Gathering Prayer
Huddle into the peace of God.
Come and fill our hearts with your peace, you alone O Lord are holy. Come and fill our hearts with your peace Alleluia!
Peace on each one who comes in need, peace on each one who comes in joy. Peace on each one who offers prayers, peace on each one who offers song. Peace of the Maker, Peace of the Son, Peace of the spirit, the triune one. Amen
Reading: 1 Ukraine 13
If I talk in the rhetoric of politicians and commentators, but do not speak peace, I am a beating drum or an amplified guitar. And if I know what tomorrow will bring, and know the secrets of the universes, and if I trusted everyone, but do not seek peace, I am empty. If I sold everything I have and donated it to non-profits, and if I signed up to be an organ donor, but did not share peace with those around me, I have wasted my chance to matter.
Peace has no use-by date; peace is gentleness; peace does not want what it does not have; peace does not flex its muscles or play war games; peace does not push others out of the way. Peace does not lust after another’s country, or cling to ancient grudges; it does not pout or hold its breath and kick its feet on the floor; it never plays tricks on someone else, and refuses to raise false flags. Peace puts up with others’ foolishness, sees the best in other people, seeks common ground with everyone, persists to the very end.
Peace never gives up. The politicians will disappear into history, the talking heads will run out of words; the wisdom of all the experts will turn to dust. For we do not know how the story ends, and our best guesses are just that, guesses. But when God’s time finally comes, all the pieces of the puzzle will fit.
When I was a child, I practiced duck-and-cover, I watched movies about missiles coming out of the air, I had nightmares of nuclear winters; but when I grew up, I discovered the path of peace. Now, though the mirror is fogged by the steam of heated rhetoric, I can see the faces of my siblings in humanity. In this time, I struggle to understand, but the day will come when we realize we are in this thing called life together and can only live if we care for each other.
Yes, faith, hope, and love are bedrocks for our lives, but what we need to craft right now is peace.
© 2022 Thom M. ShumanPage Break
Confession
Caring God, Creator of all, we confess the times when we have looked away. We confess the times when we have walked by. We confess the times we have chosen wealth and power for us over freedom and dignity for all. Forgive us and turn our cold hearts into hearts that beat in solidarity and in compassion. Comfort those who suffer. Give us courage and wisdom to stand up against the bullies and doers of violence. Touch their hearts and move them to turn away from their wrongdoing. Amen.
A Prayer for World Peace
Lord Jesus, You came that the world might know the peace that you have experienced with the Father eternally. Yet, you taught us that in this life there will be wars and rumours of wars. Nations will rise against nations as violence works itself out in the world. However, through you, the world may be saved. O Lord, send your spirit into the hearts of all men, that the world might know true peace through your abundant mercy. Amen.
A Prayer for Faith in God’s Intervention
Father, even when things seem hopeless, we know that through you we are never without hope. We beg your intervention for a world on the brink of world war. Beat the swords into plowshares and cause the lion to lie down with the lamb. Intervene in this world that we might avoid the horrors of war and let peace rule in all lands. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Blessing
May the blessing of peace be on you, peace without and peace within.
May the blessed sunshine shine on you and warm your heart till it glows like a great peat fire.
So that the stranger may come and warm himself at it, and also a friend. Amen
Suggested listening
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oGuGzCFEWI
Oh God Our Help in Ages Past https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsHIwXTjAOU
When Trials Come https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa1moyMOzz4
Put A Little Love In Your Heart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ8K1sRibCY
