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Litany for Peace  

One: From words and deeds that provoke discord, prejudice and hatred,
All: O God, deliver us.

One: From suspicions and fears that stand in the way of reconciliation,
All: O God, deliver us.

One: From believing and speaking lies about other peoples or nations,
All: O God, deliver us.

One: From cruel indifference to the cries of the hungry and homeless,
All: O God, deliver us.

One: From all that prevents us from fulfilling your promise of peace,
All: O God, deliver us.

One: Deliver us from our brokenness, we pray, O God,
All: and by your grace and healing presence deliver us to You …

One: To still waters and green pastures,
All: O Creating God, deliver us.

One: To the freedom and forgiveness we find in you,
All: O Risen Christ, deliver us.

One: To the tough task of loving our enemies,
All: O Jesus, deliver us.

One: To joyful service in your name,
All: O Servant of All, deliver us.

One: To the promise of a new heaven and a new earth,
To the wholeness of justice,
To the power of your peace,
All: O Holy Spirit, deliver us now and in the days to come.

Closing Prayer

Charge our lives and our churches with the power of
your peace, O God. Overcome our fears and self-deceptions with the
promise of your presence. Make us signs of your generosity and justice.
Light us each day with hope, we pray, so that we may walk in your
truth and be love in your Name. Amen.

Note: “The Power and Promise of Peace” is the Decade to Overcome Violence theme for 2004. www.overcomingviolence.org Chosen by Christians in the United States, it conveys the responsibilities we have as witnesses to the power of Christ’s peace and as citizens of a powerful nation.

The International Day of Peace (now on September 21) was established in 1981 by the United Nations and was observed for the first time in 2004 by members of the World Council of Churches through a World Day of Prayer.