International Day of Prayer for Peace

from the World Council of Churches
Each year on September 21st the World Council of Churches calls churches and parishes to observe the International Day of Prayer for Peace. September 21st is also the United Nations-sponsored International Day of Peace.

As it approaches, the World Council of Churches invites people to offer prayers for peace. This year we would like to invite you to pray for the upcoming World Council of Churches 10th Assembly. The theme of the assembly is a prayer for peace:

“God of Life, Lead Us to Justice and Peace”.

Churches from all over the world will gather in Busan, South Korea, October 30 to 8 November 8, 2013, for the event.

We would like to ask you to pray the theme – pray it for the world, pray it for the church, pray it for the churches attending the WCC assembly, pray it with the assembly.

God…
God of Life…

God of Life, Lead…
God of Life, Lead Us…

God of Life, Lead Us to Justice…
God of Life, Lead Us to Justice and Peace.

Each word and phrase of the assembly theme are a kind of prayer. The nine words together are a statement of faith, a cry of hope, an affirmation of unity and a pledge to discipleship.

Some may meditate on the words; others may pray by finishing one of the sentences.

This peace prayer day please join us in prayer. Join the WCC 10th Assembly in prayer.

(From our BCP, adapted)  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 we may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.  Amen.