Prayers for Peace ~ Council of Churches

Prayers for Peace in the Middle East

For Use Before the Annapolis Peace Conference

From the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative

For Peace in the Middle East

usicpme@aol.com

Sustain together in undiminished hope, O God of hope,

those who continue to labor with undiminished determination

to build peace in the land from which, of old,

out of brokenness, violence and destruction,

nevertheless hope emerged for so many of faith. . . .

Bless all the spiritual seed of Abraham together

with the light of your Presence.

For in the light of your Presence

we have found a way of justice and mercy

and a vision of Peace.

We praise you O God, Giver of Peace,

who commands us to Peace. Amen

Rabbi Herbert Bronstein, Emeritus

Northshore Congregation Israel, Glencoe, IL

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, Senior Pastor

Grace Lutheran Church, La Grange, IL

In the Name of God, The Everlasting Merciful, The Cherisher

Of the Worlds and Worthy of all Praise,

Our Lord: You have created us from a single (pair) of a male

And a female and made us into Nations and Tribes that we may

Know one another (not that we may despise each other) so

Help us to love each other and take the hatred and anger from our

Hearts so that People of The Book (Jews, Christians and Muslims)

In the Middle East may live in Peace and Justice. Amen

Dawud Ahmad Assad

Council of Mosques, USA, New York, NY

O God Source of Life, Creator of Peace. . .

Help Your children, anguished and confused,

To understand the futility of hatred and violence

And grant them the ability to stretch across

Political, religious and national boundaries

So they may confront horror and fear

By continuing together

In the search for justice, peace and truth. . . .

With every fiber of our being, we beg You, O God,

To help us not to fail nor falter. Amen

Rabbi H. Rolando Matalon

Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, New York, NY

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

Almighty God!

After almost a century of mistrust and fratricide,

you inspired Jews, Christians and Muslims

to take the path of reconciliation in the Middle East. . . .

We ask for your forgiveness, O God,

yet we find it hard to forgive our past enemies.

May Your Words touch those who still stray

in the wilderness of vengeful violence,

forgetting your command to "forgive and overlook,

till God accomplishs His Purpose;

for God hath power over all things." Amen

Abdelwahab Hechiche

University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

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