A Prayer for Memorial Day

Mr. Derek Davies, a member of First Presbyterian Church, Lowville, gave the following prayer during worship yesterday at FPC.   Derek and his wife Loraine lost their son, Saemus, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2006.  Parts of it are drawn with thanks from a prayer entitled, "A Memorial Day Prayer," by the Rev. Dick Kozelka.  May God's peace rest on the families of those who have died in the line of duty, whatever their calling.  Amen.

Eternal God

Creator of years, of centuries,
Lord of whatever is beyond time,
Maker of all species and master of all history --
How shall we speak to you
from our smallness and inconsequence?

But, thankfully, you have called us to worship you
in spirit and in truth;
You have dignified us with love and loyalty;
You have lifted us up with your kindness.

Tomorrow, we remember those who have died
serving their countries in the futility of combat.
There is none of us who will not come to bereavement and separation,
when all the answers we are offered
fail the question of why did we lose so many, so young?

Please help us to honor the warrior, not the war.

Guide all the leaders, of all the nations and all the faiths, of all the world, to make decisions that result in peace, not war.

Help us, particularly the children, to pick up books and ideas and discussion, not the weapons of war.

May the children of the world find justice, prosperity and compassion.

Bless all those who suffer who are caught in war zones.

And God, lift the hearts of those
for whom this Memorial Day is not just a holiday diversion,
but a painful memory and continued sense of loss.

We believe that you will provide for us
as others have been provided with the fulfillment of those words of Jesus:
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

We pray this in Jesus' name.  Amen.