Praying for peace in Iraq on the 100th day
The following liturgy was formed to mark the 100th day in office of President Barack Obama. They are intended for local use and in an ecumenical or interfaith setting. They may be adapted as seems fitting. They were developed to be used on Sunday prior to the 100th day, on the 100th day and in the weeks following. The hope is to build the work of peace locally and nationally. They are offered in relationship to the work of the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq (CPWI, http://www.christianpeacewitness.org ) witness April 29 – 20, 2009.
Prayers for peace during a Sunday service:
During the time of open prayers insert this prayer for remembering the dead;
For the following American service personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan whose deaths were confirmed this week by the Department of Defense:
The names of those who have died can be sent through the Episcopal Peace Fellowship at www.epfnational.org click on Action Groups then click End the Iraq War and sign up with Sara Filipiak or go to http://icasualties.org/oef/
Insert the names, age rank, and date of death here
Tom xxx, age, Army Staff Sergeant, mnth.day.year
and for their families.
We also pray for the Iraqi and Afghanistan citizens who have died.
Names of the Iraqi and Afghani death can be found at http://www.iraqbodycount.org
(Insert this text along with the prayer for the departed as a portion of what is read by the Lector, i.e. :
Give to the departed eternal rest, today we remember the following American service personnel….________ … and for their families.
Response: let light perpetual shine upon them.
Prayers for Peace Vigil
For Living the Way of Peace
All Compassionate, always Merciful, and ever Present,
Be with us as we march the way of Peace,
Help us to offer words of hope and a call to defend justice
Keep us from impulsive acts of anger and despair.
Give us courage to share the hope we have by faith
Fill us with your Spirit that we may see the power of non-violent action.
Guide our lives to openness; make us able to receive truth, Strengthen us to forgive and to receive forgiveness; deepen our will to give our lives to name the good in all people.
For there is no other who so freely and radically gives us life as you,
Help us to up hold the dignity of all your children.
Amen.
Peace Prayers of the People:
For Peace
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn
but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the
strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that
all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of
Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and
glory, now and for ever. Amen BCP p. 823
For Peace
Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of
peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel
for the nations of the earth, that in tranquillity your dominion
may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your
love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for
ever. Amen. BCP p. 260
Peace Vigil:
Let us pray:
Most Holy God who is Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer,
Support our prayers for Peace, Strengthen our belief in Peace, and
Embolden us to create Peace.
Pray for peace
For the Universal Church in all its diversity, its varied members, and its mission to create peace through the world
Believe in peace
Envision people from every race and nation engaged in the work of peace creating the Kingdom of God on Earth.
Create peace
By taking action to work and witness for peace; by working together with the planners and participants in the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq demonstration (March 16, 2007 in Washington DC)
Most Holy God who is Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer,
Support our prayers for Peace, Strengthen our belief in Peace, and
Embolden us to create Peace.
Pray for peace
For our nation, and every nation, and all in authority in the world that they will seek resolution of conflict through negotiations and avoid waging war or initiating violence in any form.
Believe in peace
Envision international governments and leaders cooperating and negotiating peaceful resolutions to all conflicts: economic, political, social, religious, racial, and historic.
Create peace
By taking action publicly and privately to resolve conflicts large and small without violence and encourage others to seek peaceful resolution in all things.
Most Holy God who is Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer,
Support our prayers for Peace, Strengthen our belief in Peace, and
Embolden us to create Peace.
Pray for peace
For the welfare of the world that all people may be free of oppression, violence, and war in any form from within their borders or outside them, from those of common belief or those of different traditions.
Believe in peace
Envision every religious, ethnic, and political group engaged in efforts to stop oppression of their own and their enemy’s people.
Create peace
By taking and promoting action to alleviate oppression, violence, and war throughout the world as it directly or indirectly touches your lives and families.
Most Holy God who is Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer,
Support our prayers for Peace, Strengthen our belief in Peace, and
Embolden us to create Peace.
Pray for peace
For the local community that all our hearts may be freed from the violence inherent in human responses and that we will have courage to confront our own words and deeds that increase the potential for violence.
Believe in peace
Envision Christ showing love to those who persecuted him and his followers. We see ourselves and our family and friends responding in loving ways, as Christ, to all our neighbors.
Create peace
By taking action to turn our own hearts and the hearts of others from violent responses, provoked or unprovoked
Most Holy God who is Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer
Support our prayers for Peace,
Strengthen our belief in Peace, and
Embolden us to create Peace.
Pray for peace
For all who suffer from acts of war and violence and those in any need or trouble.
Believe in peace
Envision a world free of war and violence in which needs are met and troubles addressed.
Create peace
By taking action to alleviate the suffering caused by acts of war and violence, and inviting others to act with us and to promote peace in all things.
Most Holy God who is Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer,
Support our prayers for Peace, Strengthen our belief in Peace, and
Embolden us to create Peace.
