A Litany For Peace

Compiled from prayers of the English-language congregation

Lee en español
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Peace is hard to hold, seeming to slip away amidst the chaos of our world.  Pain, pollution, prejudice, gun violence and greed, fear, self-doubt, and inequality, illness, and constant stress create a haze.

 A haze that seeps into every level of our society, into our homes and our hearts, into our governments. 

When divisions are soul deep, binding connections become divisive endings.  We fail to connect.

Hate cancels hope.  Greed covers for hate.  For every ray of light, there are more shadows. 

In this place,

We seek to create a space that is safe for even a moment, where people feel accepted and loved.  Where they love and accept themselves, and bask in that feeling.  For God wants us to be happy and love one another.

As we leave this place,

We seek to live boldly in a world of fear.  To love with the love of God, which heals the woundedness in the world.  To speak truth, to honor people, to name bullies.

We resolve to strive for equality.  To answer selfishness with giving, to meet self-doubt with the encouragement of friends.  To answer ignorance with education, imagination, and artistic expression. And above all, to hope.

The world around us may be chaotic.  Our challenge is to find God and find peace not in spite of this chaos, but through the chaos.

 The peace that Jesus gave makes us calm in the midst of the storm.  “In this world, you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”
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God, use your church to be an example of your will for our world.  Give us strength to speak out, act out, and believe what is right and good in your sight.  Use us as your hands and feet of justice, peace, and love.  Reveal to us what you would have us be.  Amen.
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