Gracious God, you walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death.
We pray that the suffering and terrorized be surrounded by the incarnate presence of the crucified and risen one.
May every human being be reminded of the precious gift of life you entered to share with us.
May our hearts be pierced with compassion for those who suffer, and for those who have inflicted this violence, for your love is the only healing balm we know.
May the dead be received into your enfolding arms, and may your friends show the grieving they are not alone as they walk this vale of tears.
All this we pray in the name of the one who walked the road to Calvary.
Amen.
And today we celebrate...