Prayer For Those Dying In War Or Economic Chaos from the United Church of Christ

“Hear our prayer for all those
who will die today because of war and economic oppression, especially the
children.

Prepare them for the agony,
despair, and terror of the violence that is upon them. Comfort them and hold
them close to the bosom of your most Immaculate Heart as they drink deeply of
the bitter cup which is forced upon them. Wipe their tears, calm their fears,
welcome them to peace and safety. Eternal rest grant to them, and may perpetual
light shine upon them. May all rise in judgment against the wickedness that
brings this violence upon the world.

Overturn the thrones of
tyranny, scatter the unjust, cast down the bloody rulers who make the cry of
the widow and orphan rise to heaven. Give us your grace and strength to stand
against the demonic powers which prowl about the world seeking the ruin of
souls. Grant that peace with justice will come to all the world.
Amen.”

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• Found at ucc.org

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A Prayer For Peace From The United Church Of Christ

“O God, who would fold both
heaven and earth in a single peace:
Let the design of your great love lighten upon the waste of our wraths and sorrows:
and give peace to your Church, peace among nations,
peace in our dwellings, and peace in our hearts:
through your Son our Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.”

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• Found at ucc.org

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A Prayer for Justice

“God grant that violence be overcome by the power of love,
that opposition give way to reconciliation
and that the desire to oppress be transformed
into the desire for forgiveness, justice and peace…

May peace be in our hearts
so that they are open to the action of God’s grace…

May all members of the family community,
especially children, the elderly, the weakest,
feel the warmth of this feast,
and may it extend subsequently to all the days in the year.

Amen.”

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• Attributed to Pope Benedict XVI and found at: https://socialjusticeresourcecenter.org/prayers/justice/

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On This Day . . .

“Mend a quarrel
Search out a forgotten friend
Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust
Write a love letter
Share some treasures
Give a soft answer
Encourage youth

Manifest your loyalty in a word or deed
Keep a promise
Find the time
Forego a grudge
Forgive an enemy
Listen
Apologize if you were wrong

Try to understand
Flout envy
Examine your demands on others
Think first of someone else
Appreciate, be kind, be gentle
Laugh a little more.
Deserve confidence

Take up arms against malice
Decry complacency
Express your gratitude
Worship your God
Gladden the heart of a child
Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth

Speak your love
Speak it again
Speak it still again
Speak it still once again....
Amen.”

 ~Author Unknown

Push My Buttons Prayer

“Lord, it's likely that sometime today
someone will push my buttons
challenge my good will
misread my intentions
tick me off
try my patience
rattle my cage
judge me in haste
test my kindness
or do all of the above...

Give me the grace I'll need at such times
to respond with patience
to trust and accept
to listen carefully
to reach out in peace
to be fair and just
to anctipate goodness
in all my words and deeds...

I know this is a lot to ask, Lord,
but I need your help
to do for others
as I'd have them do for me...

Amen.”

- Rev. Austin Fleming

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• Found at Jesuit Resources

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A Blessing on Social Interactions

“O God,
you visit the humble
and comfort us with the love of our friends.
Graciously bless our fellowship,
that through those in whom you dwell,
we may feel that you fave come to visit us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O God,
you show us signs of your presence.
Pour on us the Spirit of love,
that with the presence of our friends and coworkers
we may be blessed by your bountiful grace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

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• Found in The New Ancient Collects: Based on Ancient Collects and Other Prayers Selected for Devotional Use from Various Rituals by William Bright, Completely Revised and Refreshed by Paul C. Stratman (2017).

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A Prayer In Time of War

“Almighty and merciful God,
give us rest from the storms of war.
You will give us all good things
when you give us peace of soul and body;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O God our Defender,
look on us and protect us from fear of the “enemy”.
Remove all disturbances
that we may serve you with minds free from distraction;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O Lord,
be gracious to us in our times.
In your goodness,
maintain both national quietness and Christian devotion;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty and eternal God,
crush the force of our enemies
so that we may celebrate your holy service
with undisturbed minds;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O Lord,
let the invincible defense of your power
be the fortress of your faithful people.
Free them from the assault of enemies
that they may be devoted to you with holy love
and always persevere in your grace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O God,
Maker of the universe,
the course of the world proceeds by your command.
Hear our prayers
and give us now the tranquility of peace
that we may continually rejoice in your mercy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

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• Found in The New Ancient Collects: Based on Ancient Collects and Other Prayers Selected for Devotional Use from Various Rituals by William Bright, Completely Revised and Refreshed by Paul C. Stratman (2017).

