PRAYERS FOR PEACE

An Interfaith Service of Prayer
Sponsored by the Greater Lowell Interfaith Leadership Alliance
Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 7 p.m.
St. Joseph the Worker Shrine

Gathering in Silence     
      The sound of a rainstick and windchimes signal the start of the service.

Lighting of a Peace Candle
    We light this candle for peace, for we need light to dispel the darkness and fear that has
    overtaken our world. At the end of tonight's service, candles will be lit and taken back to each
    house of worship which is hosting a prayer service tomorrow.

    Let this candle burn, as a sign for peace, offered to the One each of us calls Holy.

Calls to Prayer
       Christian, Jewish, and  Baha'i          

Introduction and Welcome

Hymn 

                                                                      This Is My Song            Tune: Finlandia

This is my song, O God of all the nations,
a song of peace for lands afar and mine.

This is my home, the country where my heart is;
here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine;
But other hearts in other lands are beating
with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,
and sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine;
But other lands have sunlight, too, and clover,
and skies are everywhere as blue as mine.

O hear my song, O God of all the nations,
a song of peace for their land and for mine.

Readings from Holy Scripture 

from the Hebrew Bible, Micah 4:1-5

In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that God may teach us God's ways and that we may walk in Godıs paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. God shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. For all the peoples walk, each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.

from the Holy Quran, Sura 42:40-43

The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah: for (Allah) loveth not those who do wrong. But indeed if any do help and defend themselves after a wrong (done) to them, against such there is no cause of blame. The blame is only against those who oppress men and wrong-doing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice: for such there will be a penalty grievous. But indeed if any show patience and forgive, that would truly be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs.

Sung Response World Peace Prayer Gather, No. 732

Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth,
from despair to hope, from fear to trust.

Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace;
Let peace fill our hearts, let peace fill our world,
Let peace fill the universe.

A Story     "The Secret Grove"  by Barbara Cohen

Sung Response World Peace Prayer

Readings from Holy Scripture

from the Christian New Testament Luke 6:37-38

[Jesus continued to teach, saying] "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back."

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Sung Response World Peace Prayer

Litany of Peace

One      God, so many people are in pain.

All       Teach us the way to peace.

One     When people around us donıt agree and think differently,

All       Teach us to listen and try to understand.

One     When we see people getting hurt,

All       Teach us to speak up.

One    When we see people treated poorly because of their skin color, or language,
             or religious belief,

All      Teach us to be an example of love and acceptance.

One    When we see war and conflict,

All      Teach us how to make a difference and seek peace.

One    When we see pain,

All      Teach us to bring healing.

One    When we feel confused and afraid,

All       Remind us to talk to our friends, our family and to you.

One   In our lives, our neighborhoods and the world,

All     Teach us to pray and teach us the way of peace.

Peace Prayers (All respond "AMEN" at the end of each prayer)

From The Reform Synagogues of Great Britain Prayer Book

Lord of all creation, we stand in awe before You, impelled by visions of the harmony of humankind.

We are children of many traditions shared wisdom and tragic misunderstandings, of proud hopes and humble successes.

Now it is time for us to meet, in memory and truth, in courage and trust, in love and promise.

In what we share, let us see the common prayer of humanity in that which we differ, let us wonder at our freedom, in our unity and our differences, let us know the uniqueness that is God.

May our courage match our convictions, and our integrity match our hope. May our faith in You, bring us closer to each other.    

AMEN.

Muslim Prayer for Peace

Allahumma ya mowlana antas-salaam, wa minkas-salaam, wa ilaika yarjaus-salaam, haiyyina rabbana bis-salaam, wa adkhilna daras-salaam, tabarakta rabbana wata'laita, ya zal jalali wal ikram.

O God! O our master! You are eternal life and everlasting peace by Your essence and attributes. The everlasting peace is from You and it returns to You. O our Sustainer! Grant us the life of true peace and usher us into the abode of peace. O Glorious and Bounteous One! You are blessed and sublime.

AMEN.

From The Book of Common Prayer   (Episcopal)

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 this fragile planet, that in tranquility your love for all of humankind may increase until the entire earth, including any enemy, is overwhelmed with the fullness of Your love.

In your Name, we offer ourselves as instruments of Your peace.

AMEN.

A Prayer of Confession --  Evangelical Lutheran Church of America

God of Peace, over the ages you have called us to live as peacemakers.

You have called us to be shalom people.

You have called us to live as children of God.

