Prayer Shared by the United Church of Canada on January 7th

As news of the shootings at the offices of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical publication, in Paris, France, continues to unfold, the United Church offers the following prayer as we hold all those affected in our thoughts and prayers.

Gracious God,
By the light of faith,
lead us to seek comfort, compassion, and peace,
in the face of escalating violence around the world.

As we read news reports describing the horrifying situations in Paris,
we offer our heartfelt prayers
for those who were injured in today’s shooting;
for the emergency response crews and police officers who are working toward providing security and safety for all;
for the people of Paris who are mourning the death of loved ones.

God of Epiphany,
We humbly offer you our pain, our bafflement, and our cries for peace,
seeking your gift of transformation and your promise of hope.
Amen.

~ from the United Church of Canada website