A Concord Pastor Comments: Monday, April 22 at 2:50 p.m.

4/22/13

Monday, April 22 at 2:50 p.m.

One week after the tragedy, at 2:50 p.m. on Monday, April 22,
we pause in prayer and in silence, save for the tolling of a bell...

Let us pray:

Oh my God!

When we saw, when we heard,
when we learned what had happened,
our mouths opened wide and we called upon you,
Oh my God!

When violence visited our city streets,
when hatred shattered our springtime joy,
then we wept from our hearts,
Oh my God!

When we couldn't believe this pain and this loss
had been schemed and planned and intended,
then we cried from our souls,
Oh my God!

We don't understand how this happens, Lord...

We don't understand why you let the innocent
suffer such wounds...

We don't understand how our planet's become home
to hatred, danger and fear...

We've let this happen, Lord: and we don't understand...
So we pray...

Oh my God!
Open your arms to those who have died
and to those they have left behind...

Oh my God!
Heal the wounded
and make whole the souls
of those most seriously injured...

Oh my God!
Strengthen our resolve to work for peace
and to make of the earth once again
the garden you made long ago...

Oh my God!
With your love and peace to console us,
gently wipe the tears from our eyes
and teach us always to call on your name...

Amen.

(A collection of prayers and reflections following the Boston Marathon tragedy)