Submitted by Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune, Chief Operating Officer, NCC
Gracious and Merciful God,
We come before You today with heavy hearts and what feels like unbearable burdens. There is fear, confusion, anxiety and even despair.
O, God, we are in the midst of a crisis like none we have seen before. The death toll is rising. We are losing loved ones, colleagues, and friends. Death seems to be all around us and there’s not much we can do. Reports of the suffering of those with the novel coronavirus and their families is overwhelming. Our lives and livelihoods are hanging in the balance. At moments, fear and anxiety get the best of us. We need You, O God, this very hour!
Keep us and sustain us, O God. Lead us beside still waters. Remind us of Your love and care for us—that You will never leave us nor forsake us. Let this time of being “together apart” be meaningful and encouraging, life-giving for us. Knit our hearts together so that we love one another and lift up justice for every person.
O God, we ask for Your mercy to abound. We ask for Your protection. We pray for wisdom in all we do, in how we interact, in how we shelter in place. We pray that You would help us to be mindful of our neighbor, especially those who are very different from us. We pray that our compassion would increase as we ride out this season of staying home to stay safe. And, for those who cannot stay home, we pray that You would cover and protect them. We pray for Your mercy. We pray for peace. We pray for solutions to come like a flood. We pray for those on the front lines of addressing this crisis. Grant them wisdom and insight beyond their own understanding.
We pray for one another. Grant us patience and persistence. Grant us resilience and endurance. Grant us rest for our souls. Give us hope and help us to see that hope manifested in our lives, in our communities, in the news reports, and, throughout social media.
Hear our cries, O God. Hear our prayers. Restore us and deliver us.
In Your mercy, hear our prayers. It’s in the precious name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.