A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.

Jeremiah 31:15

Merciful God,

As we wake up to the news of yet another mass shooting in the United States, we pray for the families of the dead who are grieving and the survivors who are fighting for their lives. Just this week in California, Texas, and Ohio, anger and violence has stolen the lives of your children even as we are still reeling from the violence on our neighbors in Brownsville last week. We weep for the loss of life and the trauma that has be inflicted.

In our baptism we are given over to you, with the promise to renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of our sin. We accept the freedom and power you give us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.

God, as we gather today to worship you, offer us space for rage, grief, repentance, forgiveness, and renewal. Through our worship and praise, give us the vision, courage, and resources to cure this country’s violent sickness particularly around the use of guns.

We see how White Supremacy so often is a factor in mass shootings and we pray for the day when we truly recognize that you created each person in your image, to be a source of Divine Love.

Be with lawmakers. Turn their hearts to you in ways that put people before profit. Guide them on the path of peace and non-violence so that they might be bearers of your justice that turns swords into plowshares.

We remember the horror and violence of the cross that killed Jesus. But we do not lose hope because you have offered us the promise of resurrection.

God of love, renew us as the hands and feet of the risen Christ and cover us with his righteousness. Holy Spirit, move the prayers of our heart into the prayers of our feet as our love moves us to action.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen