Responsive Reading

In an era when the forces of division and decay abound, we dare to believe that God has created all peoples of the earth, and that God loves all of creation.
God cares deeply about the relationships between Christians, Muslims and Jews around the world and in North Carolina.
We join together with our sisters and brothers of other faiths because our love for God and humanity inspires it; our concern for justice, freedom and peace demands it; and what we can learn from each other requires it.

Jews, Muslims, Christians; we have begun to listen together to the spirit within our varied and venerable traditions.
In spite of our differences, we share a common ancestry through Abraham, who obeyed God and became a blessing to all nations. Because of our common heritage, we share many principles which spring forth from the teachings of each of our faith traditions:

A conviction of the fundamental unity of the human family under God and the equality and dignity of all human beings.
A sense of the sacredness of the individual person and each one’s conscience.

A sense of the value of human community.
A realization that might is not right; that human power is not self-sufficient or absolute, and that in God is our trust.

A belief that love, compassion, selflessness, and the force of inner truthfulness and the spirit have ultimately greater power than hate, enmity, and inordinate self-interest.
A sense of obligation to stand on the side of the poor, the hungry and the oppressed, and to serve the cause of justice.

A profound hope that good finally will prevail.
Because we affirm these convictions held in common, we also affirm one another in our different religious and cultural expressions. Because we affirm our community, we also affirm our commitment to stand together as a unified force for its social and moral benefit, and to be a symbol of living together in diversity which the creator intends for all creation.  Amen.

(Adapted from the National Council of Churches’ “Finding Words for Unspeakable Tragedy,” http://www.ncccusa.org/nmu/mce/crisis-worship-and-prayer.html)

Lord God Almighty,
We humbly come before You to confess our sin. We have mistreated our Jewish and Muslim sisters and brothers in word, thought and deed. We have failed to see Your image residing equally in all people. We have confused political and social power with spiritual truth; we have been participants of a Christian majority that continues to discriminate against people of other faiths. We have historically benefited from the oppression of both Muslims and Jews and yet we continue to live in fear and mistrust. Forgive our arrogance in thinking that we are more important than they in Your sight, O God, because of our beliefs. Forgive our ignorance that belies our lack of respect, interest and understanding. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to receive Your truth found in both Torah and Koran. Give us opportunities to engage one another across the boundaries of religion and culture in acts of service and dialogue, that we would be faithful to Your command to love all people without reservation. In the name of Christ, Amen.

(by Chris Liu-Beers)

Muslim—Jewish—Christian Prayer for Peace

O God, you are the source of life and peace. Praised be your name forever.
We know it is you who guide our minds to thoughts of peace. Hear our prayer in this time of war.

Your power changes hearts. When Muslims, Christians, and Jews remember and profoundly affirm that they are followers of the one God, children of Abraham, brothers and sisters, enemies begin to speak to one another, those who were estranged join hands in friendship, and nations seek the way of peace together.

Strengthen our resolve to give witness to these truths by the way we live.

Give to us:
Understanding that puts an end to strife;
Mercy that quenches hatred, and
Forgiveness that overcomes vengeance.
Empower all people to live in your law of love. Amen.

(Adapted from “Muslim—Jewish—Christian Prayer for Peace,” www.paxchristiusa.org/news_events_more.asp?id=210)

A Christian Prayer of Thanksgiving for Jews

Almighty God, you are the one true God, and have called forth people of faith
in every time and place. Your promises are sure and true.
We bless you for your covenant given to Abraham and Sarah, that you keep even now with the Jews.
We rejoice that you have brought us into covenant with you by the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ, himself a Jew, nurtured in the faith of Israel.
We praise you that you are faithful to covenant made with us and Jewish brothers and sisters, that together we may serve your will, and come at last to your promised peace.
Amen.

(Adapted from “Presbyterian Peacemaking Program,” www.pcusa.org/
peacemaking/actnow/prayers.htm)

A Christian Prayer of Thanksgiving for Muslims

Eternal God, you are the one God to be worshiped by all, the one called Allah by your Muslim children, descendants of Abraham as we are.
Give us grace to hear your truth in the teachings of Mohammed, the prophet, and to show your love as disciples of Jesus Christ, that Christians and Muslims together may serve you in faith and friendship.
Amen.

(Adapted from “Presbyterian Peacemaking Program,” www.pcusa.org/
peacemaking/actnow/prayers.htm)