, we remember all these and ask that they be held safely in your loving arms. We pray for God's love and justice to heal our hurt and to bring us to that day when women no longer live with fear and your whole creation moves toward wholeness, justice and peace. Amen.

  Adapted from December 6th Services Worship Resources provided by Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada.

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Prayer of Dedication

We offer ourselves to you, Creator.
We offer our hands. May we use healing touch to comfort sisters, brothers and children
   who are afraid.
We offer our eyes and ears. May we see and hear the signs and stories of violence, so that all may have someone with them in their     pain and confusion.
We offer our hearts and our tears as their hurt and sorrow echo within us.
We offer our own stories of violence. May we be healed as we embrace each other.
We offer our anger. Make it a passion for justice.
We offer all our skills. Use our gifts to end violence.
We offer our faith, our hope, our love. May our encounters with violence bring us closer to you and to each other.
All this we ask through Jesus the Christ who knows the pain of violence. Amen.

  Adapted from December 6th Services Worship Resources provided by Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada

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Prayer

God, make me an instrument of your peace and non-violent love.
Where there is hatred of someone different from me, let me reach out to them in generosity.
Where there is injury by a friend, parent, or teacher, who humiliates or ridicules me,
   let me go to her or him with words of forgiveness.
Where there is doubt that non-violent love changes people,
   let me be inspired by the life of Jesus.
Where there is despair and loneliness at the thought that I am not valued,
   let me experience the security and wonder of friendship.
Where there is darkness of violence, oppression or war, let me shed the light of understanding,
   feeling sorrow for both the victim and the violent person.
Where there is sadness of teenage suicide, let me bring the delight of each new day.

O my friend Jesus, grant that I may not so much look
   to be comforted in my time of need as
to comfort another in his or her time of need,
   to have my point of view understood as
to listen to another's point of view.
   to be loved by my friend as
to love those who have hurt me.

For it is in giving our time, our possessions, our life, that we find gratitude and security.
It is in forgiving the person who wrongs us that we see our own faults and find the gift of
   forgiveness and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

   Adapted from Fire in the Rose


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 Loving God

Loving God, may we experience your presence

among us as the God of peace,

as healer, as comforter and as One who desires and calls your church

to be a sanctuary for those whose lives are affected by abuse.

Show us the path to be a caring church and fill us with your healing power.

This is our prayer in the name of Jesus Christ who knows the pain of violence.  Amen.

  Adapted from Lord, Hear Our Prayers, MCC Domestic Violence Worship Resources.

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Prayer - interspersed with congregational singing of verses of "Kum ba yah”

PEOPLE:
"Kum ba yah" verse 1

LEADER:
God of love, justice and mercy,
hear our prayers for the children of our world.

PEOPLE:
"Someone's crying, Lord" verse 2

LEADER:
We pray, O God,
for the refugee child who weeps
as she is driven from her home by violence and fear;
for the child of war who wails in anguish
as family members are killed before his eyes;
for the abused child who cries into her pillow
gulping back tears with the secret that's too big to tell;
for the starving child who lies silently,
too weak to cry, too numb to protest.
Hear our prayer, O Lord.

PEOPLE:
"Someone's praying, Lord" verse 3

LEADER:
We pray, O God,
for the homeless child who seeks secure shelter;
for the war-ravaged child who pleads for the killing to end;
for the abused child who desperately yearns for freedom from violation;
for the child who prays for food to quiet his empty stomach.
Hear our prayer, O Lord.

PEOPLE:
"Someone's singing, Lord" verse 4

LEADER:
We pray, O God,
for the refugee child who sleeps secure in his family's dwelling;
for the child of way who now plays happily in a peaceful land;
for the abuse victim who reclaims personal boundaries;
for the satisfied child whose belly is full of good food.
Hear our prayer, O Lord.

PEOPLE:
"Kum ba yah" verse 5

  From MCC Peace Packet 1998.

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Prayer

Jesus, courageous and vulnerable, you broke into the vicious circle.
   May we break into cycles of violence.

Jesus, bold and brave, you confronted the traditional customs.
   May we confront patterns of hatred and prejudice.

Jesus, assertive and strong, you challenged the perpetrators.
   May we challenge victimizers and abusers in our day.

Jesus, clear and direct, you drew a line in the sand.
   May we refuse to accept injustice.

Jesus, amazing and powerful, you got them to drop their stones.
   May we find ways to be in the world that increase safety, establish fairness and promote peace. Amen.

Adapted from Roll Away the Stone: Lenten Reflections at the Close of the Ecumenical Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women,  edited by Caryn Douglas and Ted Dodd.