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Remembrance Day Prayer

Remember with clear eyes the horrific cost of war.
Remember with deep sorrow those who killed and were killed.
Remember with grief the blood-stained battlefields.
Remember with tears the rending of people from their homes.
Remember with compassion the bereaved and the wounded.
Remember with reverence those who risked their lives for peace.
Remember with tenderness the children’s longing for freedom.
Remember with gratefulness all who forgave their enemies.
Remember with hope the kingdom that is planted with small seeds.
Remember with confidence that faith, hope and love abide.
Remember with joy that our Saviour is the Prince of Peace.

 

God confronts war (Psalm 46 in 2011)

God the Almighty longs for peace;                       
God confronts the desolation of war.
God cradles the broken bodies
and feels the agony of violence.
Jesus kneels with the grieving
and collects their wild tears.
The Holy Spirit broods over the bent world
counting the cost of carnage.
The Lord of hosts is with us,
the God of Jacob is our refuge
as we long for peace.
God is our refuge and strength
a very present help in times of trouble.

Come behold the works of the Lord,
see what desolations God has brought on the earth.
From Canada to Cambodia,
from Israel to Indonesia,
from Afghanistan to the Americas,
God makes wars cease to the end of the earth.
God breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
God burns the shields with fire.
God breaks the M16 assault rifles,
and shatters the laser guided bombs,
God burns the CF18 fighter jets with fire.
God breaks the AK47s,
and shatters the cluster bombs,
God burns the military intelligence satellites  with fire.
God breaks the sniper rifle,
and shatters the grenade,
God burns the military torture centres with fire.
God breaks the atomic bombs
and shatters the missile silos,
God burns the nuclear submarines with fire.

Be still and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us,
the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Prayer from Isaiah 58:6-7

Open our eyes, Lord, to the modern yoke;     
the burden of our consumer culture,
the debt that holds people fast,
the myth of success which has us by the throat.
You offer the possibility of release;
unloosing the shackles of greed,
freeing us from the urge to acquire at any cost,
relieving us from the treadmill of busyness.

We are your new releases,
telling a story for this generation.
Feeding the hungry we whisper peace,
clothing the naked we murmur hope,
sheltering the homeless we declare your faithfulness.

Prayer for Japan

God of Hope,
in this time of tumult we lay before you the country of Japan.
With their land still trembling,
they try to comprehend devastation too broad in its scope:
people killed and missing,
homes and towns and cities demolished,
the sea sweeping through with yet more destruction.
Our prayers are for the people of Japan:
Holy Comforter, bring your peace.

We are acutely aware of all who need rescue:
those trapped in buildings and remote areas,
those without food or clean water or shelter,
the injured, the terrified, the anguished.
Give strength and stamina to rescuers.    
Give strength and compassion to medical staff.
Give strength and clear vision to leaders who mobilize relief.
Our prayers are for the people of Japan:
Holy Comforter, bring your peace.

A country stretched to its limits
and yet now the fear of nuclear disaster looms.
God of infinite mercy, stop this from happening!
This country, of all countries, has suffered enough
and knows the terrible consequences of radiation.
Help the authorities to make careful decisions in the coming days.
Give them strength and courage as they man their posts.
Our prayers are for the people of Japan:
Holy Comforter, bring your peace.

In this time of crisis for a country that is suffering deeply,
we pray for the Christian church in Japan and all people of faith
that they will be a calm presence
providing hope and help in such a time as this.
Aid those from around the world who are mobilizing support
so that their efforts can be effective and timely.
Give us open hands and hearts to help the people of Japan.
Thank you for being the Holy Comforter, who brings us peace.

The fights of our lives

God, we invite you into the fights of our lives;               
fights with the ones we love the most,
our brothers and sisters, our partners and parents, our children.
Despite all our promises and hopes to honour and cherish,
we drop the ball and all hell breaks loose.
Words explode like grenades on the home front.
“You never,” “You should,” “You always.”
“I’m sick and tired of,” “Not this again,” “That’s it.”
Anger spews out of us,
fear and rage rumble inside.
We know how this plays out,
and it’s not going to be pretty.
God, you are the Referee who calls a time-out.
You’ve seen every move, followed every play;
the blood, sweat and tears are all too familiar.
At first we pray fervently,
trying to get you into our corner.
“Father, there are snakes and vipers,
and look at all the foul things done against me!”
We become aware of your eyes on us.
It dawns, slowly, that you have beloved children
on each team here.
With firm patience, you explain the rules again.
“No hitting.  Play fair.  Love one another as I have loved you.”
Jesus, help us review and remember.
Be with us as we take a deep breath
and enter again into the game You are calling—
a match made on earth as it is in heaven.

