15 March 2019

A prayer for the victims and families of those killed in two mosque attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand:

Eternal God, our Rock and our Refuge, You are our source of trust and salvation and You alone understand the mystery of life and death. In the stillness of this hour at our time of Sabbath prayer, we turn to You in bewilderment and shared grief at the loss of life witnessed on Friday in Christchurch, New Zealand.

We hold in our minds the victims of the violent killing of forty-nine worshippers at Deans Avenue Mosque and Linwood Mosque.May their souls find their rest with you as we entrust them to your sheltering presence.

We associate ourselves with their families and friends, the communities in which they lived, for we know that their lives will remain changed for ever. Support them in their grief; in their sorrow and despair, bring them comfort and hope.

Bring healing to those who have been wounded, healing of body and resilience of mind. Strengthen the hands of all those who serve humanity – the doctors and nurses, air and ground ambulance crews, the police and members of other services and remember them for a long and good life.

And remind us, O God, at times of our own hopelessness and despair, that all humanity is created in the image of God and that each one of us has the capacity to do good and to counter evil by bringing into this world a little kindness and gentleness, goodness and peace.

Amen.

• To read Liberal Judaism’s statement on the terrorist attack in Christchurch, please click here.