Good and gracious God,

Our words fail...
they fail to adequately describe the events in Japan.
They fail to express the depth of our sympathy.
They fail to encapsulate the immensity of the tragedy.
They fail to contain the breadth of our emotions.
They fail to convey the commiseration in our souls.

Yet, we fling these deficient vessels toward you.
Because we must.

We fling our words of concern, of care, of compassion
towards you,
even though they, at times, feel remarkably inefficient -
even though they, at times, are bumbling and reckless -
even though they, at times, are a poor attempt 
to divulge the sorrows of our very souls.

We fling them because we must.
We fling them because we know that you
do not measure the worthiness of the vessel,
but look to the sincerity of the messenger.

So, we groan our prayer.
We groan for the people of Japan,
and all the people of the Pacific,
faced with this tragedy.
We groan from the depths of our souls,
bypassing the words that fail us
and reaching into the language of our spirits.

Hear our prayers, our God.
Inspire us to be a part of your response to this tragedy.
Comfort us and those effected
in the knowledge that,
through your people,
and in relationship with you,
you can weave something beautiful
out of the tattered mess we have before us.

Grant peace to those who have passed from this life,
comfort to those they have left behind,
strength to those who will be recovering from this for years to come,
and wisdom to the leaders 
whose responsibility it will be to guide their people back from the brink of disaster.

May we trust in the new life 
of which this time of year brings.
May we trust in the renewal of spirit
to which Easter points.
Remind us that, at the core of your grace,
is the knowledge that death and destruction,
will never prevail.
You bring new life where once there was none,
hope where it has been lost,
and peace in the midst of turmoil.

Let us never forget,
that we, your people,
are part of your solution.

Let us never forget 
when we respond
to form partnerships,
not dictatorships.

Let us recognize and honor
the dignity of the people
of Japan.

Amen. 


TWO WAYS TO HELP JAPAN:Text REDCROSS to 90999 to contribute $10.
Donate to Presbyterian Disaster Relief's effort in Japan by clicking here.

A prayer submitted by Kimberly J. Edwards:

God,
I find myself heartbroken 
by the hatred I see all around me. 
So I ask that I may never forget :
 
That behind every brown, yellow, red, black or white face, there is a family like mine, and souls trying to live in a world that often tells them they are less than or unworthy, aliens that are not wanted. May I never lose sight of the soul behind each face, the souls of Your children.

 That behind every homeless person there is a story that may be so familiar to me as to be uncomfortable. May I never be comfortable until there are no more homeless faces seeking a kind word, or an opportunity, or just a smile and a little love.

 That I never forget the truth of Your gospel, that storing up riches here, withholding from others out of some misguided sense of superiority or right to judge, that treating any one of Your children as unworthy to come to Your table is not the Christian love You came to teach us.

 That I count as treasures the friends who stand beside me, encouraging, loving, supporting and accepting me, through word and deed. Sometimes just being available, sometimes through prayer, sometimes through sacrifice of their own. Let me never take them for granted, and always see them as the blessing You meant them to be, and do my very best to love them as well as they have loved me.

 That when I see actions or hear words that mean harm to the 'other', to never stand still or be quiet in the face of injustice, cruelty, racism, to call out behavior that seeks to harm my neighbor. To always see in each face the potential of a child of God no matter how I might disagree with their manner or actions. To protect those who are being shunned, criticized, or even threatened because they are considered different.

 That I appreciate the love and devotion shown to me by my pets. The unconditional adoration that radiates from the soul of our animal friends is surely sent from heaven, through souls that speak a different language, one of complete acceptance. It is no small thing for an animal to love a person. May I always remember those gone on to You to await our reunion.

 That I see and cherish each small blessing, from a spontaneous hug given by a grandchild, to a moment of clarity when I realize that my grown children love and understand me despite my obvious imperfections, a gesture or look from a husband who shows devotion and commitment each day, an unexpected phone call or card from someone reminding me that I matter, to the sunset, birdsong, moonlight, joyous bark or laugh that sweeten my life.

 That I never find myself so blinded by my illness or difficulties that I forget those around me, and around the world, who hurt, hunger, shiver, grieve and strive for rights denied them by oppression and greed.

 That I take every opportunity to let the wonders of Your creation heal and uplift me. Knowing that something as simple as sunshine on my face, sand and waves under my feet, regal treetop canopies, a bird in flight or the beauty of horses galloping across a field can be proof of Your love for Your world.

 That I always, always remember that color, creed, faith or none, accent, sex, age, language, dress, orientation, hairstyle, home, or financial status has not one thing to do with the worth of anyone to You, and to follow your example.
     
