God of Grace, God of Mercy, We pray today for the people
of the Tree of Life congregation
in Pittsburgh. We pray for all those
who suffer from violence,
for those who grieve,
and for those who have died
because of a hatred that
has no point,
and makes no sense. May they find comfort in
the knowledge of your love,
and healing in the support
of the community. We ask forgiveness
for the ways in which
your word has been twisted
to support acts of evil. Give us the courage
to challenge the evil rhetoric
that supports hatred and violence,
and to speak the truth boldly,
that your love, grace, and mercy
extend to all without limit. May the love of your people do the same. Amen