Praying for leaders and members of the Church to see and recognize their collective and individual responsibilities in the end of domestic and family violence.
Tomorrow, we’ll hear about and celebrate the great things that are happening within churches in response to domestic and family violence, but today we acknowledge that the church has not handled the issue of domestic and family violence well.
Today as we light the fourteenth candle, we pray for leaders and members of the Church to see and recognize their collective and individual responsibilities in the end of domestic and family violence.
Peace be with you 🙏
Here are the prayers for you.
*In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen*
Father, please give us grace and insight to face uncomfortable truths about how the gospel has been misused and our church communities have been complicit in the abuse of women and children. Please help us not to downplay or deny our involvement, but help us to see our own individual and collective responsibilities.
For the times where we have sheltered and supported abusers in place of the abused, we are sorry, and we repent.
For the times where we have spoken, counselled or taught thoughtlessly or insensitively, or wrongly, we are sorry.
For the hurt that we have caused or perpetuated or excused, we are sorry.
We thank you that you are merciful and you take our wrongs so seriously that Jesus died for them. We ask that you would enable true and full repentance within us and our churches that healing and transformation would abound. Amen
Lord’s Prayer for Domestic and Family Violence
Our Father in heaven,
you are a good Father, who loves to give good gifts and who cares for us.
Hallowed be your name.
May you be known as a God of justice and mercy and compassion and truth, by victims and perpetrators of domestic and family violence.
Your kingdom come.
Bring the full resources of the kingdom for victims and perpetrators of domestic and family violence. Your kingdom upends oppressive powers and exalts the humble and low, brings healing to the wounded, and goes beyond outward appearance and reaches to the heart. Your kingdom brings together people of every culture, tongue and tribe in equality and grace and hope.
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
We trust in your perfect will. Because you are completely good, we trust in the goodness of your will.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Father we have many needs. Please give us the support we need to escape situations of violence. Please give us the compassion and wisdom to be supporters. Please give us hope through your gospel.
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
God we ask for your forgiveness over our complicity, our apathy or our involvement in domestic and family violence. God please give us grace to forgive.
Lead us not into temptation.
We are tempted to give up, or despair. Lead us away from that, into perseverance and hope. We are tempted to maintain cultures and habits which oppress and control. Lead us away from that, into respect and freedom.
And deliver us from evil.
You have conquered all evil – all that is wrong within us, and without. There is no power that can stand against you. Please give freedom, healing and protection to all who need it.
Amen.
