Prayer Resources
Peace Ministries
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Prayers for peace
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Prayers for Afghanistan
- Prayer against violence
- Prayer for openness
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Prayers of confession
- Prayer for conscientious objectors
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Prayers for times of election
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Prayers for advent
- Blessing for parents
- Prayer for those who are addicted
- Prayer for playing
- Prayer for farmers
- Prayer for survivors of abuse
- Prayer for male survivors of violence
- Prayer for children in need
- Prayer for people who are homeless
- Prayer for Hope and Vision in a World Where Hope Seems Dim
- Prayer for Peacemakers who Continue Their Witness Even When They are Older
1. Prayers for peace
Collect
Oh God,
Landscaper of Peace,
You root us in love
and tend to us like a tree by the water.
Turn over the soil of our indifference
and weed out the roots of violence;
that our actions may yield healing in a warring world.
We pray this in the name of Jesus,
who calls us to a harvest of peace.
Amen.
- This prayer was written by Michele Rizoli
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Prayer of approach
Author of Peace,
as we look upon the violence in our world,
our hope falters and we turn to you.
Awaken us to your vision,
rekindle our hope,
instil in us the courage to resist evil through peaceful means,
and strengthen us anew for your labour of peacemaking;
that we may be collaborators in your Kingdom,
through Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace,
Amen.
- This prayer was written by Michele Rizoli
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Prayer of invocation
God of our faith,
who continues to call your people to peacemaking;
we thank you for your faithfulness to all generations
and call on your Spirit to uphold and guide us.
Cultivate the seeds of peace until they flourish.
Nurture our conscience with the values of your kingdom;
that we may branch out into healing and reconciliation.
Dismantle the machinery of war and brokenness,
the mechanics of violence and destruction,
that we may inhabit a place of love and growth.
May your peace continue to beckon us,
may your power continue to strengthen us,
Amen.
- This prayer was written by Michele Rizoli
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2. Prayers for Afghanistan
For the healing of a nation
God of the nations,
We pray for the healing of Afghanistan.
Decades of invasion and occupation
adding war’s injuries to one of the world’s poorest countries.
Missiles and bombs as a heritage for this generation.
Women denied basic human rights.
Babies dying, children going hungry.
The country’s twenty-eight million people longing for peace.
Father, hear their cries!
Countries declare a war on terror
and terror grows, with hatred and destruction.
Canadian soldiers on Afghan soil
wanting peace, carrying guns.
We pray for these soldiers that they might do no harm,
that they might come to no harm.
We pray for their families who long for their return.
In our race to end terror, may we encounter Jesus
Healer of all, who brings peace on earth.
And in the face of despair, peace blossoms, hope increases.
Individuals, groups, organizations working for solutions.
People joining with others
to provide education, relief, comfort.
Politicians, diplomats, the common man and woman
shouldering a non-violent solution
onto the world stage.
Holy Spirit, give courage and vision to all who work for this transformation.
We call on you, Lord of all nations!
Creator, create a climate of peace in Afghanistan
Redeemer, redeem the suffering of its people
Sustainer, sustain a new order whose legacy is hope.
We pray this, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
Amen.
- This prayer was written by Carol Penner of Vineland, Ontario.
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For the people of Afghanistan
God of love and life,
We pray for the people of Afghanistan.
They have known war and insecurity for decades.
May your peace descend upon them and upon their nation.
May there be food and safety and schools for children.
May there be dignity and respect for women.
May there be meaningful work for men.
May there be wisdom for leaders.
May there be a laying down of weapons.
May there be reconciliation between enemies.
May there be restoration for the land.
God of life and love,
May your peace descend upon Afghanistan.
Amen.
- This prayer was written by Carol Penner of Vineland, Ontario.
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3. Prayer against violence
Perfect love casts our fear and so today we pray for your spirit of Love on our world.
Cast out the strapping of bombs to bodies.
Cast out the explosion of bombs in crowded places.
Cast out the tricking of children to carry bombs.
Cast out the desperation that leads people to terrorist acts.
Cast out the making of walls that divide and imprison us.
