Eternal God,

As we lift our hearts to you on behalf of those facing hardship, war, and persecution (in Ukraine) this day, we acknowledge our need for your forgiveness.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own love of self   and embrace your willingness to sacrifice for others.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own grasping after and holding onto power    and embrace your desire to empower others through us.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own readiness to speak loudly out of our own ignorance   and be willing to listen, discern and learn from others.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own thoughts of vengeance   and embrace your heart of mercy.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own self-righteousness   and embrace your humility.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own divisiveness   and embrace your call to unity.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own fears   and trust confidently in your providence and protection.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own willingness to attach labels to people, to be “respecters of persons”   and affirm instead your image and likeness in every person.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own selfishness   and be grateful for everything.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own harsh speech   and speak instead your words of grace.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own faithlessness   and place instead our faith in your provision.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own greed and glorifying of consumption   and embrace your generosity.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own complicity with evil   and embrace your holiness.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own complacency which says “We’re OK,” and “It’s all good”   and devote ourselves instead to advocacy for others (for whom things most clearly are not).

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own anger   and embrace your charity.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own prejudice   and embrace your openness.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own tendency to selectively present and “spin” truth for our own ends   and embrace instead your call to follow the truth, wherever it leads.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own harshness   and embrace your gentleness.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own despair   and embrace your hope.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own hostility   and embrace your ministry of reconciliation.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own resentment and offence   and instead forgive others,   as we embrace your forgiveness of our own sins through the sacrifice of our Master, Jesus.

We pray in his name, and for the sake of his righteous, holy and just reign. May it be manifested quickly in our hearts, in our communities, and in the world, and particularly, we pray in (UKRAINE) this day.

AMEN.