May God’s love
meet You today. May God’s presence
enfold and hold you. May God’s wisdom
ground and guide you.
Today, O God, we
honor all those who have served in the armed forces. I give thanks today for members of our church
who have worn uniforms with courage and put service ahead of personal
gain. I am especially grateful for women
and veterans of color who pave the way for others today. We pray for our veterans, especially those
who struggle in mind or body or spirit wounded by wars both visibly and
invisibly. Let us not so idealize war
that we forget it’s painful realities and ramifications. Let us not so much seek to provoke as to
protect, especially the least and most vulnerable. Let us not so much immediately fight but be
challenged by Isaiah’s image of turning swords into plowshares.
Be with us, O God,
for too often we are too quick to fight with words and weapons. Compel us, O God, to be honest about the hurt
and harm done in other places, much of which we will never know. Call us, O God, to find ways to be Your
people and let Your peaceable realm come into our hearts, homes, and
world.
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