We confess that we have not always lived out this calling.

We not want to face the difficulties of being called your disciples.

We take the easy way out and avoid controversy.

We don't speak out when we know we should. For these things we ask your forgiveness.

Help us to put aside our hatred and cruelty toward one another.

Help us to see that the path of revenge is not the path you seek for us.

Gather us together, not as enemies, but as your children, working for a life of peace.

AMEN.

For military personnel and their families -- Kwasi Kena, General Commission on United Methodist Men

Dear God, many of the families of those who enlisted in our armed services in peace time never expected this nation to face a military threat, never imagined that as reserves their loved ones would be called to active duty, never suspected that war might be declared on their watch.

Many of the men and women who enlisted in our armed services in peace time have never faced real danger, have never been in life or death situations, have never been in a war.

No one is ever fully prepared for war, fully prepared to take another person's life, fully prepared to face an untimely death.

As unprepared as we all are for the unthinkable, we turn to you and entrust into your hands the lives and hearts of our loved ones.

While our loved ones live on the edge, remove from us in this country the luxury of escape into our numb routines.

Give us no rest until we express a sober vigilance that compels us to pray without ceasing for our leaders whose decisions today will impact the future of children and grandchildren for years to come.

 In hopes that the next generation will not have to pray a wartime prayer for their loved ones,

AMEN.

A Hindu Peace prayer --  M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence

I desire neither earthly kingdom, nor even freedom from birth and death.

I desire only the deliverance from grief of all those afflicted by misery.

Oh Lord, lead us from the unreal to the real; from darkness to light; from death to immortality.

May there be peace in celestial regions.

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 all beneficent beings bring peace to us. May your wisdom spread peace all through the world.

May all things be a source of peace to all and to me. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti (Peace, peace, peace).

AMEN.

A Prayer from the Young People of the World --  Brazil

O God of all, we pray to you.

We are young people, and we want to celebrate life! We cry out against all that kills life: hunger and violence, physical and verbal abuse, selfishness and injustice.

We want to announce fullness of life: respect for the contribution of everyone, young and old, education about life and the skills to make a difference, food and housing and equality for all, peace in our schools, our communities, our nations.

We want a world renewed. With the Lord of history, we want to make all things new.

AMEN.

Baha'i "Prayer for Mankind"  -- Abdu'l-Baha

O Thou kind Lord! Thou hast created all humanity from the same stock. Thou hast decreed that all shall belong to the same household.

In Thy Holy Presence they are all Thy servants, and all mankind are sheltered beneath Thy Tabernacle; all have gathered together at Thy Table of Bounty; all are illumined through the light of Thy Providence.

O God! Thou art kind to all, Thou hast provided for all, dost shelter all, conferrest life upon all. Thou hast endowed each and all with talents and faculties, and all are submerged in the Ocean of Thy Mercy.

O Thou kind Lord! Unite all. Let the religions agree and make the nations one, so that they may see each other as one family and the whole earth as one home. May they all live together in perfect harmony.

O God! Raise aloft the banner of the oneness of mankind.

O God! Establish the Most Great Peace.  Cement Thou, O God, the hearts together.

O Thou kind Father, God! Gladden our hearts through the fragrance of Thy love. Brighten our eyes through the Light of Thy Guidance. Delight our ears with the melody of Thy Word, and shelter us all in the Stronghold of Thy Providence.

Thou art the Mighty and Powerful. Thou art the Forgiving and Thou art the One Who overlooketh the shortcomings of all mankind.

AMEN.


Song Dona Nobis Pacem (Give us peace)

Invitation to Participate in the Peace Prayer Vigil
           (Representatives of each faith community come forward)

Lighting of the Peace Candles

All: We light these candles for peace. May their light scatter the darkness; may their flames be symbols of hope; may their burning be for those who see them signs of faith, joining with many other lights for peace.

May our lives be an expression of peacemaking; as we seek to be lights in a fearful world.

Unison Prayer Attributed to Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226)

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is discord, vision.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O divine master,

grant that that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Song Let There Be Peace on Earth

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.

With God our Creator, we're one family;

Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.

With evıry step I take, let this be my solemn vow:

To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

Benediction

Dismissal and Sending Forth

One: God has shown us what is good walk humbly with God. May God send us out into the world in peace, holding fast to that which is good, not returning evil for evil, supporting the faint-hearted, upholding the weak. May God help us to honor all people, and help us so to live.

All AMEN.