Three Prayers of Lament

Created by Rev. Dr. Carol Cook Moore. Free to use with attribution to the author

These three prayers of lament may be used in the same service or separately.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, you have been our dwelling place for generations.

You know the sorrow of our hearts as we mourn with loss too deep for words.

You know the hopes and dreams we have whispered in our sleep and shouted in our prayers.

In this time of prayer we weep:

For those who have taken their own lives because the church tells them they are unworthy. Please say their names now:

God have mercy.

For those who are called to ministry who have been stripped of their ordination because of who they love. Please say their names now:

Christ have mercy.

For those who have lost jobs, family relationships, friends, and respect because they are lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, trans, queer. Please say their names now:

God have mercy.

For our brothers and sisters who are afraid right now, threatened right now, and need us to stand with them.

Christ have mercy.

For our enemies — those who seek to do harm, who wield scripture like a club, who are afraid of the truth we proclaim.

God have mercy.

We beg that your Spirit will intercede for us. We cling to the hope that only you can supply.

Comfort those who have and continue to fight for justice. Renew our very spirits as we pray for direction. Save us from cynicism and bitter retribution. We cling to you O Christ who comes to transform this world. Be the light in this darkness. We pray in your holy name,

Amen.


My heart is faint. O Lord, do you hear my cry?
Day and night I have waited and prayed for you to answer.
Day and night I have questioned whether or not I can be your disciple.
They say I cannot unless I deny my being.
They say I cannot unless I try to change what you have made me to be.
They call me unclean, sinner, abomination.
They say I will burn in hell.

Yet you, O Lord, formed me in my mother’s womb.
You sang when I cried my way into this world.
Your servants baptized me with water and the Spirit.
Your Holy Scripture was handed to me when I was able to read.
I have eaten the bread and wine of your table.
I have pledged to love you and surrender to your will.

By your grace, I am a sinner of your redeeming.
By your love I am called to break the bread and bless the wine.
By your mercy, I will walk humbly knowing that their words are not your Word.
No one can take this faith from me.
No one can take this calling from me.
No one can condemn the love that you have given me, for you are my Rock and my Salvation.


How long, O Lord?
We watch as your children are battered by words of condemnation.
We wait as others strategize for a way to allow the fullness of your love to flow and flourish.
How foolish it is to trust in the work of humankind.
It is the work of your Spirit that will prevail.
Lead us, Holy One, lead us into your justice.

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