Pray for peace
For all the departed, especially those have been victims of violence and war.
Believe in peace
Envision peaceful entrance into God’s eternal kingdom for all who have died in the love of God and those known to God alone.
Create peace
By taking action to alleviate the suffering of the families and communities of those lost to acts of war and violence. Walk with them in solidarity against continuation of war and violence that separates them and us from those we love: all the children of God.
Most Holy God who is Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer,
Support our prayers for Peace, Strengthen our belief in Peace, and
Embolden us to create Peace.
Almighty God, look with favor upon us as we affirm our commitment to promote peace throughout the world. Give us courage, patience, and vision; and strengthen us all to be the body of Christ in the world and to create the Kingdom of God on Earth through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
It is recommended that prayers for world leaders also be included with these prayers. Additionally we encourage you to use resource materials from http://www.afsc.org/Iraq .
A vigil service marking the 100th day of President Obama administration of working to end the war in Iraq and Afghanistan
The idea of this service is to provide a public forum where people can pray together. It is non-partisan, yet dedicated to seeking an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are additional resources at www.epfnational.org – follow liturgical resources to prayers and vigils, also we recommend http://paxchristiusa.org , http://www.mcc.org/resources, http://www.forusa.org, and the United Nations site http://www.overcomingviolence.org, and http://www.christianpeacewitness.org/resources . If it is possible invite public officials to be present to support your witness, this begins to build a relationship between the witness and their civic leadership.
A Brief Order for Vigils
Provide some public notice of the gathering, out of doors is preferable. You may wish to have some signs to help identify the gathering to those who pass by. This is a design for a 20 to 30 minute witness.
Gathering together; use some method as a call to prayer – sung or spoken. A symbol can also be employed at this time, lighting candles or collecting items that represent those who have died – one witness uses boots for service personnel, or canned good that could be contributed to shelters after the event. Identify the action with respect to the numbers of military and civilian US, Iraqi and Afghani deaths.
Gathering Prayer; in these or similar words
World Peace Prayer;
Lead us from death to life
Lead us from falsehood to truth
Lead us from despair to hope
Lead us from fear to trust
Lead us from hate to love
Lead us from war to peace
Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our Universe.
Or
For Living the Way of Peace
All Compassionate, always Merciful, and ever Present,
Be with us as we march the way of Peace,
Help us to offer words of hope and a call to defend justice
Keep us from impulsive acts of anger and despair.
Give us courage to share the hope we have by faith
Fill us with your Spirit that we may see the power of non-violent action.
Guide our lives to openness; make us able to receive truth,
Strengthen us to forgive and to receive forgiveness; deepen our will to give our lives to name the good in all people.
For there is no other who so freely and radically gives us life as you,
Help us to up hold the dignity of all your children.
Amen.
Statement of Purpose; someone offers a brief reason for the witness and invites others to share their hopes for the witness, this is open and time is allowed for all who wish to speak. It may be a good idea to distribute the flyer “Covenant for Respectful Conversation” found at the end of this liturgy. This is primarily a time for sharing hopes and visions for peace, not a time for converting other to your opinion.
Litany; a litany is a form of offering and response used as prayer that creates a rhythm within the group. This one or one in similar words can be used.
Litany for Peace (from International Prayers for Peace)
We pray to God to eradicate all the violence in the world:
that understanding triumph over ignorance,
that generosity triumph over indifference,
that trust triumph over contempt, and
that truth triumph over falsehood. (from Zoroastrian Prayer for Peace)
Lord, you are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call.
Lord, you are the cornerstone of peace.
Lord, strengthen us to create peace.
Almighty God, the all-seeing Lord up on high
who sees even the footprints of an antelope on a rock mass here on Earth.
Lord, you are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call.
Lord, you are the cornerstone of peace. (from Native African Prayer for Peace)
Lord, you are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call.
Lord, you are the cornerstone of peace.
Lord, strengthen us to create peace.
Although the people living across the ocean
surrounding us are all our brothers and sisters,
why are there constant troubles in this world?
Why do winds and waves rise in the
ocean surrounding us? (from Shinto Prayer for Peace)
Lord, you are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call.
Lord, you are the cornerstone of peace.
Lord, strengthen us to create peace.
Come let us go up the mountain of the Lord,
that we may walk the paths of the Most High.
And we shall beat our swords into ploughshares,
and our spears into pruning hooks.
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation–
neither shall they learn war any more.
And none shall be afraid, for the mouth of the
Lord of Hosts has spoken. (from Jewish Prayer for Peace)
Lord, you are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call.
Lord, you are the cornerstone of peace.
Lord, strengthen us to create peace.
In the name of God, the beneficent, the merciful,
Praise be to the Lord of the Universe who has created us
And made us into tribes and nations,
that we may know each other, not that we may despise each other.
