The blue and white of our Province are displayed across the country and people around the world are coming together in grief and disbelief at this tragic loss even amid this pandemic. We are brokenhearted at such a great loss of innocent life.
A message from Bishop Wayne Kirkpatrick:
We woke up on Sunday, April 19 to the unfolding story of another wave of tragedy in our community.
How do we deal with such disaster and heartbreak?
We turn to our faith and to one another as best we can for comfort and courage.
As a gesture of solidarity and prayer for those who have died as a result of the terrible tragedy,
we ask that our churches ring their bells on Friday, April 24, 2020, at 6 p.m.
Throughout our country and beyond people have expressed their prayers and sorrow so let us come together as a faith community in prayer,
remembering those who have died and those who mourn.
Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
There is a virtual vigil Friday, April 24, 7 pm
on the Facebook public group Colchester-Supporting our Communities
Go to the Facebook page
We offer some models of prayers that may be offered by all our people and all our clergy at all our parishes.
God of love and mercy, hear our cries, and bring us comfort in our time of sorrow.
Watch over our loved ones who have died.
Watch over those whose lives have been touched by the death of loved ones.
Watch over those who are called to serve and protect us.
Watch over all of us and keep us strong in faith, hope, and love.
Watch over us and stay with us, Lord.
Lord of all compassion
Be with those lives have been shattered by sudden and violent death.
Hear our pain, sorrow, confusion, and anger. Be with us Lord, Hear our prayer.
God Our Refuge and final home, Bring our brothers and sisters into your all-embracing love
Give them happiness and peace forever. Stay with us Lord, hear our prayer
Lord of Healing
Lift us from the depths of grief.
Strengthen the bonds of family, fraternity, and community.
Give us your Spirit’s courage, wisdom and peace to heal what is broken
And do what needs doing to rebuild our lives with a strength of purpose rooted in service, kindness, and care.
Sustain us, Lord, Hear our prayer.
Lord of all Consolation
Carry us in our sorrow with trust and hope that In our tears, our gestures of comfort, our work, and our words that It is You who weep with us, enfold us, journey with us and speak to us, and confirm us in faith, hope and love that goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives.
Walk with us Lord, Hear our prayer.
Lord of compassion
We pray for all of those caught up
in the midst of tragedy and disaster
For those who have lost life
and for those working to save life
For those who are worried for people they love For those who will see their loved ones no longer Lord Have Mercy
For those in need of peace
that passes all understanding
For all who turn to you in the midst of turmoil For those who cry out to you in fear and love Lord Have Mercy
For those in confusion and those in despair
For those whose tears are yet to dry
For those in need of your unending love
Lord Have Mercy
Amen