September 4, 2014 – O God, You are Peace and from you is peace. Blessed are You, O Lord of Majesty and Generosity. O God, bind our hearts together. Set aright relations among us. Guide us in the way of peace. Deliver us from darkness into light. Separate us from vile deeds, whether secret or open. Bless us in our hearing and our sight in our hearts. Grant repentance, for you are the All-Relenting, the Mercy-Giving. And enable us to be thankful for Your grace, and to glorify You for Your grace, and to be accepting of it. And perfect Your grace in us. Amen.
A prayer from the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
A time for silence
Grant us peace, Your most precious gift, O Eternal Source of peace, and give us the will to proclaim its message to all the peoples of the earth. Bless our country, that it may always be a stronghold of peace, and its advocate among the nations. May contentment reign within its borders, health and happiness within its homes. Strengthen the bonds of friendship among the inhabitants of all lands, and may the love of Your name hallow every home and every heart. Blessed is the Eternal God, the Source of peace. Amen.
A prayer from Gates of Prayer (p. 695), a book of Jewish prayers.
A time for silence
God of peace and hope, encourage those who seek to establish a fair and just peace in the Middle East. Bless their efforts as they work to end conflict. Lead those who engage in violence to put down their weapons to live in harmony with one another. Bless those who work for peace through justice. Strengthen their resolve in the face of seemingly endless violence and terror.
Guide the leaders of the peoples of the Middle East to know Your will and to support a just peace for all Your children. As we lift up the Holy Land for all humankind, breathe love into our prayers with a desire for nothing other than peace: peace in our hearts, peace for all creation, and peace for the land.
We lift up the city of Jerusalem, distracted and divided, yet still filled with promise as are all the cities of the world. Even as we long to understand that which is often beyond our comprehension, we lay before you the hearts, minds and bodies of all those suffering from the conflict in Palestine and Israel. Shower upon all the people, Your Holy Spirit of justice and reconciliation. Be with Jewish and Palestinian people who watch from afar the suffering of their families and friends. Grant them comfort and hope in these stress-filled days. Amen.
A time for silence
Your own prayers for peace can be offered at this time. You may pray where and how you feel most comfortable. Candles can be offered to add light to prayers.
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 to 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. Amen
Stay as long as you wish. Please leave in silence.
Prayers offered by Pamela Challis
pjschallis@gmail.com