Prayer for Monday 27 January 2014 - Holocaust Memorial Day

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day on the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp. The theme for 2014 is “Journeys” –reminding us of the multitude of journeys that people were forced to undertake because of genocide, in fear of what would be found at the end. Compassionate Lord, We remember the millions who were killed and whose communities were destroyed in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. We reflect upon the depths to which humanity can fall.  We ask you to help us to fight against the evil in thoughts and minds which allows intolerance, incitement, harassment or violence against persons or communities based on religious belief, ethnic origin or nationality, wherever they occur. Help us to build bridges between faiths, races and nationalities and to learn from the lessons of the past to create a better future for our world. 

God, you created us all in your own likeness. We thank you for the wonderful diversity of races and cultures in your world. Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of fellow feeling and understanding; show us your presence in those most different from us, so that in all our relationships, both by what we have in common and by things in which we differ, we may come to know you more fully in your creation; for you are Father, Son and Holy Spirit for ever.  (Prayer said on the 50th anniversary of the death of Anne Frank)  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer