A Prayer for Devonport

Father God, 

We call on you, the God who is near. 

The God who sees us in our distress and has not forgotten us. 

Oh Lord, 

We cry out, 

we lament, 

we put on sackcloth and ashes.

For these children we have lost, 

for their parents, 

their families, big and small,
​
for the school staff, 

the first responders, 

the chaplains and counsellors,

the doctors and nurses, 

the ambulance drivers, 

the news reporters.

Oh Lord, we pray for the survivors.

For the children who are injured.

For the children whose lives have been devastated by this unthinkable suffering.

Who have lost friends or brothers, sisters or cousins. 

For so many who are broken and hurting. 

We pray for an outpouring of your presence.

We pray for those in our community, whose lives were already impacted by trauma.

Who had already walked through seasons of pain, grief, sickness, disability, loss, abuse, rejection, or broken relationships.

We call on you as the God who is close to the brokenhearted. 

In Devonport, this morning, there are so many. 

Lead your people, Lord, to love this city in its moment of despair.

And Father, we thank you that it was into our world's brokenness that you came. 

We pray that this morning, you will help us to follow your light of hope.

The light the shepherds and mystics followed two thousand years ago.

That told them that the kingdom was coming and had now come. 


Amen


This prayer was originally given at the 10 a.m. service at Lifeway Baptist Church Devonport on the 19th of December 2021. 

If you'd like to support the community in Devonport and NW Tasmania, a financial gift to Devonport Chaplaincy or Loaves and Fishes Tasmania will make a real difference in the lives of children and their families.