Speak Peace to the People
Peace

Responsive Reading

From the rising of the sun until its setting,
God of peace, God of justice, God of infinite mercy – remember Your people.
From the bleakness of war to the lavish warmth of peace,
God of peace, God of justice, God of infinite mercy – remember Your people.
From the peace of eternity to the pain of the present moment,
God of peace, God of justice, God of infinite mercy – remember Your people.
We turn to you God, asking that you enfold our planet in your justice, peace, and truth.  Enlighten the minds of those making decisions.  Melt the hearts of those inflicting cruelty upon your children.  Strengthen the resolve of all who pray for peace.  And may God bless us – and the peoples who share our planet.  May God hold our world and all its peoples in the palm of God’s hand.

Amen.

(from www.wellspring.org.uk, administered by Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn Turner)

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Prayer of Confession

Spirit of God, forgive us.  Instead of sharing with our sisters and brothers, we have stored up treasures and sent the vulnerable, sick, hungry, and homeless from our door.  Instead of forgiving, we as a nation have sought vengeance, retribution, harsh punishment, and death.  Instead of loving our enemies, we have demonized them.  Instead of peace, nonviolence and reconciliation, we Christians have sat silent while a war is waged in your name.  We confess that we have neglected our prayer life and community building.  We have lost our way and are not the people you have called us to be.  Accept our prayer and restore us.  In your mercy, forgive us.  Forgive us.

Amen.

(from the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, www.episcopalpeacefellowship.org; edited, with additional material)

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Teach Us the Way of Peace

Christ, no one on earth really wants the pain and horror of war.  We do not want to kill or be killed, to hurt or be hurt.  But we all see injustice, and sometimes it makes us angry and we see no other way to right the wrong except by war.  Christ, teach us the ways of peace!  Calm our angry hearts and grant to all peoples and their leaders patience in the search for peace and justice.  Help us to be ready to give up some of our comforts and power and pride, so that war will leave the face of the earth and we may work for you in peace.                             

(by Avery Brooks, “Teach Us the Way of Peace,”  www.episcopalcafe.com/thesoul/daily_reading/a_prayer_for_peace.html)

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A Prayer of Intercession

 

O God, who called the peacemakers your children, we beseech you that as you did send Your Son with the heavenly voice of peace on earth to be the Prince of Peace, so you will keep our hearts and minds in his peace, and make us both to love and defend the same.  Guide the counsels of the President and of all leaders, in equity and steadfastness, to establish unity and concord among the nations, that all humankind may render you the fruits of peace and righteousness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.    

                
(from the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, www.episcopalpeacefellowship.org, Diocese of Canterbury )

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Advent Litany

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord,
Hosanna in the highest!
We rejoice with the angels in the coming of the King,
The King that speaks for peace.
Glory to God in the highest,
The Prince of Peace has come.

(by Jason R. Jenkins)