[tx_gaydemocrat]

I offer the following prayer for the victims and those that fired the shots. I also offer the following prayer for us as a GLBT community...because when one act of violence is committed against one of our brothers or sisters it is committed against all of us.

"I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."(Matt 5:43)

Lord, I come to You wounded and in pain; violence has been done to my Brothers, and Sisters. We are in need of Your gentle touch, Your tender voice and compassionate heart, Help us to transform our pain into new life.

Give us the strength and courage to live life vigorously again and to not be afraid of stranger or friend. Turn our despair into hope, our hate into love and our anger into joy.

Let us seek to be reconciled with those who have caused us harm. Help us to forgive, as You forgave. Help us to love our enemies and pray for those who have persecuted us, especially those who fired the shots in that bar. Bring justice and peace to the lives of those who have done us harm. Let them see Your face and feel the warmth of Your love so that they may never injure another.

Lord we pray for Your mercy and compassion, We live in troubled times, and the answers to our problems are not simple or easy. Send Your Spirit upon us to strengthen our resolve to root out the violence, hate, and fear in our lives. Replace it with Your forbearance and love. Create in us hearts of courage, grace us with the ability to stand against the violence of our day: the violence in ourselves, our homes, streets and communities.

In your many Holy and Sacred Names we pray,

Amen.