A prayer following the Bondi Beach attack

‘O Lord, God of my salvation, when, at night, I cry out in your presence, let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry’ (Psalm 88:1,2).

This ‘season of joy’ has also become a season of sorrow, as we have been confronted by the horrific news of the mass shooting of families gathered for a festival of their Jewish faith in Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

The Lord’s command, ‘You shall not kill’, teaches us that we should ‘fear and love God, and so we should not endanger our neighbour’s life, nor cause our neighbour any harm, but help and befriend our neighbour in every necessity of life’. The Scriptures teach us that each of us is a beloved creature of a loving creator, and we reject violence that destroys God’s gift of life.

Please pray for the families who have lost loved ones in the Sydney attack. Please pray for those who grieve; for those who are suffering; for those who serve them.

In this season of ‘Peace on Earth’, please also pray that the preaching of the gospel message of the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus for our salvation would bring light into dark places, that we would live as people of hope, welcoming one another just as Christ Jesus has welcomed us (Romans 15).

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

‘Though your tears be rivers running,
though your tears be an ocean full,
though you cry with the hurt of living:
comfort, comfort.

Every valley shall be lifted,
every mountain shall be low,
every rough place will be smoother:
comfort, comfort.

Comfort, comfort all my people
with the comfort of my Word.
Speak it tender to my people:
All your sins are taken away.’

From the song: ‘Comfort, comfort all my people’
Words based on Isaiah 40:1–5
Robin Mann 1949– (1975): LHS 732

Your fellow in Christ,
Pastor Paul Smith
Bishop, Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand

Resources for personal and community prayer are available on the Worship Planning Page at www.lca.org.au/worship/wpp/seasonal-times-of-crisis-or-natural-disaster/#bondi

Download the National Council of Churches in Australia statement on the terror attack at Bondi Beach here: https://lca.box.com/shared/static/e9819jm3pljpwoalf8j77lic4oz4f1hw.pdf