Cast out the firing of missiles and the bulldozing of homes.
Cast out the prejudice against people of a certain race or culture.
Cast out the political structures that perpetuate violence.
Cast out the hatred that produces fear.
Send down the courage to reach out in peace.
Send down the resolution to not return evil for evil.
Send down the creativity to find peaceful political solutions
Send down the wisdom that politicians and diplomats need.
Send down the commitment to work together to end terrorism.
Send down the power of nonviolence to create change.
Send down the comfort and justice that victims need.
Send down the love that will end our fear.
We ask these things in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Amen.
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4. Prayer for openness
Jesus, you open us
to new life, new hope, new possibilities.
You conquer the way we
close up, close down, and close in.
Jesus, lover of us all,
open our hearts to feel Your compassion
for people we would rather walk by;
open our ears to hear the cries of the suffering
deep inside where we cannot fail to be moved;
open our understanding to new ways of living
that do not diminish anyone;
open our eyes to see a vision of this world
as You would have it.
May these prayerful words on our lips
become the meditations of our hearts
so that we may live in ways that are acceptable to You
O God, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
- This prayer was written by Carol Penner of Vineland, Ontario
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5. Prayers of confession
Confessing violence
Compassionate Creator, Loving Parent, forgive us for all the devastation we are
wreaking on your beautiful and bountiful creation through our wars, our acts of terrorism
and abuse, and our self-centred behaviour as individuals, communities and
nations.
Forgive us our cynicism and our blindness as we tend to sit on the sidelines and do
and say nothing as these acts of violence occur around us.
Forgive us our tendency to point the finger of blame at people of other faiths, nationalities
and racial groups when things go wrong.
Give us the courage in these gloomy situations to be peacemakers in your name, ready
to follow the way of the cross rather than the tempting path of finger-pointing, war
and violence.
Open our eyes that we may see that the way of the cross through non-violent deeds
and words is only way to overcome evil without creating new forms of evil in its place.
We pray this in the name of Jesus, the One whom we desire to follow on the path of
peace. Amen.
- This prayer was written by Larry Kehler of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
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General prayer of confession
God of relationship,
We bring before you our brokenness
and the brokenness of our world.
We bring before you
our grief over the violence in our world;
over the wars that clear-cut lives
and drench your soil with innocent blood.
We confess our despair.
We confess our sense of helplessness.
We confess our lack of hope and courage.
We confess the distance we feel from those who suffer.
Forgive us by your grace.
Inspire us by the lives of war resisters and peacemakers past and present.
Show us where we can reconcile and plant alternatives to warfare.
Restore and empower us to resist evil.
By your strength, through your love, and in your name we pray,
Amen.
- This prayer was written by Michele Rizoli
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6. Prayer for conscientious objectors
Just as the leaders of our churches worked to create alternatives to fighting,
help us also to be creative peacemakers.
Lord, hear our prayer
We thank you for the early Anabaptists, who set the example of being willing
to suffer to follow you.
Lord, hear our prayer
Just as Sam Martin stood firm in resisting wearing a uniform and everything
it represented, please empower us to stand firm in our witness for peace.
Lord, hear our prayer
We thank you for the young men who served as conscientious objectors,
so that today we can learn form their witness.
Lord, hear our prayer
We thank you for the many people who have withheld taxes and faced
financial risk to resist paying for war.
Lord, hear our prayer
Give wisdom to those in power to make even the small choices that resist violence.
Lord, hear our prayer
...Continue to fill in, according to your church’s particular circumstance and focus.
- This prayer was written by Michele Rizoli
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7. Prayers for times of election
Prayer for before the election
Almighty God, we need your presence in our country/province during this election time.
Guide all the candidates to campaign fairly and present their viewpoints honestly.
Guide all the voters as they listen and assess the positions of the different parties.
Jesus, you cared for those who were poor, physically challenged, social outcasts.
Empower us to hear and take into account the voices of the marginalized.
Empower all voters to turn out so that election results will be more truly democratic.
Holy Spirit, you enliven us as Christians to be salt and light in this world.
