Ezek. 4:1-17; Heb. 6:1-12; Luke 9:51-62

My Memorial Day Prayer:

Eternal God, 
from whom all life comes, to whom all life returns, 
we remember all those who have died in service to our country.
We remember.
We give thanks for their acts of courage, grace and hope.
We give thanks for those we knew well and those we never met.
For the life, goodness, faith, courage, and love that was in each one, we give thanks. 
Show us ways that we can extend care and support to all those caught in the crosshairs of death.
We pray for families and friends and all who grieve for loved ones who have died. 
Meet them in the valley of death’s shadow. 
Embrace them in the midst of grief and loss with your eternal hope. 
Grant them and all of us the assurance 
that nothing in life or in death 
can separate us from the love of God.
May the day soon come when swords are beaten into plowshares, war is studied no more, and all peoples and your world will know peace. 
May we work for that day. 
We pray through Jesus Christ. 
Amen.

(Inspired and adapted from a prayer by Mark Koenig)