We hear the news of the bombings in Kabul, Afghanistan and we grieve that many lives were lost and changed. We hear the news of the evacuations of 10s of thousands of people from the airport and some of us flashback to Vietnam.  We hear the news of finger pointing to why this is happening and why it should or shouldn’t be happening and we get angry or sad or confused that this is the outcome after 20 years.  We hear the news and we ask, “Why O Lord? How much longer?”.

We may feel that there is nothing we can do to affect what is happening, but we are assured that God hears our prayers.

Let us pray:

Lord, Our God, our creator of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible,
the source and sustainer of life,
you who holds in unity and harmony
the multiple parts of the entire cosmos,
we thank you and praise you for your love,
for your wisdom, for your kindness and mercy.
Give us courage and strength to follow your way
and to be your witnesses to the end of the earth
so that the world may know your love.

Make us instruments of your love, O God,
agents of your justice and peace.
Strengthen us to work for unity and harmony
between people of every race, color and creed.
Enable us to respect all of your creation
and to love one another as ourselves
that we may serve one another
in humility, simplicity and joy.

We pray for peace in every nation
and especially this day we pray for peace in Afghanistan.
Guide all to ways of peace, justice and love.
We pray for the women and children of Afghanistan
that they may be free from oppression and fear.
We pray for safety and peace for all they people
as they face uncertainty of the future.

We pray for a time when people will turn their swords in plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks
and study war no more.

God, prepare us for the coming of your reign,
when you will bring everlasting peace
and renew the face of the earth:
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.