Dear Heavenly God - we long for the day when violence is no longer present in our homes or our relationships. A day when women are not living under the threat of harm or death from those who should love them. A day when all people live in safety and peace.
The recent killings in Lake Cargellio remind us that this world is not as it should be. It is not as you intended. We grieve the lives lost to domestic and family violence. We lament the devastation that this has brought to families and the local community left behind.
God of love - please bring comfort to those grieving. Surround them with love, kindness, and may there be justice for the victims.
And in our grief, may we turn to you. May we hold fast to the hope that Jesus draws near to those who mourn, and that you are close to the brokenhearted. Your love is not overcome in the darkest moments.
We thank you for everyone working in our community to prevent and respond to domestic violence, and we pray that we will be people who refuse to let violence continue. Help us to be people who love without control or coercion, who respect all others, and who call out racism, disrespect and abuse when we see it.
Give us courage, as the Church, to stand up for justice so that every woman and girl is free from violence and able to flourish as you intend.
Amen
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Prayer written by Ellaina Welsman, Common Grace's Community Engagement Manager and Domestic and Family Violence Justice Coordinator, in response to lives lost to domestic and family violence in January 2026.