Prayer Vigil for
Peace
Opening
Song:
Leader: As members of one human family created by a loving God, we have come together today to pray for peace in our
world. We live in the midst of a world that
is marked by fear, hatred, and violence, but as the spiritual writer Henri Nouwen once wrote:
“The spiritual life keeps us aware that our true house is not the house
of fear, in which the powers of hatred and violence rule, but the house of
love, where God resides. Hardly a day
passes in our lives without our experience of inner or outer fears, anxieties,
apprehensions and preoccupations. These
dark powers have pervaded every part of our world to such a degree that we can
never fully escape them. Still it is
possible not to belong to these powers, not to build our dwelling place among
them, but to choose the house of love as our home.” (Behold the Beauty of the Lord: Praying With Icons by
Henri Nouwen, p. 19)
Let us listen to how the
words of Scripture call us to choose the house of love as our home.
Voice 1: “The
Voice 2: “The harvest of justice is sown in peace for
those who cultivate peace.” (James 3:18)
Sing: Peace is flowing like a river…
Voice 3: “You have heard the commandment, ‘You shall
love your countryman but hate your enemy.’ My command to you is: love your enemies, pray for your
persecutors.” (Matt. 5:43-44)
Voice 4:
“Never repay injury with injury. See that your
conduct is honorable in the eyes of all.
If possible, live peaceably with everyone.” (Romans 12:17-18)
Sing: Love is flowing like a river…
Voice 5: “Be Compassionate, as your Father is
compassionate. Do not judge,
and you will not be judged. Do not
condemn, and you will not be condemned. Pardon, and you shall be pardoned. Give, and it shall
be given to you. Good measure pressed
down, shaken together, running over, will they pour into the fold of your
garment. For the measure you measure
with will be measured back to you.”
(Luke 6:36-38)
Voice 6: “Blessed are the peacemakers; they shall be called
children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
Sing: Healing’s flowing
like a river…
Reflection:
Dialogue: Share responses to the following questions:
Leader: In the Book of Genesis, we read that God looked at all of creation and declared it to be
good. The world that God intended for us
is a world where each person is given the dignity befitting one made in the
image and likeness of God, and all of creation is
looked upon with love. Let us reflect on
what this world would be like as we listen to the words of “The New Genesis” by
Robert Muller.
Reader: Please respond by saying “It is good,” each time you hear “And God said.” (
Leader: Let us ask the God of Peace to help us make this New
Genesis a reality by granting us our heartfelt petitions.
Reader of Intercessions: Please
respond, God of Peace, hear our prayer.
Leader: Let us pray together.
All: Loving Creator, grant us the peace that we need in
our hearts in order to spread your peace in our world. Help us to be witnesses of truth, justice,
and love. Enlighten our government
leaders that they may wage peace and not war.
May the peace we so long for become a reality for all peoples. We ask this through your son, Jesus Christ,
the Prince of Peace. Amen.
Closing Song:
Prepared by the
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Acknowledgment: “The New Genesis” by Robert Muller (adapted)
from The
Way of Peace, Pax Christi