Dr. Stacey Patton’s closing prayer from yesterday’s sermon “Is it a Sin to Cheer for Iran?“

God of the oppressed and the overlooked. God who heard the cries in Egypt and still hears the cries of the suffering today. Steady our hearts in a world filled with violence, confusion, and Empire.

Teach us to hunger for justice without losing our compassion. Teach us to celebrate deliverance without forgetting the sacredness of life. Give us the courage to ask hard questions. Give us the wisdom to discern truth from propaganda. Give us the strength to stand with the oppressed wherever they cry out.

Remind us, O lord, that the mighty do not rule forever. That justice still rises, and that your spirit still moves among the lowly. Let our voices speak truth. Let our hands build peace. And let our hope remain stubborn in the face of despair.

Let the church say Amen, Amen, and Amen.