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.

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