God of compassion,
we pray for everyone affected by last week’s violence
at Bondi Beach,
and we remember those who were killed.
May their memory be a blessing.
Watch over the injured, comfort the grieving, support the fearful.
Protect the Jewish community in Australia.
Keep them safe from all kinds of violence, in words or actions.
Show us what we can do to strengthen our society
as a place where all of us know and love our neighbours,
whatever their race, religion, language or culture.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(Source: Other Suitable Words Liturgy)
We cry out to you, O God,
in shock and grief
in the wake of the violence at Bondi Beach.
Hold in your eternal love the people who were killed.
Surround their families and friends with compassion
in the depths of their sorrow.
Hold in your care the survivors, the injured,
and all who witnessed the attacks.
Guide the authorities responsible for investigating what happened, and how to prevent such devastation
from ever happening again.
Have mercy on all who are afraid.
Give courage.
Have mercy on all who are in grief.
Give comfort.
Have mercy on all who are in pain.
Give healing.
Stir up Australians of all faiths and none
to stand in solidarity with our Jewish neighbours.
Make us builders of a community
where everyone has safety, and dignity, and peace.
Amen.
(Source: Elizabeth J Smith)
𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿
God of mercy and peace,
we come to you with hearts that are tired and grieving.
We entrust to you the lives lost,
the wounded,
and all who are holding sorrow this day.
Surround the Jewish community and all who have been affected
with comfort, safety, and hope.
Strengthen those who serve and protect,
and grant wisdom and gentleness to all who lead and respond.
In a world shaken by violence,
teach us again the way of Christ —
the way of love, courage, and peace.
Hold us, heal us, and lead us forward.
Amen.
(Rev Charissa Suli, President, Uniting Church in Australia)
Prayer of Lament and Solidarity
(For Christian worship; suitable for Advent or general intercessions)
God of compassion and justice,
we come before you shaken and grieving.
We lament the violence at Bondi Beach,
where people gathered in joy and faith
were met instead with terror and death.
We hold before you those who have been killed.
Have mercy on their souls,
and may their loved ones find solace in faith.
We hold before you those who are wounded
and all who now carry fear and sorrow in their bodies and hearts.
Surround them with your comfort and peace.
We pray especially for the Jewish community,
for whom this season of Hanukkah –
a festival of light and hope –
has been scarred by violence.
May they know that they do not stand alone.
Holy One,
we confess the pain caused by hatred,
by antisemitism,
and by all forms of religious and racial violence.
Give us courage to resist what dehumanises,
and wisdom to build communities of safety and care.
Light of the world,
shine in the darkness of grief and fear.
Strengthen all who work for healing, justice, and peace.
Amen.
(Rev Sandy Boyce, Victorian Council of Churches)
Candle-Lighting Response
(could be used with the Advent candles or a single candle)
We light this candle in grief,
for lives lost and futures shattered.
May God receive the departed in mercy and peace.
We light this candle in solidarity
with the Jewish community,
and with all who fear violence because of who they are.
May fear not have the final word.
We light this candle in hope,
trusting that darkness cannot overcome the light.
May the light of justice, compassion, and peace endure. Amen.
Prayer for Australia after the Hanukkah Shooting
Holy One, we pray after the deaths
on Bondi beach of happy faithful people
celebrating Hanukkah,
its story of freedom,
its story of hope and victory.
We pray for those wounded,
for those who are grieving dear ones,
for those becoming more fearful
of antisemitism every day,
for those who have celebrated
Australia as most welcoming country
for holocaust survivors,
and now face terrible fears.
We pray that the oil of peace,
the oil of compassion and justice,
the oil of welcome and kindness
will last long beyond
the hatred that hopes to put it out. Amen
(Source: Maren Tirabassi, Gifts in Open Hands)
