Swords into Plowshares

Prayers for UN staff killed in Bolivia

The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations encourages all to join in prayer for four UN staff members and two others killed in a plane crash in Bolivia.

We pray for family, friends, colleagues, and all who grieve at the death of these individuals.

Thanks be to God for their life.

A prayer for the National Day of Prayer

Grant us, O God, a vision of this nation as your love would have it:
a nation where the weak are protected, and none go hungry or poor;
a nation where the riches of creation are shared, and everyone can enjoy them;
a nation where different races and cultures live in harmony and mutual respect;
a nation where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love.
Grant us, O God, a vision.
Give us the inspiration and courage, wisdom and faith to live into that vision,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From Justice and Peace Shall Kiss by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program

A prayer for the reign of peace

The Office of Theology and Worship of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has written a prayer for the reign of peace:

Almighty, all-merciful God,
through Christ Jesus you have taught us
to love one another,
to love our neighbors as ourselves,
and even to love our enemies.
In times of violence and fear,
let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts,
so that we may not be overcome with evil
but overcome evil with good.
Help us to see each person
in light of the love and grace
you have shown us in Christ.
Put away the nightmares of terror
and awaken us to the dawning
of your new creation.
Establish among us a future
where peace reigns,
justice is done with mercy,
and all are reconciled.
We ask these things
in the name and for the sake
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Find additional PC(USA) resources for use in the wake of Osama bin Laden's death.

UN Security Council is updated on Libya

On February 26, the United Nations Security Council unanimously asked for a criminal investigation of Muammar el-Qadaffi’s use of force against civilians.  The prosecutor, Mr. Moreno-Ocampo reported back to the Security Council earlier this morning.

Mr. Moreno-Ocampo told the Security Council that there is evidence to support charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity saying, “War crimes are apparently committed as a matter of policy.”  Moreno-Ocampo, an International Criminal Court Prosecutor will request three arrest warrants for his probe into killings of pro-democracy demonstrators in Libya 

The Russian Representative to the United Nations called for an immediate ceasefire of all parties involved, including NATO in order to protect civilians. 

US Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Susan Rice said today, “we believe in the potential of the Libyan people. We believe they deserve leaders who share and support their aspirations for freedom, democracy, and dignity. Through his brutal oppression, Qadhafi has demonstrated time and again that he is not interested in a Libya that honors his people’s hopes and rights.”  To read the rest of Ambassador Rice’s statement to the Security Council, click here.

We continue to pray for the Libyan people and for their freedom, democracy and dignity.   

 

PC(USA) resources related to issues raised by the death of Osama bin Laden

The death of Osama bin Laden raises many issues for prayer, study, discussion, and reflection. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has a number of resources available to use at this time. Among them are the Resolution on Violence, Religion and Terrorism from the 216th General Assembly (2004) and Faithful Living in a Time of Violence and Terrorism, a study paper on the resolution. The Thoughtful Christian offers a study Responding to Terrorism.

The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program offers a list of materials to help study and practice nonviolence. Resurrection Living: Journeying with the Nonviolent Christ is the most recent study resource on nonviolence for use by individuals or groups.

The General Assembly has made several statements related to Iraq and Afghanistan.

219th General Assembly (2010)

• On the War in Afghanistan

218th General Assembly (2008)

• Regarding Assistance for Iraqi Refugees
• On Building Peace in Iraq
• On Addressing the Violence and Suffering Inflicted on Iraqi Women During the Current Prolonged War

216th General Assembly (2004)

• Iraq: Our Responsibility and the Future

215th General Assembly (2003)

• Iraq and Beyond

The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program has identified resources for caring for those serving in the military and their families:

• Ministering to Families Affected by Military Deployment
  U.S. Army Chaplains
• The Human Effects of War
  A Reflection by the Rev. Ken Moe, Grand Canyon Presbytery
• How to Help the Family of a Deployed Soldier

Recognizing the centrality of prayer to our lives, Faithful Living in a Time of Violence and Terrorism offers the following suggestions:

• Pray for peace, for one another, the community, national and international leaders, and the people of the world in each worship service.
• Light a candle for peace in each worship service.
• Use liturgical resources from around the world in worship, such as those found in Gifts of Many Cultures.
• Hold prayer vigils with other Presbyterian congregations and with ecumenical and
  interfaith partners.
• Pray daily for one another, the community, national and international leaders, and the people of the world.
• Create a group to pray together.
• Open a part of the church daily as a place of prayer and meditation.

Prayers for those who might be touched by the spiral of violence and revenge are also important.

Published since the study guide was written, Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor contains many hymns with peace themes.

The introduction to Faithful Living in a Time of Violence and Terrorism notes: "Through Christ, we are invited to look beyond what this world presents to God’s vision of wholeness and peace and to live into the hope brought about by God’s covenant." May these resources help us respond to Christ's invitation.

 

 

 

Pray for Sudan

Reports have been received about an increase in violence in central Jonglei state in Southern Sudan.

Please hold the people of the region in prayer. Please pray for all the people of Sudan as the process for creating the new state of South Sudan continues.

Resources for World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel

Here are some resources to use or adapt for the week of advocacy and action for a just peace in Palestine and Israel sponsored by the World Council of Churches on May 29 - June 4.

