Thread by @dianabutlerbass

Prayers from church tonight, a litany of sorrow (originally from St Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church, SF):

God of mercy and compassion, we confess to you the hardness of our hearts and the failings of our community. 1/

We turn away from your mercy and mistreat each other.

Forgive us and heal us.

2/

We deny your faith and distrust one another.

Forgive us and heal us.

3/

We reject your love and ignore those who seek our help.

Forgive us and heal us.

4/

We disobey the call to give and cling to our possessions.

Forgive us and heal us.

5/

We misuse your gifts to us and abuse your creation.

Forgive us and heal us.

6/

We turn away from strangers and live selfishly.

Forgive us and heal us.

7/

We trust in violence and ignore the call of love.

Forgive us and heal us.

8/

We are afraid to be changed and envy the gifts of others.

Forgive us and heal us.

9/

We avert our eyes from the pain of the world and despair of the possibility of making a world of peace and dignity.

Forgive us and heal us.

10/

Lord Jesus, you welcome yourself into our lives when we are least prepared to receive you. As you embrace your betrayers, so embrace us who struggle to live as loving people in the world.

11/

Restore us to our right minds and give us your peace.

12/

Turn us to following the way of your life. Create in us clean hearts, and with your tender grace, forgive us. Give us the will and determination to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly here and now.

Amen.

13/

(Prayers 8, 10, and 13 were added to the St Gregory text by me. )