Gracious and compassionate God, we are here on this 76th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to beg for your help in the pursuit of greater peace. Such devastation and terror, too easily justified, plagues our human communities even now. The traumatic scars left in the wake of the bombings are permanent reminders of the terrible damage human beings can inflict on one another and the world. Shift our hearts toward peace. Make us ever mindful that the threat of nuclear devastation has only increased in the intervening decades. Do not let us fall back into complacency but move us toward the peaceful resolution of difference and a deepening appreciation for diversity, that we might eventually build a world that joyfully celebrates life and no longer revels in death. May this anniversary find us more ready to live as you have called us to live, in love and peace, compassion and hope. We are grateful for the movement of your spirit, even when it challenges us. Amen
