Loving God,
We reach out to you knowing that you are walking with us in our shock and pain. You teach us again and again that we are all your children, loved by you unconditionally and created in your image and likeness to be treated with respect and dignity. It hurts us that so often this message is ignored.
Once again, all people of goodwill are heartbroken at this latest incident of senseless violence. This heinous, hateful act directed at innocent people going about their daily lives reminds us of the precious nature of human life. We struggle to understand the hatred which fuels such actions.
We pray for the victims of this shooting and their families, for all the first responders and for the Buffalo community devastated by this unthinkable incident. May they all feel the outpouring of caring and support from those who want to be bearers of your love and may they be aware of your loving arms around them.
We pray also for all who live in fear of attack from those who would devalue any members of our community or our society because of biases and the inability to recognise the dignity and God-given worth of all. May they be aware that you are with them, and that there are many who seek to support them in love and security.
May our witness of prayer and solidarity bring some sense of solace to their lives and may their trust in the God of all love and compassion provide consolation and healing.
We ask this in the name of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, which models for us the dance of love, care and inclusion in which we all have a place.
Amen
~ Gillian Federico, System Chaplaincy Leader
Built on a prayer by Bishop Edward Malesic of the Diocese of Cleveland.