Increase in us conversation, vigilance and prayer about this election.
Increase in us wisdom and discernment as we elect a federal/provincial government. Amen.
- This prayer was written by Carol Penner of Vineland, Ontario.
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Prayer for after the election
We pray each day that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Today we pray for the new federal/provincial government
that it will help us live in peace with each other.
Give our politicians keen hearing to hear the cries of the poor.
Give our politicians keen vision to see the long-term effect of policies.
Give our politicians plain speech to speak the truth.
Give our politicians hands that are quick to right injustice.
We ask all this in Jesus' name, Amen.
- This prayer was written by Carol Penner of Vineland, Ontario
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8. Prayers for advent
Advent prayer for Iraq
Dear God: The newspaper brings nothing new
only an old, old story of war in Iraq—
more bombing, more shootings, more bloodshed.
One more family wailing a funeral song.
Against the backdrop of images from CBC and ABC and CNN,
we hear the old, old story of an angel with good news
who brought good tidings of great joy for all people.
Angel of Bethlehem, we long to hear your song again this night.
We want good tidings for Iraq, a country in crisis.
We want good tidings for Iraqis, who long to govern themselves.
We want good tidings for soldiers, caught in webs of violence.
We want good tidings for terrorists, so that they might drop their weapons.
We want good tidings for all who grieve, because they see no end to grieving.
We want good tidings for the United States, so they can end the war.
We want good tidings for the United Nations, so they can work for lasting peace.
We want good tidings for ordinary Iraqis, so they can live ordinary lives free from fear.
We want good tidings for Iraqi children, so they can inherit a country where peace has blossomed.
Jesus, our Saviour, born in the Middle East,
you escaped Herod's best-laid plans.
May your Spirit of peace be born again this year in Iraq
in the hearts of all who work for peace. Amen.
- This prayer was written by Carol Penner of Vineland, Ontario
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Advent prayer for HIV/AIDS
Dear God, you proclaimed your presence to Mary and Joseph
and walked with them to Bethlehem.
This advent, we listen for your voice;
we ask you to walk with us in our HIV/AIDS filled world.
We pray expecting your presence among us!
Be with all who live with the effects of this disease.
Be with those who wait to die because they have no access to medication.
Be with children who received HIV as a legacy from their parents.
Be with orphans and families who have lost loved ones.
Be with countries who have millions of citizens with HIV/AIDS.
Be with all who are stigmatized and ignored because they have HIV/AIDS.
Be with politicians and corporate executives who control access to affordable medications.
Be with researchers and scientists who work to find a cure.
Be with healthcare workers and caregivers who comfort and encourage.
Be with all who have lost hope because of HIV/AIDS.
Lord, we hear the angel's song of peace!
Fill the hearts of people around the world with good will
so that together we can work for justice and healing
for all who suffer from HIV/AIDS. Amen.
- This prayer was written by Carol Penner of Vineland, Ontario
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Advent prayer for people living with violence
At this time of year as we sing “Silent night”
with its echoes of calm and heavenly peace,
we say a prayer for all who live in homes
where peace is absent.
We pray for children who live with fear
of beatings, both physical and verbal,
whose homes are not a place of safety.
We pray for seniors and other vulnerable people
whose caregivers do not care
as they are neglected or degraded.
We pray for all who are emotionally abused,
and who are not loved, honoured and cherished.
We pray for women who are physically abused
and who have had to flee their homes
or are afraid to flee their homes.
We pray for all who have been sexually violated,
and who are haunted by fear of violation.
May love's pure light this season empower us
to come to the aid of your hurting people.
We join together to sing Alleluia and thank you
for your grace that transforms our world.
In the name of the Holy Infant,
Christ our Saviour, Amen.
- This prayer was written by Carol Penner of Vineland, Ontario
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9. Blessing for parents
We pray today for a blessing on parents;
two parents in one home,
two parents in two homes,
single parents,
extended family caregivers,
foster parents,
and all who are in a parental role.
Give patience when love wears thin.
Giver tenderness even in the face of anger.
Give clarity in the face of difficult decisions.
