Collect, Litany and Prayers for Peace

A Collect for Peace

O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom: Defend us, thy humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in thy defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(From The Book of Common Prayer)

The Litany for Peace

For the men and women of our armed forces, that they may be protected as they carry out their responsibilities and that their loss of life may be small;

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the families of those men and women involved in this conflict, that they may have strength and courage during this difficult time;

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the people of the United States, that we may have pure motives and truly seek the good of others;

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the people of Iraq, who are caught between the evils of a cruel tyrant and the devastation of war, and particularly for that half of the population who are under the age of 16, that their loss of life may be small and that they may look forward to a better life;

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the President of the United States and others in authority in this country, that wise and just decisions may be made toward ending this war with as few casualties as possible;

Lord, hear our prayer.

For those who rule Iraq at the present time, that they may see the evil of their ways and the suffering of their people, and seek to end this war soon;

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the members of the United Nations, that they may be strengthened as a body to continue to work for the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and that the divisions that now exist among them may be healed for the good of our world;

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the peoples of Islam, whose faith in the One God never wavers, but whose religion has sometimes been taken over by those who do not express the true nature of Islam, that they may find a common voice to resist that evil in their midst and to become witnesses to the mercy and justice of God;

Lord, hear our prayer.

For Iraqi Christians, who share our faith in Jesus Christ and who have learned to live as a minority people, that they may be strengthened in their faith at this difficult time, and that we may remember them as brothers and sisters in Christ;

Lord, hear our prayer.

Finally, Loving God, we join in the words that St. Francis left for us:

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. AMEN.

(From Calvary Episcopal Church worship service, March 23, 2003; The Reverend Richard Humke)

Prayers

For those in the Armed Forces of our Country

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home

and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

For the President of the United States and all in Civil Authority

O Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world: We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that, being guided

by thy Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to the President of the United States, the Governor of this State (or Commonwealth), and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the

love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

In 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.

For Peace

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

For Peace Among the Nations

Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

For our Enemies

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth:

deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For our Country

Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove

ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(From The Book of Common Prayer)