Prayers for Peace in the Middle East

From National Council of Churches USA.

God of mercy and compassion,
of grace and reconciliation,
pour your power upon all your children in the Middle East:
Jews, Muslims and Christians,
Palestinians and Israelis.
Let hatred be turned into love, fear to trust, despair to hope,
oppression to freedom, occupation to liberation,
that violent encounters may be replaced by loving embraces,
and peace and justice could be experienced by all. Amen.

- The Reverend Said Ailabouni
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Chicago, IL

Lord God, we turn to you in these trying hours when
conflict is a daily reality for our sisters and brothers
in Israel and Palestine. We promise you to work to our
utmost for peace and reconciliation in the region. But we
know we cannot do it alone. We very much need the strength
of your presence in our midst if we are to overcome the
obstacles before us. So our prayer at this moment is that
you add your support to our efforts, that you show yourself
as a tower of strength in those moments when the barriers
seem impassable. Together we can become beacons of hope
for just and peaceful societies in the land so very dear
to the peoples of your covenant. Amen.

- Reverend John T. Pawlikowski, OSM
Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL

Two peoples, one land,
Three faiths, one root,
One earth, one mother,
One sky, one beginning, one future, one destiny,
One broken heart,
One God.
We pray to You:
Grant us a vision of unity.
May we see the many in the one and the one in the many.
May you, Life of All the Worlds, Source of All Amazing Differences
Help us to see clearly.
Guide us gently and firmly toward each other,
Toward peace. Amen.

- Rabbi Sheila Weinberg
Jewish Community of Amherst, Amherst, MA

In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful:
Guide us on the straight way, the way of those whom thou has blessed.
Help us so that we do not transgress the bounds of what is right and lawful.
Take us out of deep darkness into light.
Make us not bear burdens which we have no strength to bear.
Help us bring about mutual affection and understanding between us.
Grant us Thy forgiveness and blessings, O Our Sustainer,
for with Thee is all journeys' end. Amen.

- Mian Ashraf
New England Islamic Center, Sharon, MA

Notes

Prayers distributed by:
National Council of Churches USA
475 Riverside Drive, 8th Floor
Phone: 212-870-3398/Fax 212-870-3112
E-Mail: redgar@ncccusa.org; Web: www.ncccusa.org
General Secretary: Bob Edgar

Produced by:
U.S. Interreligious Committee for Peace in the Middle East
16020 94th Avenue NW, Stanwood, WA 98292
Tel/Fax: (360) 652-4285; E-Mail: USICPME@aol.com
Executive Director, Ronald J. Young
August 2003

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