Words of Light and Hope from Helena Crockford LLM

Words of Light and Hope  22 nd September 2024  Helena Crockford LLM

This Sunday is Peace Sunday, the closest to the UN International Day of Peace (21st September). Peace Sunday is a chance for the church to pause and reflect on what it means to follow the Prince of Peace in our world today. These prayers and words offer us a chance to reflect and pray about the many kinds of conflict in our world.

Loving God, Thank you for this beautiful planet beneath us For the ozone above us And for the potential between us. Give us courage when the water is deep; Perseverance when the task is massive; Patience when the walls are high; And trust as the way becomes clear. Help us not to see enemies, but people. Not obstacles, but opportunities for engagement. Not problems, but cause for creativity. We hold in the light people affected by violence: Those bearing scars and those living with apprehension. We seek open-minded, transparent political discourse. We pray We hope We act….…for an end to war, beginning here. Amen.

Universal Prayer for Peace God, lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth; Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust; Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace.  Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe. Peace, Peace, Peace. Amen.

Revd. John Johansen-Berg, Fellowship of Reconciliation. ‘There are valid non-violent responses to injustice, oppression, and international disagreements. There is a growing search for a spirituality which will bring us nearer to God and to each other. There is a longing in many people for a world of peace, justice and freedom. There is a desire across the religious faiths to seek unity within the family of humanity. The wars of the past have not achieved the peace which many had hoped for. Now is a time for people across the world to say “No” to conflict, to violence, to war, to death and destruction, and a quiet but firm “Yes” to life and hope, to peace and love. Now is a time for healing a broken world through a common commitment to peace and justice. May God guide us on that journey of faith.’

Benediction Let us go into a world of need to speak a word of hope Into a world of hunger to respond with compassion Into a broken world to witness to Christ’s healing, and May the peace of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Fill our hearts and minds today and always.