Almighty and compassionate God, our eyes could hardly watch, nor our ears hear, nor our minds conceive, nor our hearts believe the unfolding of the tragic events of this week. Fear and mourning have gripped our souls. Tears and anger flow with abandon. O God, in this moment of shock, we hardly know what to pray. And yet we know, in you alone we will find hope, comfort and strength.

Great God of all, have mercy and heal us.

For the multitudes of injured and bereaved

For those who do not know the fate of their loved ones,

Be among us in our fears and our tears. Give comfort and support to our hearts and our souls.

Refresh and strengthen those who aid and those who lead, even as we give you thanks for their many acts of generosity, kindness and heroism.

Unite this nation in one resolve and protect the foundations of our liberty for the sake of ourselves and all the world.

God of love, God of truth, God of life and God of hope, you know our needs are great at this time. In your mercy, hear our prayer. In your wisdom, grant us thos things that will lead us forward to wholeness, love and peace. In your grace, bless us in this time with your holy and life-giving spirit. For blessed are you, O God, and blessed is all that you do.

Amen

With all our hearts and mind, let us pray to God,

In this time of confusion, grief, vulnerability and loss, let us pray to God,

That those who serve you in all countries and all traditions may remember your love, embrace your forgiveness, and hold fast to your hope. Let us pray to God,

That the leaders of this nation, the Congress, President Bush, and all others in authority, may be guided by your Wisdom, and find strength and courage to know and accomplish your purposes in the midst of the evil of these days. Let us pray to God,

That all peoples of the earth, especially those who suffer loss due to political or religious persecution or terrorism, may have the hope of healing.

That we as a nation, having experienced the terror and fear of this past week, may find unity of purpose not in revenge but in rebuilding our hope and healing the pain of the common tragedy which unites us.

That we in this community who have lost loved ones, colleagues, and friends in the tragedies of New York City and Washington, D.C., may be embraced with your love and healing grace through the embrace and care of Christ's Church and all communities who profess to be your body in this world

That those who have died may find peace and joy among the communion of saints. Let us pray to God, God of grace, be with us. God whose vision spans all the ages of the earth, help us to see beyond this moment and to embrace the wider perspective of your whole creation. Deliver us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge, and lead us into a way of love and justice that makes room for all peoples.

God of grace, be with us.

Amen