Peace with our own two hands

God of Wisdom,
As we remember the atomic blast, the gas chamber, the killing fields,
as we remember the war machine and the military establishment,
as we remember Hitler and Pol Pot, Jim Crow and the Indian Act,
call us to account for our own whispered innuendo,
our own snubs, our own finger pointing,
our own eyes averted from injustice, our own cutting words,
our own shove, our own furtive slap.
Do not allow the grandstand atrocities to blind us to our own cruelties.
From the darkness of our bedrooms to skyscraper boardrooms,
from schools and churches to houses of parliament,
give us ears to hear your call to peace in our time,
peace with our own two hands.

The foreseeable future

A hymn of praise for fists uncurled!
Alleluias on our lips for ammunition abandoned!
Guns dropped, forgotten,
bombs defused, harmless!
Fervent thanks for tanks rusting,
for jet fighters permanently grounded!
This future, peace-bright,
hovers on the horizon of your kingdom.
It will dawn the day we remember
there are no soldiers—
                only your children, beloved and loving,
there are no borders—
                only one world, creative and creating,
there has been no collateral damage--
                only broken hearts, broken homes, broken dreams.
It will come the day we remember to pray,
“Your kingdom come, your will be done.”
The Spirit and the church say, “Come!”
 

Advent peace prayer for children: What child is this?

What child is this?

This hungry child, this child with AIDS,

this child afraid of bombs and soldiers,

this child too poor to go to school,

this child from a refugee camp,

this child abused and neglected,

this child crying and uncomforted.

What child is this?

This child is not a statistic,

this child is not collateral damage,

this child is not a mistake,

this child is not the enemy.

What child is this?

This is a child of God,

this is a Christ child,

this is our child.

Lord Jesus, born a child and yet a king,

you remind us that each baby boy and girl

is a holy infant, tender and mild.

We say a prayer for all the dear children in your tender care,

all the children in the world.

In a world where so many do not sleep in heavenly peace,

empower us to be your peacemakers.

Thank you for the gift of each baby, each child of hope.

Advent prayer for peace in Afghanistan

As we wait for the anniversary of your birth, Lord Jesus,

we are waiting for peace in Afghanistan.

We have created a war that goes on and on;

military operations come and go,

bombs get dropped or planted,

hospitals fill up and empty,

graveyards in Afghanistan and around the world

are visited by those who mourn.

And we have not found peace.

Saviour, where is your relief?

We need your strength and consolation.

We need release from fear and sin.

We require a rest from war.

And so today we ask for deliverance.

Deliver us from a mindset that takes war for granted,

that is unaffected by casualty figures,

that gives up hope for an end to conflict.

Deliver us from corporations that make billions

selling arms and armaments to countries at war,

profiteers who would like to see this war go on and on.

We pray for Afghan civilians,

who have endured too many foreign occupations.

We pray for Taliban fighters,

who believe in the cause for which they risk their lives.

We pray for foreign troops,

who also believe in the cause for which they risk their lives.

We pray for political and military leaders,

for religious leaders and diplomats on every side.

Open every heart to a longing for peace,

not just for themselves, but for their enemy.

Taliban, American, Canadian, all nations in Afghanistan

holding the bodies of their dead,

weeping together and saying, “Enough.”

Afghani people standing up to govern themselves,

providing justice for men and women.

This vision of peace is monumental and seemingly impossible,

but we know that you are the Prince of Peace,

and we ask for this gift in your name.  Amen.

HIV/AIDS Advent Prayer

Dear God, you proclaimed your presence to Mary and Joseph

and walked with them to Bethlehem.

This advent, we listen for your voice;

we ask you to walk with us in our HIV/AIDS filled world.

We pray expecting your presence among us!

Be with all who live with the effects of this disease.

Be with those who wait to die because they have no access to medication.

Be with children who received HIV as a legacy from their parents.

Be with orphans and families who have lost loved ones.

Be with countries who have millions of citizens with HIV/AIDS.

Be with all who are stigmatized and ignored because they have this virus.

Be with politicians and corporate executives who control access to affordable medications.

Be with researchers and scientists who work to find a cure.

Be with healthcare workers and caregivers who comfort and encourage.

Be with all who have lost hope because of HIV/AIDS.

Lord, we hear the angel's song of peace!

Fill the hearts of people around the world with good will

so that together we can work for justice and healing

for all who suffer from HIV/AIDS.  Amen.

Advent Prayer for People Living with Violence

At this time of year as we sing “Silent night”

with its echoes of calm and heavenly peace,

we say a prayer for all who live in homes

where peace is absent.

We pray for children who live with fear,

whose homes are not a place of safety,

who live with beatings, both physical and verbal.

We pray for seniors and other vulnerable people

whose caregivers do not care

as they are neglected or degraded.

We pray for all who are emotionally abused,

and who are not loved, honoured and cherished.

We pray for women who have had to flee their homes

or are afraid to flee their homes.

We pray for all who have been sexually violated,

and who are haunted by fear of violation.

May love’s pure light this season empower us

to come to the aid of your hurting people.

We join together to sing Alleluia and thank you

for your grace that transforms our world.

In the name of the Holy Infant,

Christ our Saviour, Amen.

God save the Children

God, save the children tonight.

