God of our weary years and God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far on the way, we invite your presence into our midst as we pay tribute the all who have labored for justice, equality and love. We pray that in this moment you would strengthen us to continue to fight for the fulfillment of the dream that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. so eloquently laid out on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Help us to labor so that every valley is exalted, every hill and mountain made low, the rough places are plain, and the crooked places made straight so that the glory of the Lord is revealed, and all flesh see it together. Let your love guide us to see one another as fully human with diverse hues, colors, ethnicities and cultures, and respect the content of their character. Let your spirit strengthen us for the fight of today and tomorrow until all God’s children can say with full conviction, “Free at last. Free at last. Thank God All-Mighty, I’m free at last.” Amen.