Prayer
For Peace
Eternal
God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of
righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So
mightily spread abroad your Spirit that all people and nations may
be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace as children of
one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Prayer for Social Justice
Grant,
O God, that
your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that
the barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and
hatreds cease, and that, with our divisions healed, we
might live in justice and peace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Prayer
For Those in the Military
Righteous
God, you rule the nations.
Guard
brave men and women
who
risk themselves in battle for their country.
Give
them compassion for enemies
who
also fight for patriotic causes.
Keep
our sons and daughters from hate that hardens,
or
from scorekeeping with human lives.
though
they must be at war,
let
them live for peace,
as
eager for agreement as for victory.
Encourage
them as they encourage one another,
and
never let hard duty separate them
from
loyalty to your Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture:
Psalm
27
"The
Lord is my Light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?"
Psalm
23
"The
Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
Reflections:
An
Iraqi War Moment—March
20, 2005 marked two years since the beginning of the Iraqi war
A
Bidding Prayer in Wartime written
during
WWII by
A. Sidney Lovett, Yale Chaplain
