Worship Resources for Peace 
from The Episcopal Church, USA

Praying in Time of War

In spite of the confusing judgments surrounding the impending outbreak of new hostilities in the Middle East, we are all united in our agony at the prospect of such violence. As people of faith, we will pray for light in this time of darkness, for good to come out of this evil. But first we need to acknowledge the agony.

An ancient pattern of response, given classic form in the Scriptures, was the Liturgy of Lament. There are many psalms of lament (Psalm 80 is a good example); and the entire Book of Lamentations is devoted to this form.

If or when such violence erupts, we will need to pray together; and one way to do this could be sharing our prayers of lamentation.

In preparation for this possibility, you are invited to compose one or more simple prayers of lament. Our various contributions can then be woven together into a communal Liturgy of Lamentation.

A prayer of lament might typically include one or more of the following elements:

• an imaginative account of the misery inflicted on innocent and guilty alike;
• confession of sin -- of the blindness, arrogance, and abuse of power that leads us to such conflict;
• sorrow for all that is lost in the destruction of war;
• appeal to God for help;
• remembrances of God's help in times past, when afflicted by war and destruction.