Lord,
This week you feel the world grieving the tragic loss of life in Seoul.
We pray for the young people gathered in celebration that turned into chaos and death.
Several dozen remain in critical condition―we may lose more.
It is simply too heavy for hearts to bear.
And with one tragedy not yet fully understood, another one struck.
Families celebrating Diwali in Morbi, India, perished in a river when the bridge under them collapsed.
The search for survivors and additional victims remains ongoing―we may lose more.
It is simply too heavy for hearts to bear.
We ask that you hold in your healing embrace their families and friends.
Be with those injured and traumatized―grant your grace in their healing and allow them full recoveries.
We ask for investigations to be swift and thorough, and learning embodied.
We pray for commitment to safety procedures and infrastructure inspected,
so that our learning from these tragedies might not be repeated.
Help those of us too far to be helpful in person to respond with generosity, kindness, and empathy.
Keep our hearts focused on the needs of the people of South Korea and the people of India.
Let us be beacons of your healing light and love to the world.
Let us be steadfast and earnest in prayer, that your healing touches all those who need it.
We ask in the name of the one who came as one of us, Jesus the Christ,
Amen.
—A prayer by Moderator Carmen Lansdowne. The Moderator encourages the sharing of prayers she posts throughout her term.