Prayers for the Building Fire Victims
Oraciones por las Victimas del Fuego
March 13, 2008

Gathering/Juntar
        We are here because we care.  “The word care finds its roots in … lament.  The basic meaning of care is ‘to grieve, to experience sorrow, to cry out with.’” (Henri Nouwen)

Psalm 142:1-3
With my voice I cry to the Lord;
   with my voice I make supplication to the Lord.            
I pour out my complaint before God;
   I tell my trouble before God.
When my spirit is faint,
   you know my way.

Prayers for Victims/Oraciones por las Victimas 

Kyrie Eleison (“Lord Have Mercy”/“Señor, Misericordia”)

Psalm 142:5-6

I cry to you, O Lord;
   I say, ‘You are my refuge,
   my portion in the land of the living.’
Give heed to my cry,
   for I am brought very low.

Prayers for Helpers/Oraciones por las Ayudantes

Kyrie Eleison

Psalm 142:7
The righteous will surround me,
  for you will deal bountifully with me.

Prayers for Community/Oraciones por la Comunidad

Kyrie Eleison

Psalm 142:1-3;5-7
With OUR voices WE cry to the Lord;
   with OUR voices WE make supplication to the Lord.            
WE pour out OURcomplaints before God;
   WEtell OURtroubles to God.
When OUR spirits are faint,
   you know OUR way.

WE cry to you, O Lord;
   WE say, ‘You are OUR refuge,
   OUR portion in the land of the living.’
Give heed to OUR cries,
   for WE are brought very low.

The righteous will surround US,
  for you will deal bountifully with US.

Closing/Terminar

Lord, we pray not only for those whose homes have been darkened by disaster in recent days, but also for those whose faith has been shaken; for those who stand bewildered and fearful in the midst of tragedy; for the injured, the bereaved, and the destitute.

We commend to your grace all who are seeking to help and heal the injured, and to comfort and calm the bereaved.

From you alone can come the word that will lift them above their darkness. Answer, O Lord, the question in [our] minds; and assure [us] that though disaster is not of your will, you are present with [us] in suffering and sorrow, and can enable [us] to find purpose, hope and peace again.

Amen.

(From New Parish prayers, Edited by Frank Colquhoun; Prayer by Stanley Pritchard)