Creator God of all that is good, we cry out to you from our pain,
Being pulled over for expired tags in the midst of a pandemic,
It must stop now
Raised voices in confrontation,
It must stop now
Jogging in the wrong neighborhood,
Paying with the wrong twenty-dollar bill,
Watching birds in the wrong park,
Wearing a hoodie…wrong?
It must stop now
Gracious God, we can no longer bear to hear
Wrong hand,
I made a mistake
Wrong door,
I made a mistake
Wrong house,
I made a mistake
Wrong use of force,
I made a mistake
Loving God, we are your children crying out to be seen,
A young father,
A child of God
A man serving his country,
A child of God
A person who loved to dance,
A child of God
A child playing in a park,
All children of God.
God of comfort, we, your children, cry out to you!
Be with us now
God of healing all sorrow,
Be with us now
God of mercy,
Be with us now
God of justice,
Be with us now
God of love,
Be with us now
God of [add your own cry]
Be with us now
Embrace us loving God, fold us into yourself, wrap us in your divine presence, soothe us with your healing and restorative balm… for we are sad, we are tired and we are angry…we are in need of your restorative graces as we remember and pray for your child, Duante, and his son, his family, friends and his community. Amen. Amen. Amen.