This past week we celebrated Independence Day./ Might we re-think and even re-name the day,/ Inter-dependence Day,/ the healing of our relationships with other human persons,/ the animals,/ the plants,/ even the air,/ water and land./ We pray to the Lord.
Every day,/ mindful of the works that make our planet sad,/ unsafe,/ ugly and fearsome,/ may we remember that it is our world too,/ and that we are invited to create and expand what is beautiful,/ good,/ re-assuring and of life./ We pray to the Lord.
Over the 72 hours of the July 4th weekend,/ 233 people were shot dead,/ 618 wounded in 500 separate shooting incidents./ The nation is adrift in violence./ Let us not blame God,/ but change ourselves./ We pray to the Lord.
July is called the month of the Precious Blood of Jesus./ And while we give thanks for the life-gift Christ made for us at Calvary,/ may we remember that all human blood is precious,/ praying for those who research blood for cures,/ who give blood for the welfare of strangers,/ but also those who lose their blood in wars,/ tragedy,/ and cruel violence./ We pray to the Lord.
We pray again for the rescue and recovery teams/ who continue their work at the site of the Surfside building collapse./ We ask for gifts of strength and perseverance./ For family and friends who wait with broken hearts./ We pray to the Lord.
For those who are in hospitals or sick at home,/ for the elderly and those suffering from the terrible heat of the past weeks./ For firefighters and government officials facing unprecedented challenges of draught and fire../ There are states with increases of covid sickness and death./ May we learn to take care of one another./ We pray to the Lord.
