The Nation Mourns

 500,000 Extraordinary Americans 

We Grieve and Hope

President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden,

Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff,

bow their heads during a ceremony to honor the 500,000 Americans that died from COVID-19

Flags around the Nation were lowered to half-mast, cathedral bells rang out  throughout the United States to remember and honor the 500,000 Americans who have died in one year of the Corona Virus. Lite candles graced the staircase and balcony of the White House as President Biden made remarks at sunset followed by a moment of silence.

The President addressed the “grim, heartbreaking milestone” directly and publicly delivering an emotion-filled eulogy for 500,071 Americans. “We often hear people described as ordinary Americans. There’s no such thing,” he said Monday evening. “There’s nothing ordinary about them. The people we lost were extraordinary.”

  

We Lament and Look Forward with Hope

    

† Hear our cry, Almighty God. Listen to our prayer.

Heavenly Father, from the depths of our pain and confusion, we cry out to You. From fear-filled hearts and anxious minds, we plead with You. Rescue us, Father of compassion and grace. We lift up our eyes to You, Lord God, the One who sits enthroned in heaven.

On all who have contracted the virus

Lord have mercy

On all who have lost loved ones to this sickness and are in mourning and anguish                              Lord have mercy

On all who are unable to earn an income because their jobs have been suspended                         Lord have mercy

We cry out

We cry out for healing and needed resources

We cry out for comfort and peace

On all medical professionals and caretakers attending to those infected with the virus                   Christ have mercy

On all scientists and technologists striving to find a vaccine and to make it available                   Christ have mercy

On all leaders of institutions and governments as they make decisions to try and contain the virus   Christ have mercy

We pray for strength in the long and exhausting hours of labor 

We pray for wisdom in the research and difficult decisions

On all who have not yet contracted the virus

Lord have mercy

On the most vulnerable of our society who are unable to buy extra food or get proper medical attention 

Lord have mercy

On all disciples of Jesus Christ discerning how to reflect His love to others within this crisis            Lord have mercy

 

We plead for protection of health

We plead for all to remain calm and kind

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the expanse of the universe. And yet this earth is no longer as You created it to be. 

Life is sacred and precious in your sight. 

You are the God Who sees us and sustains us.

Nothing can separate us from the Father’s unfailing love and kindness, not even sickness or the fear of tomorrow. You are our Light as we walk in this darkness. We will remember to celebrate the beautiful gifts You have given us in this present moment.

Almighty God, You are our Rock, our Refuge from the enemy, our hiding place. You calm our frantic thoughts and fill our despairing hearts with joy and strength. In Your Presence there is faith, hope and love in the darkness.