That above all the chaos and upset in this world, You gave us the greatest Gift the world has ever known. You loved us then, and love us now, that much. May we all continue to grow and journey toward the greatest we can be for You, and because of You.
      
That I do all I can to give my children an grandchildren an example of the power and light of Your love in my life. That I always do my very best to be a light for Your world, to honor and respect each individual I meet, no matter our differences. That I grow into the person You wish me to be. 

Amen.

Good and gracious God,
 
Allow the tragedy in Tucson yesterday
to open our eyes to the tragedy 
around the world everyday.
Help us be made aware
in a way that does not lessen the severity 
of yesterday's tragic events,
but rather, in a way that 
amplifies the tragedy found in
the loss of human life for any reason.
 
We pray now for Christina 
the 9 year old girl
who lost her life in the cross-fire of hate.
We pray for Judge Roll
who was no stranger to death threats.
We pray for the congressional aid
who was killed for simply doing their job.
We ask that as you have received them
into your fold,
you would extend your arms to their families.
Even as we ask this,
we recognize that you already have 
and we give you thanks.
 
We pray for Congresswoman Giffords,
who seems to have been to
the focus of the attack.
We give thanks for the skilled hands
which rushed to her aid,
for her remarkable survival
and for your hand in it all.
 
In some way, may this event,
her survival and her life,
become a constant beacon to us,
calling us away from 
the rocky shorelines of hatred
and out into the deep blue waters
of our baptisms.
 
We also pray for the shooter
and anyone who may have help propagate this violence,
we pray for them and for others like them,
may the internal struggles they experience
which lead to such violent acts
be lessened.
 
May they know and experience your love
so deeply and profoundly 
they they begin a journey toward you
and away from the hostility, anger and violence
that they are experiencing.
 
May we all stand united,
in one voice,
against hatred and
against violence.
 
Loving God,
teach us to stand up
even to language that inspires hatred.
Teach us to defend your name
and each other
as we proclaim your
hate and violence free ways
in the pursuit of the world
you desire for us...
heaven on Earth.
 
AMEN

Good and gracious God,

2010 was not the year we hoped it to be.
Before we begin this new year 
remind us that we should never be satisfied
with any year.
Remind us that the pursuit 
of heaven on earth should always be our goal.
Remind us that while that goal
always seems to be just beyond our reach,
we are called to reach for it none-the-less.
Remind us that when our arms 
seem to be about to fall out of their sockets
because we must stretch ourselves so far
to reach and pull this planet toward
your peaceable kin-dom here on Earth...
Remind us that you are with us,
that you will strengthen us,
that you still call us...
to a better,
higher,
more acceptable,
way.

Giving God,
May 2011 be a year of blessings.
Not necessarily on ourselves,
but on those in need.
Far too many people come into the new year
eating black-eyed peas and leafy greens
as a way to bring about prosperity -
failing to recognize the abundance 
you have already planted in their lives.
In this false sense of lacking,
all too frequently, we find ourselves
holding back from giving as freely
as you call us to do.
May 2011 be a year of blessings.
May we recognize the blessings we have,
and share so abundantly of them 
that others, whose lives might be truly lacking,
may more fully know the abundance 
and blessings of your creation,
and the extent of your graciousness.

Healing God,
Far too many in this world,
lack the basics of life.
Basics that should be considered human rights.
In 2011 may we open our eyes to the connectedness of life.
By your design, in the words of Dr. King,
“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality...”
which means “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Far too many suffer from the injustice
of not having their basic needs met,
their fundamental human rights met;
clean water,
enough food,
safety,
a roof under which to sleep,
access to heath care,
the right to be treated with dignity,
the right to be treated equally,
freedom from slavery,
freedom from discrimination,
access to education,
reasonable privacy,
life,
the pursuit of happiness.
Help us to not only recognize these rights,
but to recognize that when any lack in them,
it is a threat to all of your Creation.
Encourage us to pursue access for all people
to these basic human rights...
May we “not be satisfied
until justice rolls down like waters
and righteousness
like a mighty stream.”

God of all wisdom,
guide us in 2011,
for we have lost our way.
In the fundamentalism of this world,
we have lost sight of the fundamentals of
who you call us to be
and the fundamentals of a peaceable kin-dom realized. 
Call us back from our Earthly desires of 
power, prestige and self-promotion
and return us to the pursuit of
the Divine image in whose likeness we were formed.
May 2011 be the year of our pursuit of
hope,
grace,
peace,
love....

May 2011 be the year of our earnest pursuit of 
You.

AMEN.

Good and gracious God,

This time of year,
despite all of the presents we give,
it is sometimes too easy 
to get caught up in ourselves.
In the 'joy' of shopping,
the 'love' of all the seasons' festivities,
the 'peace' of settling in by a fire 
          while the Christmas Tree 
          helps light the room,
the 'hope' of what we might receive.

