Prayers for Peace around the Peace Pole

A. Background on Peace Poles

A Peace Pole is a hand-crafted monument that displays the message and prayer May Peace Prevail on Earth on each of its four or six sides, usually in different languages. There are more than 200,000 Peace Poles in 180 countries all over the world dedicated as monuments to peace. They serve as constant reminders for us to visualize and pray for world peace.

When you plant a Peace Pole in your community, you are linking with people all over the world who have planted their Poles in the same spirit of peace. Every Peace Pole proclaims the prayer May Peace Prevail on Earth in the language of the country and often several other languages as well.

The more than 200,000 Peace Poles around the world are on all continents, in every country you can think of. They are in simple places, such as churches and gardens, and extraordinary ones, such as at the Pyramids of El Giza, Egypt or the Magnetic North Pole in Canada. They are promoting healing of conflict in places like Sarajevo and the Allenby Bridge between Israel and Jordan. The photos above and below are at the campus of the School of Metaphysics in Windyville, Missouri. 

Mayors in many parts of the world have planted Peace Poles to dedicate their cities and towns to world peace. Both political leaders, such as former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and religious leaders, such as Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama, have dedicated Peace Poles.

"May Peace Prevail on Earth!"

B. Prayers from the Book of Common Prayer, BCP

Prayer for Social Justice, BCP, p. 260

Almighty God, who created us in your own image. Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for Peace, BCP, p. 815

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 forever.  Amen.

Prayer In Times of Conflict, BCP, p. 840

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.

C. A Prayer for U.S. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan

Heavenly Father, we pray for the courageous men and women whose lives are at risk in the service of our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please give them your protection, Lord. Be a shield and a fortress to them, both physically and spiritually, so they can cope with all of the dangers that confront them.

We pray especially for the U.S. soldiers who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan for the freedom and protection of others. And we pray for their loved ones who mourn their loss and ask that you be with them and comfort them.

Finally, Lord, we pray that the war in Iraq end as soon as possible so that those still serving there may return to their homes and families. But let us always remember the lives that were lost in service to our country, not only in these wars, but in all past wars. We ask all this in the name of Your Son, Our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

(by Patricia Terry, Member, St. Cross Peace and Justice Group)

D. Prayers for Peace

Peace Prayer

May we be people of peace and goodwill.

May we always find time to celebrate with family friends and neighbours.

Where there is hatred, may we sow love.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is sadness, joy.

May we 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 in forgiving that we find true peace.

Lead Us Into Your Peace:

Lord we pray that you will lead us into your LOVE - You sent Jesus as a token of that love.

Lord we pray that you will lead us into your JUSTICE. You sent the Prophets and gave us The Law to show us your justice.

Lord we pray that you will lead us into your RECONCILIATION. You showed us how to forgive and reconcile.

Lord we pray that you will lead us into your PEACE. Your LOVE and JUSTICE and your way of RECONCILIATION.   Amen

(by Bishop William Davidson, Past Chair of EPF)

Open Our Eyes: Take all hate from our hearts, O God, and teach us how to take it from the hearts of others.  Open our eyes and show us what things make it easy for hatred to flourish and hard for us to conquer it.  Then help us to change these things.  (by Alan Paton)

O Lord Jesus Christ, whose perfect love met death by violence and was not extinguished; so enter the hearts and minds of those affected by violence that frailty may give way to your strength, loss to gain, bitterness to your total and victorious love.                                (by Susan Williams)

A Prayer of Intercession

O God, who called the peacemakers your children, we beseech you that as you did send Your Son with the heavenly voice of peace on earth to be the Prince of Peace to men, so you will keep our hearts and minds in his peace, and make us both to love and defend the same.  Guide the counsels of the President and of all leaders, in equity and steadfastness, to establish unity and concord among the nations, that all mankind may render you the fruits of peace and

righteousness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.                    