Save them from empty stomachs and hunger pangs.

Preserve them from beatings and harsh words.

Protect them from bullets and bombs.

Shield them from sexual abuse.

Guard them from pain and disease.

Shelter them from anger and discord.

In their innocence, grant them peace.

 

God saves the children tonight.

Saves them when someone sends food for body and soul.

Preserves them when a neighbor intervenes.

Protects them with peacemakers who make peace.

Shields them with caregivers  who find safe places.

Guards them through workers who provide clean water and vaccinations.

Shelters them through protectors of the rights of the innocent.

The wide scope of God’s providence

brings salvation to the children

in the actions of all who work for peace tonight.

Praying through a Divorce

What God has joined together now lies in pieces.

What began with delight and tenderness,

reeks now with bitterness and festering pain.

What began with soft words of love,

grates now with harsh words of blaming.

Jesus, we look for you in this relationship’s slow crucifixion

as each to each say, “Why have you forsaken me?”

 

As we stand on this barren Golgotha

we are desperate to repair this relationship,

which is not in our power to fix.

We urgently want to end this bleeding,

for which there is no quick remedy.

In the face of suffering we cannot fathom,

and stories which haven’t yet found a voice,

as a community we surround this family.

Holy Spirit, as we watch and wait,

empower us not to turn away.

 

As people of peace,

the deaths in this small war leave us

pleading for resurrection.

With humble hearts and empty hands we pray,

“Father, into your hands we give this family.”

After the Election Prayer

We pray this day

that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

We pray this day for our new government

that it will help us live in peace with each other.

Give our politicians keen hearing to hear the cries of the poor.

Give our politicians sharp vision to see the long-term effect of policies.

Give our politicians plain speech to speak the truth.

Give our politicians clean hands to withstand corruption.

Give our politicians honest hearts that are eager to right injustice.

 We ask all this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Blessing for Parents

We pray today for a blessing on parents;

two parents in one home,

two parents in two homes,

single parents,

extended family caregivers,

foster parents,

and all who are in a parental role.

Give patience when love wears thin.

Give tenderness even in the face of anger.

Give clarity in the face of difficult decisions.

Where financial resources are stretched and anxiety reigns—

bring relief.

Where there is estrangement and discord between parents

or between parents and children—

bring your peace.

Where illness and disability pose special challenges—

bring renewed energy.

Dear Mother and Father of us all, inspire us with your love!  Amen.

Prayer Against Violence, a Prayer for Peace

Perfect love casts our fear

and so today we pray for your spirit of love on our world.

Cast out the strapping of bombs to bodies.

Cast out the explosion of bombs in crowded places.

Cast out the tricking of children to carry bombs. 

Cast out the desperation that leads people to terrorist acts.

Cast out the making of walls that divide and imprison us.

Cast out the firing of missiles and the bulldozing of homes.

Cast out the prejudice against people of a certain race or culture.

Cast out the political structures that perpetuate violence.

Cast out the hatred that produces fear.

Send down the courage to reach out in peace.

Send down the resolution to not return evil for evil.

Send down the creativity to find peaceful political solutions

Send down the wisdom that politicians and diplomats need.

Send down the commitment to work together to end terrorism.

Send down the power of nonviolence to create change.

Send down the comfort and justice that victims need.

Send down the love that will end our fear.

We ask these things in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Amen.

Advent Peace Prayer

Dear God: 

The newspaper brings nothing new

only an old, old story of war—

more bombing, more shooting, more bloodshed.

One more family wailing a funeral song.

Against the backdrop of brutal images,

we hear the old, old story of an angel with good news,

who brought good tidings of great joy for all people.

Angel of Bethlehem, we long to hear your song again this day.

We want good tidings for countries in crisis.

We want good tidings for people who long to govern themselves.

We want good tidings for soldiers caught in webs of violence.

We want good tidings for all who grieve, and who see no end to grieving.

We want good tidings for terrorists whose actions spread fear and anguish.

We want good tidings for ordinary people who long to live in peace.

We want good tidings for children, who long to inherit a country

where peace has blossomed.

Jesus, our Saviour,

you escaped Herod’s best-laid plans.

May your Spirit of peace be born again this year

in the hearts of all who work for peace.  Amen.

Prayer of Repentance

Even in the small schemes of our lives

there are times when we come upon the big mess

which we may or may not have caused.

The challenges given, the first shots fired,

volleys of words thrown like grenades,

the bodies prone, the revenge promised…

war even on the tiniest scale wreaks havoc

and rejects consolation through the years.

The fog of war never completely lifts

but the casualties are completely clear.

Trust and innocence blown to smithereens,

hope sidelined in the trenches

with bitterness like a rat

gnawing on grudges.

Jesus, make it stop.

 

Give us imagination

to see relationships restored

forgiveness offered

good will renewed;

give us vision to see this battlefield transformed.

We long for a field of winter wheat

green after the fiercest season,

friends embracing enemies,

an armistice to the cold war--

a white flag in the spring of peace.