| Leader: | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. |
| | Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, and the mountains shake. |
| People: | God is our refuge and strength. |
| Leader: | Though the waters roar and foam and our nation's peace is disturbed we are not shaken. |
| People: | God is our refuge and strength. |
| Leader: | We come to worship distracted by the horrors of the week. |
| | Like a heavy blanket covering us, we feel smothered, unable to breathe. |
| People: | God is our refuge and strength. |
| Leader: | We come to worship burdened with sadness. |
| | We mourn with those who have lost family and friends. |
| | We weep with victims of violence throughout the world. |
| People: | God is our refuge and strength. |
| Leader: | We come to worship with fears and hopes. |
| | We fear further violence. |
| | We hope for peace and justice. |
| People: | God is our refuge and strength. |
| Leader: | We come to worship longing to make sense of senseless acts. |
| | We long for your presence. |
| | We long for your calm spirit to surround us. |
| People: | God is our refuge and strength. |
| Leader: | The God who breaks the bow and shatters the spear |
| | The God who makes wars to cease is among us. |
| | We wait in silence for your healing. |
| (Silence) | |
| Leader: | God of Peace, pour out your power of transformation upon us. |
| | Create in us a new people. |
| | God of Peace, send down your healing waters upon this land. |
| | Let us continue in worship as we sing O healing River. |