The death and destruction in Orlando calls us to prayer.

We pray for God’s comfort to those who mourn – for the victims’ families and loved ones and friends.

We pray for the LGBT community. The 50 killed and 53 injured were at the Pulse nightclub because they were or are gay. Our prayers for the gay community is not a political issue, it is a human issue.

We pray for the Islamic community. The killer appears to have been radicalized and radicalization is an issue that must be addressed by the Islamic community. But we must pray for the Islamic community and individual Muslims and work against the innocent becoming victims of more hate and hurt.

We pray for our nation and our culture that seems to be unraveling at its seams – hate and violence ripping at the fabric of who we are.

We pray for our church and the churches of our nation that we might – as we heard this morning – give reason for the hope that is in us, with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

Some have mocked prayer in times of tragedy and disaster. Yes, there’s more to do. But prayer comes first.