Our hearts break for all the victims of the shooting in Orlando and their families. We always struggle to find the right words during tragedies like this. In an effort to equip you as a youth worker, here are ideas to help with the difficult but healing conversations you’ll have with your students.
A MOMENT OF SILENCE + PRAYER:
SAY:
In times like this, it can hard to know the right words to say. Before we can search for answers or work towards solutions, we need to intentionally recognize this tragedy and the incredible loss that so many are feeling. So right now, we’re going to take just a few minutes to be silent and to acknowledge what has happened. It won’t be easy and it might be uncomfortable, but it’s important. Your mind might wander, and that’s OK. But if you’re able to, try to focus on the people who died and the loss that their families are feeling right now. After a couple minutes of silence, I’ll slowly read a short prayer with some intentional pauses so that we can focus on the words that we’re praying together. At the end of each section, I’ll say the words “Lord in your mercy.” When you hear those words, I’ll invite you to say altogether in response, “Hear our prayer.”
PAUSE FOR SILENCE
PRAYER:
LEADER is used to designate what the youth worker prays out loud. ALL is used to refer to what everyone prays out loud together.
LEADER: Almighty God, Father of mercies and giver of comfort, right now, we pray for Orlando, for the victims, for the families who have lost so much, and for all those involved.
(Pause)
LEADER: We pray now for the 49 victims who have passed away.
(Pause)
LEADER: Lord, in your mercy…
ALL: Hear our prayer.
LEADER: We pray for all the victims who are now suffering from wounds that are physical, emotional, and spiritual.
(Pause)
LEADER: Lord, in your mercy…
ALL: Hear our prayer.
LEADER: We pray for the families of the victims, for those grieving a great loss, and for those tending to the wounds of their loved ones.
(Pause)
LEADER: Lord, in your mercy…
ALL: Hear our prayer.
LEADER: We pray for the first responders, for the ones who put themselves in harm’s way and sacrificed their safety for the safety of others.
(Pause)
LEADER: Lord, in your mercy…
ALL: Hear our prayer.
LEADER: We pray for the family of the gunman.
(Pause)
LEADER: Lord, in your mercy…
ALL: Hear our prayer.
LEADER: We pray for all those who are feeling the impact of this tragedy in the community of Orlando, in our country, and around the world.
(Pause)
LEADER: Lord, in your mercy…
ALL: Hear our prayer.
LEADER: Father of all, we know that you weep with us in this moment. By your grace, may all those who mourn come to know the fullness of hope placed in you—the resurrected one—who has conquered the sting of death. Grant this, O merciful Father, that by casting their cares on you, they may know the consolation of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
QUESTIONS FOR CONVERSATIONS:
- Does anyone happen to know someone who was directly connected to this tragedy? How is it affecting them?
- Think about what your friends have said, what you’ve seen on-line, and what you’ve heard from the news. What are people saying about the tragedy right now? Do you feel the same way? Why or why not?
- If you had to describe your thoughts and feelings right now in 1 word, what would it be?
- It can be really difficult to know what to say in times like this. But if you had to say one thing to someone who is affected by this tragedy, what would it be and why?
- How can we help those who are hurting right now?
- Unfortunately, this type of tragedy seems to happen on a regular basis around the world. What do you think we can do to help stop it from happening again?
- As a Christian, how would you describe the hope in Christ that can be found in dark times like this?
- What do you think we can do as a church to help our community process this tragedy?
VIGIL LIGHTS:
PREPARATION:
- Purchase one votive candle for each victim or if you have enough students with cell-phones, ask them to have their cell-phone light available and ready to use.
- Gather everyone in a circle and have each student or participant hold one candle or be in charge of their cell-phone light.
- Become familiar with the names of the victims. Not all the names of the victims in Orlando have been released yet, but here is the current list and we will try to keep it updated with the most current information provided by the city of Orlando:
Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old
Amanda Alvear, 25 years old
Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old
Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old
Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old
Cory James Connell, 21 years old
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old
Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old
Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old
Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old
Frank Hernandez, 27 years old
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old
Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old
Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old
Kimberly Morris, 37 years old
Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old
Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old
Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old
Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old
Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old
Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old
SAY:
The Christian church has had a long tradition of lighting candles for people who have passed away as a form of prayer and remembrance. In light of the recent tragedy, we are going to light candles for all the victims as a way of praying for them and their families. We’ll do this mostly in silence, to help focus our minds in prayer for each person.
We’ll go around the circle starting with me, I will say the name of a victim out loud, and will light my candle. At that point, we’ll pause for a few seconds. While we’re paused, we’ll silently think about and pray for that particular victim and their family. To help keep your mind focused, you can think:
- What do you think the victim might have been like as a person?
- What dreams do you think they had for their life?
- Imagine and pray for their father.
- Imagine and pray for their mother.
- Imagine and pray for their brothers and sisters.
- Imagine and pray for their children.
After we pause for a few seconds, I’ll say the next name and then the next person in the circle will light their candle for that victim.
After the last name has been read and the last candle has been lit, I’ll say a quick prayer at the end.
PRAYER:
Lord, for these victims, we ask that they may find rest in you.
Lord, for the families of the victims, we ask that they may be surrounded by your love and the comfort of your peace.
Lord, for those who are suffering from the physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds caused by this tragedy, we ask that you bring healing.
Lord, for the family of the gunman, we ask that your life-changing mercy be shown to them as well.
Lord, for the future of this world, we ask for the courage to be a part of bringing the hope of your kingdom to all peoples.
We ask all this in the name of your son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
MORE RESOURCES
These free prayer stations can easily be redesigned for your purposes.
JACOB ECKEBERGER is the Content Manager at Youth Specialties, an itinerant worship leader, the spouse of a church planter, and a long time volunteer youth worker. You can find him blogging about social media and digital strategy ideas at JACOBECKEBERGER.COM.