photo credit: associated press
Last night, the Washington National Cathedral held a service of prayer for the people of Haiti. The presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, The Most Reverend Katherine Jefferts Schori, gave a beautiful homily. Dr. Susan Rice, US Ambassador to the UN, read from the Book of Isaiah. Haitian Ambassador, Raymond Alcide Joseph shared gracious remarks. Below are the prayers of the people from the service:
God of infinite mercy,
who calls forth order out of chaos,
peace out of turmoil, calm out of fear,
we come before you aching and tender
crying out for Haiti and her people, saying,
We lift our prayers to you, O God;
You are the hope of all Creation.
We pray for Haiti, land of mountains and sea,
where the very earth has shifted.
May her tremors cease. May her tumult end.
We pray for her people, shattered yet courageous,
frightened yet bold, destitute and longing for relief.
May their voice be heard. May their need be met.
We lift our prayers to you, O God;
You are the hope of all Creation.
We pray for the injured, broken and lost:
thirsting for clean water, hungry for food,
stripped of shelter, desperate for medical care;
they look to the world for hope.
May their dry mouths find drink,
their empty bellies find food,
their families find cover,
and their bodies find health.
We lift our prayers to you, O God;
You are the hope of all Creation.
We pray for rescuers, those who do the work of recovery,
laboring in the midst of agony;
for healers, doctors, nurses,
and all who tend those wounded in body, mind, or spirit.
May their hands be steady.
May their resolve be sure.
May their work be filled with grace.
We lift our prayers to you, O God;
You are the hope of all Creation.
We pray for the dying and those who have died,
whose frail bodies now line the city streets.
May mercy be abundant.
May death have dignity.
May they never be forgotten.
We lift our prayers to you, O God;
You are the hope of all Creation.
We pray for the global community,
grieving and responding in love.
May our action be swift.
May our purpose be certain. May our devotion endure.
We lift our prayers to you, O God;
You are the hope of all Creation.
We pray for the days to come, the future,
and the promise of what lies ahead.
May new roads be paved; new industry be born;
new fortunes rise; and new friendships sustained.
We lift our prayers to you, O God;
You are the hope of all Creation.
