Sunday, June 11, 2017

Commemorating the Pulse Massacre: Prayers of the People

These are the Prayers of the People offered at tonight’s Taize liturgy to commemorate the events of the Orlando Pulse Massacre one year ago tomorrow. The responses of kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy) were sung by the congregation after each verse of the prayers was read. The liturgy was held at St. Richard’s Episcopal Church, Orlando with 52 souls in attendance.

When we first heard the helicopters overhead
The first time we saw those awful images.
We remember how our anguished thoughts and prayers turned to those who had lost their loved ones. 
Tonight, our thoughts and prayers return to them.
Kyrie, kyrie eleison.  
Kyrie, kyrie eleison. 




We remember the 50 who died, each of them bearing your divine image
We recall how so many were just beginning lives of hopes and dreams.
We remember thinking how senseless this loss of human life was.
Tonight, our thoughts and prayers return to them
Kyrie, kyrie eleison.  
Kyrie, kyrie eleison. 


We remember those who survived.
We recall their heart-breaking stories.
We remember that their lives are forever scarred by those moments.
We know their lives will never be the same.
Tonight, our thoughts and prayers are offered for them
Kyrie, kyrie eleison.  
Kyrie, kyrie eleison. 



We remember the outpouring of support for our city 
from all over the world
We recall people standing in lines to donate blood
We remember courageous officers, medics and doctors 
fighting to save lives
We remember the vigil with its half million candles
surrounding the lake in the heart of our city with healing light.
Tonight, our prayers of gratitude are offered for them.  

          Kyrie, kyrie eleison.  Kyrie, kyrie eleison. 

We remember the pain we have felt.
We recall the bereavement and bitterness of the aftermath.
But we remember that you are a God of redemption and restoration.
Help us forgive those who cause such trauma in our world, that we may find release in that forgiveness.
Tonight, our prayers to be forgiving are offered to you.  

          Kyrie, kyrie eleison.  Kyrie, kyrie eleison. 


We remember that you love the world you have created, O God.
We recall you sent your Son to bring reconciliation and salvation.
We remember that your Spirit permeates all of Creation.
Help us bring your comfort and peace to all.
Make us instruments of your peace.
Tonight, our prayers of hopefulness are offered to you.  

Kyrie, kyrie eleison.  Kyrie, kyrie eleison.   

[Adapted from Prayers for 9-11, Pastor Jimmy Orr, Leigh Park Baptist, Havant, UK]



(Said in unison)

God, Creator, bring us new life. 
Jesus, Redeemer, renew and strengthen us. 
Holy Spirit, Sustainer, guide us and give us your peace. AMEN.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Harry Scott Coverston

Orlando, Florida




If the unexamined life is not worth living, surely an unexamined belief system, be it religious or political, is not worth holding.


Most things worth considering do not come in sound bites.


For what does G-d require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your G-d? (Micah 6:8, Hebrew Scriptures)


© Harry Coverston 2017
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A Litany for Remembering a Massacre

This is the litany recited at the Taize liturgy at St. Richard’s Episcopal Church, Winter, Park, Sunday, June 11, 2017. The liturgy commemorated the massacre at Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub one year ago tomorrow.



O God, in whose image all people are made,
Have mercy on us.

O Jesus, healer and lover of all souls,
Have mercy on us.

O Holy Spirit, source of courage and hope,
Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, divine community, gather us as one,
Have mercy on us.

We weep as Rachel for her children,
Have mercy on us.

We weep for the innocent victims of Orlando and everywhere,
Have mercy on us.

We weep for the perpetrators of violence and hate,
Have mercy on us.




We weep over our country and our world as Jesus wept over Jerusalem,
Have mercy on us.

We pray healing for those wounded in body or spirit,
Have mercy on us.

We long for mercy and truth to make a home with each other where righteousness and peace embrace,
Have mercy on us.

Help us to end a culture of violence and the fetish of guns,
Have mercy on us.

Inspire our earthly rulers to break open old arguments and act for the common good,
Have mercy on us.

Lead us in examining our own consciences for the remnants of prejudice and hate within us,
We fervently pray, O God.

Give your LGBT children the courage to be and the equal dignity of every human being,
We fervently pray, O God.

Keep us from acting out of our fear to brand others as enemies,
We fervently pray, O God.


Protect our brothers and sisters of Islam, that they may live in the peace which is their true proclamation,
We fervently pray, O God.

Surround us with your loving arms, draw us together across lines of religion, sexual orientation, and all those many ways we separate ourselves from one another,
We fervently pray, O God.

Inspire us to act in ways that bring all people closer to your promised reign of peace,
We fervently pray, O God.




For the dead we pray,
Lord have mercy.

For the wounded we pray,
Christ have mercy.

For a transformed world we pray,
Lord have mercy.

(Adapted from A Litany After the Orlando Massacre, The Rev.  Michael Hopkins, President, Integrity, the LBGTQ ministry of the Episcopal Church, 1998-2003)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Harry Scott Coverston
Orlando, Florida



If the unexamined life is not worth living, surely an unexamined belief system, be it religious or political, is not worth holding.

Most things worth considering do not come in sound bites.

For what does G-d require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your G-d? (Micah 6:8, Hebrew Scriptures)

© Harry Coverston 2017
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++