Page:Book of common prayer (TEC, 1979).pdf/823

 ''25. For those in the Armed Forces of our Country''

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home  and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give  them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant  them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be;  through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

26.  For those who suffer for the sake of Conscience

O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer  for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them  from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them  from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from  despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their  witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be  cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen.

Prayers for the Social Order

27.  For Social Justice

Grant, O God, that your holy and life&#8209;giving Spirit may so move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the  people of this land], that barriers which divide us may  crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our  divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;  through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 