Gracious God, merciful and mighty, our hearts continue to break with the ocean of tragedy in which we are swimming.

Wave after wave of deaths, evil, and intent to hurt others finds its way to our shores. This time the wave is in the form of more tragedy. In the wake of the killing of police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, we pray.

We pray for a cessation to the violence in the world.

We pray for the families that lost loved ones.

We pray for the hurt, the pain, and the suffering that manifests itself in evil ways that somehow that changes.

We ask for your presence with those that hurt, those that are lost, and those that feel the need to perpetuate hatred and violence.

Our hearts have somehow, someway become tainted with fear, hatred and malice towards others. For that, we are sorry, and we pray that with Your help, we can change and fulfill our calling as Your loving, peaceful and gentle children.

Amen.