Merciful and Everlasting God,
 
Pour out your Spirit on all who gather here and on all who call upon your mighty name. In times of uncertainty, pain, and fear - pull us out from our places of comfort so that we may become instruments of your peace. Let us not stand aside in hope that someone else will step forward, but help us to take on the mantle of holy leadership. Guide our hearts, our feet, our mouths, and everything that we do – so that all people may be assured of your grace, your mercy, and your love.

Let our faith be more than an acknowledgement of your many blessings – make it a catalyst for our doing, a spark for the Spirit and stimulant to our souls. With the knowledge and understanding of your mighty power, help us to become a people of action. Let all that we are - and all that we hope to become, be guided not only by you - but also toward you.

Today we lift up those who are afraid, those who are wounded, and those who are in danger. As people of faith, we call upon your name - for peace and protection from all the forces of wickedness and from all the sin that has begun to come forth. We cry out against the alt-right, we denounce the evils of racism and white nationalism – Help us to do away with Islamophobia, homophobia, and anti-Semitism.

Today, O Lord, we acknowledge your ultimate power and your eternal plan – knowing that all of creation is moving towards your final reconciliation. But until that happens help us to stand against these dangerous ideologies – work within us to create your kingdom now - bringing all that is dark into your everlasting light.

In that same Spirit, we pray for those who would do us harm, for those who think and believe differently than we do. Let the lives that we live be an example of your abundant grace – provide us with opportunities like this one today to show the world your awesome love – move within the hearts and minds of all people so that we may be reconciled to each other in the same way that we seek to be reconciled with you.

We ask all of this in your most Holy Name.

Amen.

The Charlottesville Seventh-day Adventist Church is honored to stand united with all who speak out for justice and proclaim God’s message of love. 

We are honored to stand with you and share this moment of hope.  Our world is being threatened.  It is being threatened by the voices of fear, scarcity, and malice, but we are confident that God’s ways, the ways of love, the ways of peace, and the ways of self-sacrifice, will prevail.

And it is to this end that we pray:

All-loving, all-powerful, and everlasting God, we come to You once again today.  Please hear us in our time of need.
Bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that we may live DEEP within our hearts.

Lord bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace. 

Bless us, oh God, with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

And God, bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to the marginalized, to those who fear, to all f our children, and our entire community.

Hear us in our time of need oh Lord, for we know that You are able to do far more abundantly than anything we can ask or think.  Thank You for already providing the answer.  We look with anticipation at how You will work through us in the days ahead.
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Amen.

Our "Call to Prayer" gathering was reported by NBC29. Click on the picture to go to their website to view the video and read the article.

In the wake of the contentious presidential election, we have witnessed in our country and in our community acts of hate and violence directed at vulnerable and marginalized individuals and groups. As faith leaders in Charlottesville, we believe that God calls us to speak out for justice and proclaim a message of hope.

Today, we organized a Call to Prayer, inviting people from our places of worship to walk together from the west end of the Downtown Mall (Omni) to the Pavilion. We have invited many voices to offer prayers there. We want for this community to know that we stand united as people of faith, and that we are devoted to seeking justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God.

Below are some pictures. More are posted on our Facebook page.