Prayers, Music, and Silence for Boston in the wake of the Marathon tragedy

The Winchester Interfaith Council

 Prayers, Music, and Silence

 for Boston in the wake of the Marathon tragedy

The Parish of the Epiphany

Wednesday, 17 April 2013 at twelve o’clock noon

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Prelude

Words of Welcome The Reverend Thomas J. Brown, Rector

All stand to sing the

Entrance Hymn O day of God, draw nigh in beauty and in power

All are seated.

A Prayer for Guidance                                                                                   The Reverend Audrey L. O'Brien

The Psalm 46                                                                                                  Fr. James Savage, St. Eulalia Parish

A Litany

The Reverend John Millspaugh, Winchester Unitarian Universalist Society

In the silence after each petition, you are invited to offer individual prayers in silence or aloud.

Leader       Eternal God,  in whom we live and move and have our being, be amongst us with your healing power. Help us to see your presence in  our grief, as we struggle to respond to hatred and violence in our midst. We pray for all those who died in the attacks at the Boston Marathon, and for their families…

Silence

    With one voice we pray,

All         Bring your light and peace, O God.

Leader  For all those who were injured, and for all those traumatized by these events…

Silence

With one voice we pray,

All                 Bring your light and peace, O God.

For all those who responded with courage and compassion: police officers, firefighter, doctors, nurses, volunteers, and others who risked their lives to bring aid and assistance…

Silence

With one voice we pray,

All                 Bring your light and peace, O God.

For our wounded city, and for all who weep this day…

Silence

With one voice we pray,

All          Bring your light and peace, O God.

For those throughout the world for whom terror and random violence are a part of daily life…

Silence

With one voice we pray,

All         Bring your light and peace, O God.

For our enemies, and for all those who would do us harm…

Silence

With one voice we pray,

All         Bring your light and peace, O God.

For ourselves, that you will deepen our faith and resolve to commit ourselves walk in ways of peace and compassion…

Silence

With one voice we pray, 

All         Bring your light and peace, O God.

A Reading Matthew 5:1-12                                                                                     The Reverend Eric Dupee, Crawford United            Methodist Church

A time for silent reflection and prayer 

All stand to sing

The Hymn God be with you till we meet again

All remain standing for the

Closing Prayer

Mr. Sal Caraviello, St. Mary Church

Religious leader Gracious God, you walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death. We pray that the suffering and terrorized be surrounded by the incarnate presence of the crucified and risen one. May every human being be reminded of the precious gift of life you entered to share with us.  May our hearts be pierced with compassion for those who suffer, and for those who have inflicted this violence, for your love is the only healing balm we know. May the dead be received into your enfolding arms, and may your friends show the grieving they are not alone as they walk this vale of tears.  All this we pray in your holy name. 

All Amen.

      

Postlude

During the postlude the liturgical leaders process from the chancel, outside to the forecourt.

All are invited to remain seated or depart quietly. 

The Church will be open for prayer until 8:00pm.

Copyright and Credits

The hymns are taken from The Hymnal 1982 (Church Publishing, Inc., New York, New York), and are reprinted with permission. The Litany was composed by the Reverend Thomas N. Mousin, rector at St. John Church in Charlestown, Massachusetts. The closing prayer was composed by the Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts-Schori, presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church.