On Monday, 16 October, at the Cardboard Transitional Cathedral (Christchurch, New Zealand), at 7:30pm, there will be a Prayer Vigil for the Middle East led by Bishop Peter Carrell and Acting Dean Bosco Peters (who runs this site). All Welcome.
Here are some resources for praying for peace – please add any others in the comments section below.
World Peace Prayer
Lead me from death to life,
from falsehood to truth;
lead me from despair to hope,
from fear to trust;
lead me from hate to love,
from war to peace.
Let peace fill our heart,
our world, our universe.
This is a prayer said daily by people of different world faiths, and it is shared as a wish hoped for by those who may not belong to a world faith.
Readings about Peace
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more. (Isaiah 2:4; cf Micah 4:3)
John 16:33; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Isaiah 26:3; Matthew 5:9; John 14:27; Romans 12:18; Colossians 3:15; 2 Corinthians 13:11;
Singing about Peace
Dona Nobis Pacem (Taizé)
Make me a channel of your peace
Peace is flowing like a river
Tama Ngakau Marie
My peace I give you (Taizé)
When I needed a neighbour
The kingdom of God is justice and joy
The kingdom of God (Taizé)
Other Resources
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Thank you, Bosco! Taizé’s “The Kingdom of God” was one of the chants we sang last year at a Peace for Ukraine ecumenical prayer vigil at our local Episcopal student center’s chapel. A stirring and apropos number in prayers for peace. Our vigil also included these potent reminders:
A reading from Proverbs 6:16-19…
There are six things God hates —
no, seven he cannot stand:
eyes that look down on others,
tongues that tell lies,
hands that shed innocent blood,
hearts that plot evil schemes,
feet that rush to do wrong,
witnesses who breathe falsehoods,
people who stir up trouble among kin.
…and these petitions among others in a litany after the Lord’s Prayer:
God, we pray for foes bent on hate, violence, and murder.
*Turn their hearts and hands from doing evil to doing good.*
God, we pray for our own deliverance from temptation and sin in the face of these trying times.
*Spare us from confusing justice and revenge.*
Thanks for those additions, Gregory. Blessings.