On December 7, 2007, the Baltimore-Washington Conference held a press conference and paryer service in Baltimore to address the ongoing issues of murder and violence in the city, and to pray for the people, communities and institutions of Baltimore. On yesterday, as a part of a day of service for pastors in the Baltimore region, a number of pastors joined to participate in a prayer walk through communities in Edgewater Village in Edgewood, MD, outside of Baltimore. Edgewater Village experiences urban blight and decline - poverty, homelssness, addiction and gang violence - similar to that in to many communites in Baltimore. During our walk, we came across a makeshift memorial sight for two young men who had been murdered - one in 2007 and one in 2008 - on one corner in Edgewater Village. The young men's names were Trig and Shadow. As we prayed at this memorial, it was evident that the concerns, prayers and hopes that we share for the city must cross geographic bounds. What also came to mind is that the prayers of the church must not cease, and that one of the prayers that we shared at last year's prayer service in Baltimore is appropriate one year later.
A Prayer for the City of Baltimore (12/7/07)
Lord God,
Our hearts are heavy this day,
laden with grief and anger and disbelief.
We feel wounded and disquieted
and yet O God, we know that our hope is in you.
Our faith keeps us coming to you in prayer,
coming to you for answers,
coming to you for peace and a release from anger.
Give us the nourishment of your living water
through Jesus Christ that our thirst may be quenched.
Quiet our souls and yet let us be free
to mourn with those who mourn.
In a week when our city struggles
with the death of children to street violence,
we pray for your wisdom.
Be with those parents and communities
who mourn this day.
God, help us to figure out
what is wrong with our society
that the violence and destruction to families and to life
itself might cease.
Lord, help us as we discern
the issues in our community
which give rise to such violence.
We pray for those who feel so hopeless and helpless
that they must resort to murder.
Motivate us to reach out in your name
to those who suffer,
heighten our awareness and move us to act.
In our own lives
bring your realm more fully upon us.
Weed out the sins
that keep us from following you and helping others.
Move us by your Spirit
to love you more deeply,
worship you more wholeheartedly,
and serve you in all ways. Amen.
Lord God,
Our hearts are heavy this day,
laden with grief and anger and disbelief.
We feel wounded and disquieted
and yet O God, we know that our hope is in you.
Our faith keeps us coming to you in prayer,
coming to you for answers,
coming to you for peace and a release from anger.
Give us the nourishment of your living water
through Jesus Christ that our thirst may be quenched.
Quiet our souls and yet let us be free
to mourn with those who mourn.
In a week when our city struggles
with the death of children to street violence,
we pray for your wisdom.
Be with those parents and communities
who mourn this day.
God, help us to figure out
what is wrong with our society
that the violence and destruction to families and to life
itself might cease.
Lord, help us as we discern
the issues in our community
which give rise to such violence.
We pray for those who feel so hopeless and helpless
that they must resort to murder.
Motivate us to reach out in your name
to those who suffer,
heighten our awareness and move us to act.
In our own lives
bring your realm more fully upon us.
Weed out the sins
that keep us from following you and helping others.
Move us by your Spirit
to love you more deeply,
worship you more wholeheartedly,
and serve you in all ways. Amen.
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