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Time of Conflict, Crisis, Disaster
We pray to you, almighty God, in this time of crisis. You are our
refuge and our strength, a very present help in time of trouble.
Do not let us fail in the face of these events. Uphold us with
your love, and give us the strength we need. Help us in our
confusion, and guide our actions. Heal the hurt, console the
bereaved and afflicted, protect the innocent and helpless, and
deliver any who are still in peril; for the sake of your great
mercy in Jesus Christ our Lord.
("Occasional Services,"
Augsburg Fortress, 1982, p. 293)
Peace Among the
Nations
Almighty God, heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world
into ways of justice and truth, and establish among them that
peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become
the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
(Lutheran Book of Worship, p. 42)
Our Enemies
O God, the Lord of all, your Son commanded us to love our enemies
and to pray for them. Lead us from prejudice to truth;
deliver us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and enable us to
stand before you, reconciled through your Son, Jesus Christ our
Lord.
(Lutheran Book of Worship, p.
44)
For Faith to Overcome Trials
O Father and God of all comfort, through your word and Holy
Spirit grant us a firm, glad and grateful faith. By it may
we easily overcome this and every other trial, and at length
realize that what your dear Son Jesus Christ himself says is true:
"But take courage; I have conquered the world" (John 16:33).
Amen.
(Martin Luther)
Prayer of Bishop Stamm
In this moment of united prayer, we ask Thee, our Heavenly Father,
to make us all aware of Thy abiding presence. Help us to know that
Thou art not far from any one of us. Give strength to the weak;
wisdom to the perplexed; comfort to the lonely; help to the needy;
healing to the sick and grace to the dying. Thou hast been our
help in ages past; Thou art our hope for years to come. In this
confidence we commit ourselves to Thee anew through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
(by Bishop Johm S. Stamm, from
"A Minute of Prayer," Blue Ribbon Books: Garden City, NY, 1943)
Prayer of Dr. William H.
Anderson
Almighty God, humbly we pray that Thou will give wisdom and
guidance to the leaders of this nation during these trying days.
May the bitter experience through which we are passing bring us
all to a fuller acknowledgment of Christ as Lord and Savior.
Remember in pity those who are destitute and suffering in war-torn
countries both friend and foe.
Grant that soon again the world may live in peace. In His name we
pray.
(Ibid.)
O God, your compassion is for all and your love is over all.
Help those who are fleeing from the bombing and bloodshed -- help
them find refuge, give them food, give them comfort. Move us to
compassion so that we are partners with you to provide that food
and shelter. O God, our Great Protector, as clouds of war
and destruction cling to the lands of the Middle East, watch over
our military personnel in the midst of the bombs and the bloodshed
and the bitterness. Be with the families who have loved ones
serving on our behalf, give them comfort knowing that you are with
them.
(Submitted by N.L. Striegel)
O LORD, the Protector of all who put their trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and
multiply upon us your mercy;
that you being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things
temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal; through
Jesus Christ, your Son, our LORD. Amen
(Parish School Hymnal, ULCA
Board of Publication, 1926, p. 8. Submitted by H. Lee
Brumback II)
Loving Father,
creator of all people, who loves each person and each nation
without qualification: May we see the face of Jesus Christ in all
of your children, including those defined as enemies. May your
grace touch each of us with a full measure of love, and may our
lives and voices be a witness to your divine Presence. Amen.
(adapted from
http://www.cofchrist.org/prayerpeace
/ddpfiles/middle_east/
lebanon.asp)
O Lord, grant that we may be one in your love.
Send emissaries of your peace to this troubled world. Help us
recognize and repent of the terror we invoke, even as we ask for
your protection. Still the hands of those who seek to do violence,
support and protect those who seek understanding, grant us the
mercy of forgiveness. Help us to break down the walls of division,
to talk and argue and negotiate rather than fight, and to
recognize in one another your image. Reconcile all warring groups
to you, in one body through the cross, and put to death the
hostility which too often rules our hearts and actions. For you
are our peace, from now until the end of this age. Amen.
(Paul
Bellan-Boyer) |
ELCA
Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson's Prayer for Peace for Use on Easter
Gracious God, Father of our Resurrected
Lord Jesus Christ, Today we celebrate Christ's victory over death,
and your promise that because Jesus lives, we too have new and
eternal life with you. Yet, in the midst of our celebration, we lift
our hearts to you on behalf of this broken world, in which hatred,
violence and death continue to hold sway. We are especially mindful
of the growing violence in Iraq and in Israel and Palestine. By your
Holy Spirit, make us bold to live out our baptismal callings as
disciples of Jesus. Make us peacemakers and reconcilers. Give us
ears to hear the cries of our sisters and brothers at home and
around the world who live without security or other necessities of
life. Give wisdom and compassion to the leaders of this nation and
all nations that they may lead us in the ways of peace and justice.
Protect those who serve in the armed forces. Teach us to use our
might for the greater good of all humanity and of this fragile
planet.
The Prayer of Saint Francis of
Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
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 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.
Amen.
Time of Conflict, Crisis,
Disaster
Lord Jesus, you have overcome the world, and
all power and authority is yours. When evil seems to
triumph, give us courage and faith, and help us never to forget
that you are with us to the end of time. To you be glory now
and forever.
(Occasional Services, p. 294)
For Those in
Authority
Dear Lord and God, guide the hearts of our leaders to your praise
and glory, and to the welfare of the land. Enlighten all who
are in authority and move them to do what is right. Preserve
your people, your judgment, your righteousness, and all
administration of justice in this nation and throughout the world.
Then good order will prevail. May peace in the world not be
troubled by rebellion and treason. May proper discipline adn
respect not be disregarded or violated by unfaithfulness and other
evil. Amen
(Martin Luther)
O God of Every Nation
O God of every nation,
Of every trade and land,
Redeem your whole creation
With your almighty hand;
Where hate and fear divide us
And bitter threats are hurled,
In love and mercy guide us
And heal our strife-torn world.
(William W. Reid Jr.,
Lutheran Book of Worship, 416)
For Those in Our Country's Service in Time of War
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, let [your] protection be upon all
those who are in the service of our country; guard them from all
harm and danger of body and soul; sustain and comfort those at home,
especially in their hours of loneliness, anxiety and sorrow; prepare
the dying for death and the living for [your] service; give success
to our arms on land and sea and in the air; and grant unto us and
all nations a speedy, just and lasting peace, to the glory of [your]
Name and the coming of [your] kingdom; through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
(Service Book and Hymnal, p.
225)
General Intercession
Watch, dear Lord, with those who wake or watch or weep, and give
your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, rest
the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the
afflicted, shield the joyous. In your love, give us all this
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Lutheran Book of Worship, p. 50)
Come Now, O Prince of Peace
Come now, O Prince of peace, make us one body.
Come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile your people.
Come, Hope of unity, make us one body. Come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile
all nations.
(Evangelical Lutheran Worship,
#158 - Text: Geon-Yong Lee, b. 1947, tr. Marion Pope)
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