Prayer for the City of Istanbul

PRAYER FOR THE CITY OF ISTANBUL

God of grace and peace,

we pray for the city of Istanbul

and the people of Turkey. 

Help and heal the wounded,

receive the dying into your embrace,

and comfort those who mourn.

Strengthen rescue and relief workers

who protect and provide for others 

in the midst of crisis and chaos. 

Give leaders the wisdom and determination

to understand the causes of hatred

and prevent it from gaining force.

Put an end to all violence and war,

and restrain the impulse

to use injustice to seek justice. 

Continue to pour out your mercy

upon the victims of violence in Bangladesh;

Peshawar, Pakistan; 

and all the places we forget or ignore. 

Surround us all with your grace

and bring peace to our weary world.

This we pray in Jesus’ name.

Source: Presbyterian Church in the USA.

Litany for the People of Istanbul

Lord, have mercy:

Words fail as the PCUSA attempts to express the depths of our sorrow and horror at the terror attack on the airport in Istanbul, Turkey.

We grieve for the forty-one killed and scores wounded,

the incalculable wound inflicted on the families, survivors, and country.

Along with the world, we rage at the inhumanity of those agents of hate

who direct the weapons of terror and death against their civilian neighbors.

We pray that our deep and difficult emotions will turn us toward you, the One who brings creation out of chaos.

Holy Spirit, who prays for all creation with groaning too deep for human utterance,

keep us from numbness that avoids the pain of our neighbors;

inspire among us words of unity and compassion across the fears that divide us;

and urge us to acts of mercy, and deeds of justice and peace.

Lord, have mercy:

Fewer than two weeks have passed since the terror attack on the Pulse nightclub in Orlando killed forty-nine;

violence that once seemed incomprehensible now appears commonplace.

Our minds struggle to comprehend the world that is emerging,

the powers and principalities against which we struggle,

the way forward in the midst of fear, uncertainty and violence.

Strengthen us to reach for the hope that is within us, that in these hard days seems elusive.

God who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever on the path, we pray.

          The Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus, coordinator, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

Source:  PCUSA mission agency.

PCUSA mission agency