Prayer for Our Communities in a Time of Conflict

Peaceful God,
we are inundated with constant and distressing news of conflict and war.
Among the shouts of accusation
we are told that we must choose sides,
that the good side’s violence is justifiable and should be accepted,
even championed,
because the bad side is plainly wrong and evil.
Yet choosing sides like this means that too often
we no longer hear the cries of those on the other side of the conflict
who are hurt, imprisoned, and killed.
Help us only ever choose the side of peace.
When faced with arrest and violent crucifixion,
Jesus refused to yield to fear, hatred, or violence.
Jesus told Peter to put up his sword.
Jesus chose the side of peace.
We know from scripture
that the absence of conflict does not necessarily signify peace,
that true peace grows in the fertile soil
of justice, mercy, humility,
and the equal sharing of your free gifts.
You urge us to set aside our misguided attempt
to choose whose violence is better,
to place our trust in missiles to shield and secure us.
You invite us, God, to beat our swords into ploughshares,
to sow seeds of sharing, justice, and unconditional love.
God of love, may your true peace be planted anew in us.
May your love fall gently upon our communities
like morning dew on thirsting crops.
May your peace surround and bless our neighbours,
of all faiths and of no faith,
filling every one of us with compassion, patience, and understanding.
Help us all to remember that nothing in creation,
neither heights nor depths, nor powers, nor principalities,
can separate us from your indescribable love
and your desire for never-ending Peace.

This prayer and other worship resources are available on the Commitment for Life webpage.

Photo by Ana Gobledale: ‘Pity of War’, National Memorial to those affected by war, Chester Cathedral, UK