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A Prayer For Times of Conflict

“O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us,
in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront
one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work
together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. “
Amen.

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• Found at the Online Book of Common Prayer

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In Trouble and Turmoil, Be Our Peace

Lord of the nations,
God in whom we trust,
you alone are holy,
good, wise,
and the source of every blessing.

In trouble and turmoil,
be our peace.
In our hearts and minds
give us the peace that surpasses understanding.
In our mouths
put words of peace,
and make us peacemakers
that we may be called your children.

Let the truth of your Word
govern and guide us
when we are inclined
to be like Pontius Pilate
and say, “What is truth?”

When we are unsure of all things,
draw us to you,
our faithful God,
steadfast in love,
our rock, refuge and fortress.

Source: Paul C. Stratman, January 6, 2021.

Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save. Psalm 146:3

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• Found at A Collection of Prayers

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A Peace Prayer by John Wycliffe

“Lord, give me grace to hold righteousness in all things
that I may lead a clean and blessed life and prudently flee evil
and that I may understand the treacherous and deceitful falseness of the devil.

Make me mild, peaceable, courteous, and temperate.
And make me steadfast and strong.

Also, Lord, give Thou to me that I be quiet in words
and that I speak what is appropriate.”

- John Wycliffe

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• Found at Jesuit Resources

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A Prayer For God's Peace

“God, who is more than we can ever comprehend,
help us to seek you,
and you alone.
Help us to stand before all that we could do
and seek what you would do,
and do that.
Lift from us our need to achieve all that we can be
and instead,
surrender to what you can be in us.
Give us ways to refrain from the busyness
that will put us on edge and off center,
give us today your peace.”

(Author Unknown)

Prayer After Election Day 2020

Creator God,
Three in One.

Creator
Savior
Spirt.

We admit that we don’t know how to pray for a country that is but an afterthought.

We remember that Israel’s “physical” king wasn’t necessarily a blessing.

Yes, you gave them what they asked for. But they lacked imagination and only asked for what they could see.

As do we.

Please forgive our blandness. Please forgive our indifference.

Please forgive us for trusting in fleeting Empire. 

Please forgive us for fighting for our liberties rather than laying them down.

Please forgive us for protecting the rich instead of lifting the Lowly. 

Creating, Sustaining, Forgiving, and Liberating God, 

Please show our country grace. In spite of us and yet for us.

Even though we don’t deserve it. 

Please forgive our arrogance. Please forgive “Manifest Destiny.” Please forgive our slaughter of the Innocents for the sake of land, money, and power, both on our own soil and others.

Please forgive the spirit of Systemic Racism which has infected our power structures. Please remind us of our neighbor. 

Please fill us with Love. 

Please let your face shine rather than ours.

Pope John Paul II's Prayer for Peace

“Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace,
who are yourself our peace and reconciliation,
who so often said, "Peace to you," grant us peace.

Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice,
and brotherly love.
Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace.

Enlighten our rulers that they may
guarantee and defend the great gift of peace.
May all peoples on the earth
become as brothers and sisters.
May longed for peace blossom forth
and reign always over us all.”

- Pope John Paul II

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• Prayer found at Jesuit Resources

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Prayer for Justice and Peace (Author Unknown)

“Eternal Father, You created us in Your own image and likeness, but sin has warped the minds of men and throughout the world there is much injustice and much carelessness of the rights of other people and personal responsibility.

Lord when You are excluded from the hearts and consciences of men, the inevitable result is that people suffer and Lord, there is much injustice and corruption taking place in our world today, not only in the lives of individuals but also in the corridors of power and the council rooms of many nations.

We pray Lord that You will right all the wrongs that are taking place in our world and vindicate those that are being treated unjustly. Keep us Father from trying to take matters into our own hands for vengeance is your and You will repay - but Lord in your grace and mercy we pray that you would give justice and peace to all those that have been cruelly and unfairly treated by their fellow man and may injustice and carelessness that they have had to endure be the means to draw them into Your saving arms of grace - we ask this in the precious name of the Lord, Jesus.”

- Author Unknown

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• Found at Jesuit Resources

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MLK Untitled Prayer 04

“O God, the Creator and Presever of all mankind; In whom to dwell is to find peace and security; toward whom to turn is to find life and life eternal, we humbly beseech Thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldst be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, Thy saving health unto all nations. We also pray for Thy holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by thy Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the [land?] of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally we commend to thy Fatherly goodness all those who are in any way afflicted or distressed in mind or body. Give them patience under the suffering and power of endurance This we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.”

• Taken from a short collection in the King Papers simply called “Prayers” and available here.