Lector: Dearest Lord, we sing “Alleluia” in the new covenant of reconciliation. Send us into the world with your message of peace, our hearts wiped clean of judgement, bitterness, and spite. The Lord is my strength and my song.

Dearest Lord, you ask us to obey you rather than any human authority. Help us, your church, be your message of love in the world, greeting every soul, like you, with, “Peace be with you.” The Lord is my strength and my song.

Dearest Lord, be with our great nation in this di?cult time, when we are bombarded with messages of fear and recrimination, especially towards the alien among us. Help us to remember your commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves.   The Lord is my strength and my song.

Dearest Lord, in both instruction and example, you ask us to care for the orphan, the widow, the alien, the poor, the sick, the cursed. Help us to love others, in their brokenness, as you love us, in our brokenness. The Lord is my strength and my song.

Dearest Lord, in this season of rebirth and resurrection, everything that has breath praises your name. Let us join the chorus of birds and leaves, singing, “Praise God from whom all blessings ?ow.” The Lord is my strength and my song.

Dearest Lord, help us as we sit in tender care with those who su?er sickness, sadness, injury and injustice.   Bring hope to the despairing. Look in love, especially to those on our parish prayer list: … The Lord is my strength and my song.

Presider: He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Amen.