A Prayer for the United Nations at Christmas

Dear God,
In this time of birth we pray for life.
We pray for people, not for buildings.
We pray for faith in Jesus, not for faith in institutions.
We pray for miracles.
We move with hope.
In the midst of the Nations, we move with hope.
To Afghanistan and Iraq, we move with hope.
In the Balkans and past biological weapons, we move with hope.
Standing with child soldiers in Uganda, we move with hope.
Along the horn of Africa and war-torn Sudan, we move with hope.
In the house churches of China, we move with hope.
With all Indigenous Peoples, we move with hope.
Past the Atom Bomb, we move with hope.
In the chambers of the International Criminal Court, we move with hope.
Between the seats of the Security Council, we move with hope.
Over the ledgers of the World Bank, we move with hope.
In Palestine and in Israel, we move with hope.
Amidst militias in Colombia, we move with hope.
With the homeless of Haiti, we move with hope.
Through the cluster bombs dropped on Lebanon, we move with hope.
Between Ethiopia and Somalia, we move with hope.
On the convoys of the World Food Program, we move with hope.
Among refugee tents in Chad, we move with hope.
With those who have been raped in Congo, we move with hope.
Facing climate change, we move with hope.
Dismayed, overwhelmed, afraid, we move with hope.
We pray, Come Lord Jesus!
Come and fill our hearts with your peace
As we witness that grace still abides on this earth,
And proclaim the miracle
That even in this broken world,
Miracles are possible,
Expected,
Awaited,
And born out of deep hope.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.

— Joel Hanisek, Presbyterian United Nations Representative