Prayer following Sandy Hook shooting

This prayer was originally written following the shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school. We are sharing it again on the anniversary of this tragedy.

Once again, merciful God,

Once again, children screaming, and streaming from their school doors, hands over their heads, not so much in prayer as in fearful resignation. How long, O Lord, how long?

Once again, in this holiest of Advent seasons, our expectation is shattered by unbearable reality, our inability to protect our children exposes our deepest fears, a voice is heard in Ramah, Rachel weeping for her children and none of us are comforted, for we do not see an end, and in this valley of shadows, we confess: we have almost lost our way.

Give us courage, God of the lost.

Restore our hope, our heart, our sense of the possibility of holiness in your creation. Surround those who have experienced the horror of gun violence, anywhere, Lord, everywhere, Lord, under the shelter of your wings with the balm of your Spirit, fill us, your wounded, willing people, with the expectation of the coming of the Prince of Peace, the hope that we might become the womb of justice and mercy, and the willingness to bear the Christ-light, even in these Advent days of shadow. 

-the Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus, PDA Director