Whether your enemy inclines towards peace, you incline towards peace,
and trust God, for the Lord is the one that hears and knows all things.
(from Muslim Prayer for Peace)
Lord, you are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call.
Lord, you are the cornerstone of peace.
Lord, strengthen us to create peace.
Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS,
for they shall be known as the Children of God.
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
To those who strike you on the cheek, offer the other also,
and from those who take away your cloak, do not withhold your coat as well.
And as you wish that others would do to you, so do to them.
(from Christian Prayer for Peace)
Lord, you are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call.
Lord, you are the cornerstone of peace.
Lord, strengthen us to create peace.
God judges us according to our deeds, not the coat that we wear:
that truth is above everything, but higher still is truthful living.
Know that we attain God when we love one another,
and only that victory endures in which no one is defeated.
(from Sikh Prayer for Peace)
Lord, you are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call.
Lord, you are the cornerstone of peace.
Lord, strengthen us to create peace.
Peace and Universal Love is the essence of the Gospel
To all have amity, and to none enmity.
Know that violence is the root cause of all miseries in the world.
Violence, in fact, is the knot of bondage.
“Do not injure any living being.”
This is the eternal, perennial, and unalterable way of spiritual life.
A weapon howsoever powerful it may be, can always be superseded by a superior one;
but no weapon can be superior to non-violence and love.
(from Jainist Prayer for Peace)
Lord, you are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call.
Lord, you are the cornerstone of peace.
Lord, strengthen us to create peace.
Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity.
Be fair in judgment, and guarded in speech.
Be a lamp to those who walk in darkness, and a home to the stranger.
Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light for the feet of the erring.
Be a breath of life to the body of humankind,
a dew to the soil of the human heart,
and a fruit upon the tree of humility.
(from Bahai’ Prayer for Peace)
Lord, you are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call.
Lord, you are the cornerstone of peace.
Lord, strengthen us to create peace.
Give us the wisdom to teach our children
to love, to respect, and to be kind to each
other so that they may grow with peace in mind.
Let us learn to share all good things that
you provide for us on this Earth.
(from Native American Prayer for Peace)
Lord, you are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call.
Lord, you are the cornerstone of peace.
Lord, strengthen us to create peace.
May all human beings everywhere suffering in body, mind or spirit
quickly be freed from their illnesses.
May those frightened cease to be afraid,
and may those bound be free.
May the powerless find power,
and may people befriend one another.
(from Buddhist Prayer for Peace)
Lord, you are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call.
Lord, you are the cornerstone of peace. Lord, strengthen us to create peace.
Oh God, lead us from violence to peace.
Oh God, lead us from darkness to light.
Oh God, lead us from death to immortality.
Oh Lord God almighty, may there be peace on earth.
May the waters be appeasing.
May herbs be wholesome, and may trees and plants bring peace to all.
May we be your hands to propagate peace all through the world.
May all things be a source of peace to us.
And may your peace itself, bestow peace on all.
(from Hindu Prayer for Peace)
Lord, you are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call.
Lord, you are the cornerstone of peace.
Lord, strengthen us to create peace.
Or
Consider using the 99 names of God from the Koran, http://www.islamicity.com/Mosque/99names.htm,
Invitation;
Following the litany you may want to offer an invitation for those gathered to take some action. This can be varied from contacting Congressional and Senate members and telling them to take and support actions to end the war and end the occupations, advocating for a cabinet level Department of Peace, to beginning a study group that keeps the community informed about the administration’s plan for peace.
Closing Prayers; here final prayers can be offered freely or from those above. If leaders from different faith communities are present invite each to share a prayer from his or her tradition. If you have lit candles they can be placed in a bed of sand and left to burn out. Also if you have gathered food it is a moment to have people prepare the goods to be carried to a local pantry.
Sharing of a sign of peace; this is a simple gesture of good will, hand shaking, embracing, or other local customs should be exchanged.
A COVENANT FOR RESPECTFUL CONVERSATION
1. LISTEN
I will listen to you and hear you out. I may not agree with you, and I can’t promise that I will always understand you, but I will truly try to listen. In return, I trust you to listen to me – patiently and respectfully – even if you think I am misguided.
2. PRAY
I will pray for you and ask God’s best for you. In return, I ask for your prayers, knowing that we need each other’s help to discern God’s spirit and God’s voice in the midst of the possibility of very different perspectives.
3. LOVE
I will remind myself that God created you, as well as me, out of love, and that our Lord loves and redeems us equally. I will try to see that loveable person in you, and I hope that you will try to find the same in me.
- 4. DISCERN
Above all, I will try to remember why we are here: that we are Christians seeking to live out our discipleship faithfully with the best insights of our hearts and minds as we ponder scripture, tradition, and reason. My discipleship is in the context of the Body of Christ, and I seek always to be open to the “grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.”
