Lord, save us and rescue us
Christ our Light,
Today the bustle of normal life is hushed,
Lord, save us and rescue us
We pray for those who have committed unspeakable evil,
Merciful Lord,
God of compassion
* Adapted by the author from prayers for ‘Holy Innocents’ from Ian Black Intercessions for the Calendar of Saints and Holy Days SPCK 2005
© Ian Black 2005
Your Son brings light to our darkness
we gaze into the darkness
that is the slaughter of innocents.
We shudder at the evil that human beings are capable of committing.
How much we would like to believe that those who commit such depravity
are less than human,
so much more the horror of our shared humanity disturbs us.
O God, why?
Lord, save us and rescue us
Your Son brings light to our darkness
the quietness is unbearable.
Today we endure the pain that is silent
and the screams
that cannot be hushed or shut out.
We pray for all whose lives
have been shattered
and whose world has been torn apart.
Your Son brings light to our darkness
who are hated and despised
by angry crowds.
We pray for those whose guilt
is hard to bear;
for their families and friends
who have had to face the unpalatable,
whose own screams are often not heard.
Turn all our hearts
from hatred and bitterness
to the love that respects everyone.
Lord, save us and rescue us
Your Son brings light to our darkness
your Son came to redeem and to save, we pray for the Church,
for its ministry of pronouncing
forgiveness to the penitent,
healing for the injured,
and salvation open to all.
We pray for all ministers of reconciliation
and those with whom we share
a passion for justice and peace.
We pray for those who follow
other creeds working to promote healthy faith
and living in fear of a backlash from other extremists.
Lord, save us and rescue us
Your Son brings light to our darkness
We pray for the emergency services,
for those who have had to deal
with the aftermath of atrocity and human misery.
We pray for those who seek to ensure the security
and well-being of those at risk.
Guide and bless policy-makers and all who shape our common life.
Lord, save us and rescue us
Your Son brings light to our darkness
Blessed Lord,
you love everything you have made,
hear our prayer for all who have died . . .
Comfort those who mourn
and bring us all to share
in the joy of your eternal kingdom.
Lord, save us and rescue us
Your Son brings light to our darkness
Holy God,
Holy and strong,
Holy and Immortal,
Have mercy on us.