God who tends to the sick and the wounded,
Our hearts are heavy with the news of 1 million American lives lost from coronavirus and over 5 million more lives lost worldwide.
How long, O Lord, must we be plagued by this disease?
Jesus, during your earthly ministry you healed people from physical, mental, and spiritual wounds. Be present with those who need to be healed because of COVID-19. So many of us are left wounded by COVID. Some of our scars are physical as we fight the active disease and the long-term effects of this disease. Some of us have had our faith shaken by the loss of those that we love to this disease. Some of us are part of the new mental health pandemic that is rising to the surface in the wake of COVID.
As we think about what has been lost during this pandemic so many faces are brought into our minds. So many reflections of You that we can no longer see face to face. We thank you for the lives of all those we have lost, those known to us and those unknown to us. There is so much anger and pain carried by we who miss them. Renew our hope in the resurrection and the promise of Eternal Life.
God, we ask that you would take away the fear, anxiety and feelings of isolation from people receiving treatment or quarantining. Give them a sense of purpose in pursuing health and protecting their neighbor from exposure to the disease. Protect those at high risk from the virus. Renew the energy of healthcare professionals, caregivers, and essential workers. Allow struggling people to give themselves permission to find help and may they find the help that they need. We ask that you keep COVID-19 from spreading.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers. Amen.*
*Prayer written by the Rev. Lindsay Collins
The New York Times article mentioned in the video.