An excerpt from “A Liturgical Appeal from Bishop Hirschfeld in the Wake of the Orlando Massacre” (June 2016), via Bishops United Against Gun Violence
O Lord, arise, help us;
and deliver us for your Name’s sake.
O God, we have heard with our ears, and our fathers and mothers have declared unto us, the noble works that you have done in their days, and in the time before them.
O Lord, arise, help us;
and deliver us for your Name’s sake.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
O Lord, arise, help us;
and deliver us for your Name’s sake.
V. From our enemies defend us, O Christ;
R. Graciously behold our afflictions.
V. With compassion behold the sorrows of our hearts;
R. Mercifully forgive the sins of your people.
V. Favorably with mercy hear our prayers;
R. O Son of David, have mercy upon us.
V. Both now and evermore we humbly pray you to hear us, O Christ;
R. Graciously hear us, O Christ; graciously hear us, O Lord Christ.
The Officiant concludes
Let us pray.
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (For the Human Family, BCP, p. 815)
Read the rest [PDF].
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