Where financial resources are stretched and anxiety reigns—
bring relief.
Where there is estrangement and discord between parents—
bring your peace.
Where illness and disability pose special challenges—
bring renewed energy.
Dear Mother and Father of us all, inspire us with your love! Amen.
- This prayer was written by Carol Penner of Vineland, Ontario
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10. Prayer for those who are addicted
The Spirit of the Lord is upon us
to bring good news to the oppressed,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners.
Help us to bring good news into the lives of people
who are captive to addictions of every kind.
Good news for people who are addicted to alcohol or narcotics.
Good news for people who are addicted to gambling.
Good news for people who are addicted to tobacco or food.
Good news for people who are addicted to pornography.
Good news for people who are addicted to work.
Grant liberty to all who are bound by the chains of addiction.
Grant them insight into how their habit is hurting them and their families.
Give them the courage to take the first step to recovery.
Give them hope and strength to walk the long road to freedom.
We pray for release from cravings, and a new life free from desire.
Let them not be led into temptation.
We pray for addiction counselors and programs,
for family and friends who support and encourage.
Help us as a community to walk sensitively with people who have addictions.
We pray all this in the name of Jesus, who came to set us free,
Amen.
- This prayer was written by Carol Penner of Vineland, Ontario
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11. Prayer for playing
As children, as young people, and as adults
we thank you God for time to rest and play!
Help us to choose activities in our leisure time
that re-create us and diminish no one.
Tune into TV programs with us.
Listen to music with us.
Surf websites with us.
Play sports with us.
Party with us.
Watch movies with us.
Enjoy our hobbies with us.
Read magazines and books with us.
Be a guest in every chat-room we frequent
and a spectator of every game we play.
We invoke your presence as
Immanuel, God-with-us, this week as we play,
in Jesus' name, Amen.
- This prayer was written by Carol Penner of Vineland, Ontario
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12. Prayer for Farmers
Thank you God for farmers.
Help us to recognize the importance of those
who participate in your creative work
by growing and raising food.
We pray today in particular for farm families
who suffer from crises in the agricultural industry.
Help us to walk with those who must sell their products
for less than the cost of production.
Help us to walk with those who face uncertainty
because of disease and government restrictions.
Help us to walk with those who are burnt out
because they must work on and off the farm.
Help us walk with those who grapple with difficult business decisions
as they balance family dynamics.
Help us to walk with those who have lost
or fear the loss of their family farm.
Help us to walk with those who work from dawn to dusk
and into darkness and yet cannot make ends meet.
God, help us to create a society where there is justice for farmers.
Amen.
- This prayer was written by Carol Penner of Vineland, Ontario
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13. Prayer for survivors of abuse
Did I see you?
When I was hungry you broke bread with me.
When I was sick you sat by my bedside.
When I was in prison, you petitioned for my release.
When I was sexually assaulted, you listened to my pain.
When I was afraid to be alone, you stayed with me.
When I felt guilty and ashamed, you told me it was not my fault.
When I had to go to court, you went with me.
When I was filled with anger and hatred, you did not reject me.
When I was filled with sorrow and hopelessness, you held my hand.
When I kept my story secret for years, you understood why.
When I called on God for help, you came and helped me.
- This prayer was written by Carol Penner of Vineland, Ontario
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14. Prayer for male survivors of violence
God of Comfort:
We pray today for men and boys
whose lives have been scarred by abuse and violence.
We pray for boys bullied and molested
by people who should be their friends.
We pray for boys sexually abused and exploited
by people they trust who should protect them.
We pray for boys who cry their tears alone
with no one to comfort them.
We pray for men who have suffered physical assault
and have fear as a constant companion.
We pray for men who have been sexually assaulted
and who are not allowed by our society to name their victimization.
Jesus, teach our church to see your face
in all men who suffer from the effects of violence. Amen.
- This prayer was written by Carol Penner of Vineland, Ontario
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15. Prayer for children in need
We pray today for children in our communities who live
without either of their parents:
children whose parents have died,
children who have been abandoned,
children taken away from their parents because of abuse or neglect,
and children who have run away from home.