(Diocese of Canterbury)

Love is Stronger than Hate:

Oh God, we stand before you with so many fears and uncertainties--imagined and real.  Come into us and all people who truly seek your way.  Bring into creation the chaos that is war and use us as your sons and daughters to show and live the way of peace and love.  For we take our stand on your promise that love is stronger than hate, kindness greater than revenge.  Turn our hearts, ever convert us to this truth and make us more whole as your Body in the world.  Through your child, Jesus, who overcame violence and death with love and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit now and for eternity.        AMEN

(by Rev. T. Scott Allen, EPF Board)

Gift of Shalom/Salaam:

Gracious God, after the Resurrection Jesus bestowed upon the disciples the gift of Peace by proclaiming "My Peace I leave with you, my Peace I give to you."  Inspire us with that hope in the gift of shalom and salaam, the gift of wholeness and the promise of your presence.

Give us wisdom to seek nonviolence as an answer to the violence of our lives and world.  Give us courage to seek wholeness in a fractured and divided world, to find reconciliation rather than revenge, to interfere with the madness of militarism and war.

May your presence fill us and others with the thirst for unity, wholeness, and a desire to see all people valued as created in your image.  May we and others receive your shalom and salaam, that we might be instruments of your love. 

Blessed be your name forever.  Amen.

(by Rev. David Selzer, Chair of EPF)

World Peace Prayer:

Lead us from death to life

Lead us from falsehood to truth

Lead us from despair to hope

Lead us from fear to trust

Lead us from hate to love

Lead us from war to peace

Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our Universe.

Two Prayers for Peace:

l.) Eternal God, the Creator of all, we commit to you the needs of the

whole world:  where there is hatred, give love; where there is injury,

pardon; where there is distrust, faith; where there is darkness, light.  We

pray for those who out of the bitter memories of strife and loss are seeking a more excellent way for the nations of the world, whereby justice and order may be maintained and the differences of people be resolved in equity.  Bestow your blessings, we pray You, upon all who labor for peace and righteousness among the peoples, that the day may be hastened when war shall be no more and  Your will only shall govern the nations upon earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

2.) Almighty God, Creator of all people upon the earth, most heartily

we pray that you will deliver your children from the cruelties of war and

lead all the nations into the way of peace.  Teach us to put away all

bitterness and misunderstanding, both in Church and State; that we, with all the people may draw together as one community of peoples and

dwell evermore in the fellowship of that Prince of Peace, who lives and

reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and ever.  Amen.

Prudence, Wisdom, and Humaneness:

Grant us prudence in proportion to our power, wisdom in proportion to our science, humaneness in proportion to our wealth and might. And bless all races and peoples who travel in friendship along the road to justice, liberty and lasting peace.

(Conference of European Churches, Gloria Deo Worship Book 1986)

CHRISTIAN PRAYER OF HOPE

Beloved God, we give you thanks for the life and message of Jesus, Jesus the Rebel, who remains our guide and inspiration and the promise of Hope in our time. For Jesus calls us to love in a time of indifference, to nonviolence in a time of injustice, and to life in a time of death.  He teaches us not only how to live, but how to die; how to transform not only the world but our own broken hearts, as well.  His revolution transcends all our dreams for a better world and declares your reign here and now, at this very moment in human history.  

 In Jesus, we meet you, our beloved God.  We see your true face.  From now on we know that you are not a god of despair but of hope, not a god of wrath but of mercy; not a god of condemnation but of compassion; not a god of imperial power but of suffering; not a god of domination but of loving service; not a god of oppression but of liberation; not a god who blesses injustice but the God of justice; not a god of war but of peace; not a god of violence but of nonviolence; not a god of death but of Life.  From now on we know that we all have been created to share in the fullness of life, in your love and unending mercy.

 We step forward into the future, supporting each other, building community, making peace, practicing nonviolence, resisting the forces of war, and reconciling with our enemies, come what may.  We have met Jesus the Rebel.  He is alive and goes before us, summoning us to carry on the mission of nonviolence.  We have been changed forever.  Beloved God, you have begun the revolution within us.  Our hearts burn with the fire of Hope.  Amen.

"Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be called children of God." (Matt. Ch5v9.)