Rome, Italy
Opening Prayer
Come Holy Spirit, Come, light of our hearts. We do not know how to pray, Holy Spirit pray in us. The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” -Prayer adapted from Psalm 118:14-16 (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. -Psalm 95: 3-5, 7 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for You are the One I praise -Jeremiah 17:14 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” And Jesus went with him. -Mark 5:21-24 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. -Romans 8:26 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer God of hope, you call us home from the exile of selfish oppression to the freedom of justice, the balm of healing, and the joy of sharing. Make us strong to join you in your holy work, as friends of strangers and victims, companions of those whom others shun, and as the happiness of those whose hearts are broken. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. –Revised Common Lectionary 
Sarajevo, Bosnia
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