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Biblical affirmations:
Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. (Isaiah 60: 18)
As Jesus came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, "If you, even you, had only recognized
on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes." (Luke 19: 41-42)
Scripture passage:
Ezekiel 36: 26-27 - Prayer at the beginning of the day
O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace.
Help me in all things to rely upon your holy will.
In every hour of the day reveal your will to me.
Bless my dealings with all who surround me.
Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with peace of soul,
and with firm conviction that your will governs all.
In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings.
In unforeseen events let me not forget that all are sent by you.
Teach me to act firmly and wisely,
Without embittering and embarrassing others.
Give me the strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day
with all that it shall bring.
Direct my will, teach me to pray,
pray yourself in me.
Amen.
(Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow, 19th cent.)
- Litany for Peace
From words and deeds that provoke discord, prejudice and hatred,
O God, deliver us.
From suspicions and fears that stand in the way of reconciliation,
O God, deliver us.
From believing and speaking lies about other peoples or nations,
O God, deliver us.
From cruel indifference to the cries of the hungry and homeless,
O God, deliver us.
From all that prevents us from fulfilling your promise of peace,
O God, deliver us.
Deliver us from our brokenness, we pray, O God,
and by your grace and healing presence deliver us to You
To still waters and green pastures,
O Creating God, lead us.
To the freedom and forgiveness we find in you,
O Risen Christ, lead us.
To the tough task of loving our enemies,
O Jesus, lead us.
To joyful service in your name,
O Servant of All, lead us.
To the promise of a new heaven and a new earth,
to the wholeness of justice,
to the power of your peace,
O Holy Spirit, lead us now and in the days to come.
Charge our lives and our churches with the power of your peace, O God.
Overcome our fears and self-deceptions with the promise of your presence.
Make us signs of your generosity and justice.
Light us each day with hope, we pray, so that we may walk in your truth
and be love in your Name.
Amen.
© World Council of Churches, 2005.
- Intercessions
L: Recognizing that only compassionate eyes born from grace can see a transformed world, we are invited to pray asking: Open our eyes to see.
God, there are divisions among our people.
We need the healing power of the gospel.
We see what separate us and do not see what brings us together.
Make us builders of unity and lovers of respect for one another.
All: Open our eyes that we may see.
In your grace, transform us into followers of the compassionate Christ.
L.: God, our country is wounded by violence.
We need the healing power of caring for one another.
Make us agents of non-violent change and lovers of peace with justice.
All: Open our eyes that we may see.
In your grace, transform us into followers of the compassionate Christ.
L.: God, there are children living on the streets.
They need homes and hope for the future.
Make us agents of life in abundance.
Help us to practice what Jesus said: "whoever welcomes one such a child in my name, welcomes me."
All: Open our eyes that we may see.
In your grace, transform us into followers of the compassionate Christ.
L.: God, we pray for those in power and governance in our country.
That they be able to lead with wisdom, integrity and for the benefit of the common good.
All: Open our eyes that we may see.
In your grace, transform us into followers of the compassionate Christ.
(adapted from prayers from Brazil written by Rev. Ervino Schmidt, Exc. Sec. of National Council of Christian Churches in Brazil)
A prayer for sending
L: O Lord, God of life, who takes care of the whole creation, gives us peace!
All: May our security be not our trust in arms, but in respect.
L: May our strength come not from violence, but from love.
All: May our wealth be not our trust in money, but in sharing.
L.: May our way be not that of ambition, but of justice.
All: May our victory be not our trust in vengeance, but in forgiveness
L.: Without arms and with confidence, we want to defend the dignity of all and the integrity of creation, sharing, today and always, the bread of solidarity and peace.
All.: In the name of Jesus Christ, your divine son, our brother,
Amen.
(Adapted from the Ecumenical Fraternity Campaign of Brazil 2005)
Bençao
Que Deus Pai, nos conceda a graça transformadora.
Que Deus Filho, nos conceda a graça salvadora.
Que o Espíritu da vida, nos conceda a graça libertadora.
E em nossos caminhos seja celebrada a paz.
(© Antônio Carlos Soares dos Santos, Faculdade de Teologia da Igreja Metodista)
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