Sunday prayer, Memorial Day Weekend

Merciful God,

Have mercy on us in our shortcomings, our failings, our railings against you and our sins.

Have mercy on us when we presume we can use war to fix what's wrong with the world or regions of the world.

Have mercy on us when we send young men and women to do the work of those who stay behind and decide when and where to send them, whose lives are then shed on fields we sent them to protect.

Have mercy on us when we don't honor those who naively put on the uniform to serve, who are too young to understand, and who have hope to make a difference.

Have mercy on us when we don't remember those who did give their lives on foriegn soil in wars numbered, named and un-named.

Have mercy on us when we ourselves cause war in our homes, our families, our friends, our work, our neighbors, our churches and within ourselves.

Thank you for your loving mercy, Lord.

Have mercy on us, Lord.Remind us that blessed are the peacemakers, for we shall be called children of God.