Isaiah 11:6-9, John 14:27, Romans 14:19, Philippians 4:4-9,
God of mercy and grace, you have set before us life and death, blessing and curse. We pray this day that through our search for peace we will choose life and blessing. We pray that nations will beat their swords into plowshares and that war will be no more. As your children you have called us to act in the spirit of gentleness and kindness toward all of our sisters and brothers. In so doing we announce to the world that we will strive to bring peace among our communities as well as in foreign lands. We know that such efforts cannot be accomplished by our labors alone. We need your Holy Spirit to energize us to discover that peace comes not only in the absence of war but also in the peace within our hearts and minds. May our legacy be one of new beginnings that place our feet on the journey of love and justice for all people. This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, peace; 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.