• The Jerusalem Prayer for 2011, authored by the Heads of Churches in Jerusalem (available in English, French, German, and Spanish)
• Service of the Word liturgy for 29 May 2011, based on the lectionary readings for the day, designed by members of the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum, an initiative of the World Council of Churches
• a series of reflections on the theme, "I Dream of Peace in Jerusalem," written by residents of the city
• Join an ecumenical prayer vigil

Learn about the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ministries and policies related to Israel and Palestine.

Prayer for peace - Sunday 22 May 2011

 The World Sunday for Peace is part of the WCC's International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) which will take place 17 -25 May in Kingston, Jamaica and marks the culmination of the “Decade to Overcome Violence: Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace”. Here is a prayer that congregations, communities and individuals are encouraged to use:

Prayer for peace - Sunday 22 May 2011

God of peace and possibility, Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier:
We approach you to ask once again for your mercy, forgiveness and a fresh start.
We ask you to help us give peace a chance, in this world.
We want to give peace a chance, yet we have already missed so many opportunities.
We have sabotaged so many initiatives; instead of overcoming evil with good,
we have stood by while good was overpowered.
Forgive us, Lord.

Dona nobis pacem: Give us peace, we pray.

Just as we claim your forgiveness, we also claim this moment in the name of peace.
We accept anew our responsibility as peacemakers and creators of justice.
We give thanks for the Decade to Overcome Violence, for its work in raising our awareness and our yearning for peace. And yet, we admit that there is much more required if we are truly to give peace a chance.

Dona nobis pacem: Give us peace, we pray.

By the moving of your Spirit, commit our hearts and minds to peace, and help us dedicate our lives to becoming the starting-points of peace. “Let this be the moment, now.”
Help us cooperate with you, giving peace a chance, creating a world where peace may be our ethos and our essence.
Give us peace, we pray. Grant us wisdom and courage to seize the initiative: wisdom to discern the things that make for peace, and courage to be faithful and obedient to you.

Dona nobis pacem: Give us peace, we pray.

God of peace and possibility, make us instruments of your peace
at the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation and in all places
so that we may fulfill your will, and so that we may give peace a chance.
In the name of the Prince of  Peace, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
Amen.
 
Prayer from the Caribbean

Download the prayer in other languages:

Arabic: صلاة من أجل السلام

Armenian: Աղոթք խաղաղության

Aymara (Bolivia): Diosar mayiña sumañkañataki

Chinese: 世界和平祷文

Danish: Bøn for fred

English: Prayer for peace

Finnish: Rauhanrukous

French: Prière pour la Paix

German: Gebet für den Frieden

Greek: Προσευχή για την ειρήνη

Italian: Preghiera per la pace

Kiswahili: Maombi ya Amani

Korean: 평화를 위한 기도

Maohi: Pure no te Hau

Norwegian: Bønn om fred

Oshiwambo (Angola/Namibia): Eindilo omolwombili

Portuguese: Oração pela paz

Romanian: Rugăciune pentru pace

Samoan: O le tatalo mo le filemu

Spanish: Oración por la paz

Swedish: Bön för freden

Trees and Tweets for Peace

World Sunday for Peace - May 22

As the sun rises on Sunday 22 May Christians and churches across the world are being encouraged by the World Council of Churches (WCC) to celebrate God’s peace in their worship services, to hold a Peace Sunday dawn vigil, to plant a tree as an act of peace or to use social media to share prayers for peace with Christians around the world.

"Each tree will become the lasting symbol of our united efforts to bring the peace of Christ to our suffering world" says the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, the WCC general secretary. "We hope that people will feel inspired to use social media like Twitter or Facebook to share pictures, peace prayers and hopes for a just peace in their own language."

The World Sunday for Peace is part of the WCC's International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) which will take place 17 -25 May in Kingston, Jamaica and marks the culmination of the “Decade to Overcome Violence: Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace”.

Over a thousand people from around the world will be meeting in Kingston to celebrate the promise of a just peace. Churches in the Caribbean have prepared a prayer for peace for churches throughout the world to use on the Sunday for Peace.

Hymns, texts and ideas that congregations can use to prepare for their celebration of the peace Sunday are available.

"It can be quite a challenge to write a prayer in just 140 keystrokes on Twitter, but such small steps are part of our journey to building a just peace," said Tveit. "It's our hope that the worldwide prayer for peace on 22 May will help build bridges of just peace."

As the sun rises over the world on 22 May, keep the WCC updated about how your church is praying and acting for peace with justice, write your prayers for peace and share photos of your vigil and tree planting:
 
On Twitter use the hash tags #IEPC #Sunday4peace #Justpeace and #WCC.

World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel

The World Council of Churches invites member churches and related organizations to join a week of advocacy and action for a just peace in Palestine and Israel on May 29 - June 4. Congregations and individuals around the globe who share the hope of justice are invited to take peaceful actions to create a common international public witness.

Participants are encourage to plan activities around three main areas:

• Praying with churches living under occupation, using a special prayer from Jerusalem.
• Educating about actions that make for peace, and about facts on the ground that do not create peace.
• Advocating with political leaders using ecumenical policies that promote peace with justice.

Learn about the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ministries and policies related to Israel and Palestine.