You care for these little ones God,
and not one of them is lost from your sight.
Guide, guard and protect these children
as they move in with relatives,
as they live with foster parents
as they are adopted into new families
or as they struggle on the street.
Comfort each one who feels unloved, unwanted and afraid.
Give wisdom to people who make decisions about children's lives.
Empower those who care for them to be loving and compassionate.
Instill in our government leaders a passion for protecting the most vulnerable.
Help us to reach out as individuals and as a congregation
to those who live without the protection and love of parents.
We also pray for parents and children who have been wrongly separated,
that you will end their agony and help them to be reunited.
We pray this in the name of Jesus, who loves the little ones, Amen.
- This prayer was written by Carol Penner of Vineland, Ontario
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16. Prayer for people who are homeless
Hear our prayer today for all women and men, boys and girls who are homeless this day.
For those sleeping under bridges, on park benches, in doorways or bus stations.
For those who can only find shelter for the night but must wander in the daytime.
For families broken because they could not afford to pay the rent.
For those who have no relatives or friends who can take them in.
For those who have no place to keep possessions that remind them who they are.
For those who are afraid and hopeless.
For those who have been betrayed by our social safety net.
For all these people, we pray that you will provide shelter, security and hope.
We pray for those of us with warm houses and comfortable beds
that we not be lulled into complacency and forgetfulness.
Jesus, help us to see your face in the eyes of every homeless person we meet
so that we may be empowered through word and deed,
and through the political means we have,
to bring justice and peace to those who are homeless. Amen.
- This prayer was written by Carol Penner of Vineland, Ontario
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17. Prayer for Hope and Vision in a World Where Hope Seems Dim
Dear God, the world seems so dark and foreboding. Where are the signs of hope? What are you calling us to do? Wars, uprisings, displacements, hunger, poverty and disease continue to claim victims by the millions around the world each year. Our ears do not want to hear their stories and our eyes do not want to see their plight because the suffering and destruction is so massive and cruel. In our hearts and minds there is a desire to help somehow, but the crises seem so overwhelming that we shake our heads in dismay and we wonder what the point is for us even to attempt to be witnesses for healing and hope in this hellish morass. We beg with the song writer to open our eyes that we may see glimpses of truth you have for us. Help us to follow the path of Jesus, the Suffering Servant. Give us the courage to be willing to walk the path of depression and pain with the victims of injustice here at home as well as abroad. Help us to seek ways to light candles of hope – however small – through our words, our deeds and our prayers, to encourage our sisters and brothers to hold onto the faith in spite of the pain and suffering they are facing. And help those of us who are among the fortunate ones – who have enough bread to eat, good health, and who live in relative peace – to open our heart to learn from our sisters and brothers who are living lives of grace and forgiveness in the horrid circumstances which surround them O God, help us to light one candle rather than to curse the darkness. We pray this in the name of Jesus, who knows what being a light in this dark world is all about. Amen.
- by Larry Kehler
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18. Prayer for Peacemakers who Continue Their Witness Even When They are Older
Jesus,
We sometimes stereotype peacemaking –
giving the impression that only young adults,
and perhaps some middle-aged people,
are the ones who are the real prophetic witnesses for peace.
And we are very deeply grateful for these younger people
who speak and act for peace and justice with such courage and insight,
but we also want to give our thanks for older folks
who are strongly committed to the Christian way of nonviolence and love,
and who demonstrate it in so many ways –
through their involvement in Christian Peacemaker Team delegations,
through their encouragement of actions for peace by the young and the old,
through their testimonies in our churches and schools,
through the writing of letters to political leaders and newspapers,
through their occasional interviews with the media,
and in numerous other ways.
Jesus, through your Spirit, lead more elderly sisters and brothers
to step forward to speak and act for peace.
Help them to see that they can make a difference.
In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
- The above prayer was inspired by persons such as Siegfried Bartel in BC, who will be turning 90 shortly, and David Schroeder in Winnipeg, who just turned 80, who are continuing to be powerful witnesses for peace through their public presentations, interviews, writings and in other ways.
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