Change our hearts O God.
Not in a way that devalues those things, 
but in a way that puts them into proper perspective.

This first day of December,
remind us that there are more important things in this sometimes broken world
with which to concern ourselves.

Today, on World AIDS day,
Remind us of the half a million children that were born with HIV\AIDS last year alone.
Remind us of the more that 2,000,000 children living with AIDS and
the 33,000,000 million people living with it.

This time of year,
despite all the presents we give,
it is sometimes too easy to get caught up in our selves.
Let us revision the joy, love, peace and hope of Advent.

May we find the joy you intend for us
     in doing something that makes someone else's life better.

May we share the love you extend to us
     with those whom society continues to ostracize due to fear and ignorance.

May we offer the peace you give to us
     to the entire world by living in ways that confront dominance and marginalization
          by living in ways that do not accept that some people are not given 
                    what they need to live healthy lives
          by speaking out and speaking up
                    against systems that continue to ignore those in need.

May we share the hope of Advent
     with those who must at times find it particularly difficult to hold on to hope.

Teach us that we can achieve all these things,
not just in the presents we give,
but with our presence as well.
Let us stand with all of our brothers and sisters
over and against the powerful governments and businesses 
that treat them as if they were pawns in a game,
ready to sacrifice them for the good of Kings and Queens.

On this World Aids day,
we ask that the joy, love, peace and hope
that waits in the wings of Advent
may break forth upon this sometimes broken world
and that we may be part of the spark
that brings that fiery Spirit
to realization here on Earth.

Amen.

Good and gracious God,

Today, like the rest of the world,
when I woke I wrapped myself in myths.
They are comfortable and warming in what can seem like such a cold world. 
Yes, they are old and worn but they are familiar
and even the most fashion forward find comfort in this thread-worn garb.

They tell me that while it may not be fair
that 1600 children die from hunger everyday,
I can do nothing about it.
They silence my own judgment of myself
when I give money to the church
or put a quarter in the cup of a homeless man
as I walk on by the lack in his life
to live into the abundance of mine.

They tell me that the rich shall inherit the Earth,
and that they will be beneficent rulers.
The myths that I wear tell me
that giving to the rich is better than giving to those in need,
so we as a nation heap blessings upon the rich
expecting 'trickle down' to make it rain on those of us below.
Yet, we remain drenched in our inability
to pay the rent,
pay for college,
save for the future...
at times, even believe we have much of a future.

So, today, like the rest of the world, when I woke I wrapped myself in myths.
They are comfortable and warming in what can seem like such a cold world. 
Yes, they are old and worn but they are familiar
and even the most fashion forward find comfort in this thread-worn garb.

They tell me that violence, while abhorrent,
is inescapable, a part of the reality of life -
that violence is the path we must travel to find peace.
Religion reinforces this myth of Redemptive Suffering
suggesting that suffering builds character,
that you, O God, won't give us more than we can handle,
ignoring the realities of the families who have survived
the loss of loved ones through violent acts:
War, Domestic Violence, Gang Violence, suicide.

Even in the names we use,
we see how we believe this myth:
The world calls one of humanity's most violent acts
The Holocaust, which means 'sacrifice by fire,'
Suggesting that there might be something good
or even of God in it.
Those whose lives it destroyed call it
Ha Shoa – the calamity.

So, I wrap myself in myths.
They are comfortable and warming in what can seem like such a cold world. 
Yes, they are old and worn but they are familiar
and even the most fashion forward find comfort in this thread-worn garb.

They tell me that the least of these deserve what they get,
that “But for the grace of God, there go I,”
believing that somehow God's grace falls more abundantly on me.

They tell me that I must shut off who God created me to be
and live into the image the world expects of me
because who I am on the inside won't be accepted on the outside.

They tell me that some are created more equal in God's eyes
and don't deserve the same rights as the rest of us
that they should be punished for being their own unique reflection of their Creator.

Loving God,
take from me this earthly garb,
for not only are they old and thread-worn...
but they reek.
They stink of the stench of power, money and greed.
They have the foul odor of prestige, self-importance and control.
They fill my nostrils with an offensive aroma
that smacks of a history of abuse, belittlement and pain.
They exude with the suffering they let me ignore.
They ooze with the memories of the blood that has been lost.
They smell to high heaven and point to my complicity
in the lies of this world.

Redeeming God,
take these Robes of Myth from me
and let me walk naked through this world if I must,
but I wish to walk through it blindly no longer.
I wish to breath in the brilliance of creation
and leave behind the stinking myths of humanity.

Help me, my God.
Free me, my God.

Help us, O God.
Free us.

Amen.