By Linda Friern and Tony Bartlett, in The Fire of Peace © 1992, Pax Christi
Let us pray that we may be set free from the chains of violence and war.
Jesus the Christ, by your cross and resurrection…deliver us
by your nonviolence and love…deliver us
by your witness to truth…deliver us
by your passion and death…deliver us
by your victory over the grave…deliver us
from the desire for power…deliver us
from the conspiracy of silence…deliver us
from the negation of life…deliver us
from the worship of weapons…deliver us
from the celebration of killing…deliver us
from the slaughter of the innocent…deliver us
from the nightmare of hunger…deliver us
from the politics of terror…deliver us
from a false peace…deliver us
from relying on weapons…deliver us
from the spiral of armaments…deliver us
from plundering the earth’s resources…deliver us
from the despair of this age…deliver us
from global suicide…deliver us
By the light of the Gospel…give us your peace.
by the good news for the poor…give us your peace.
by your healing and wounds…give us your peace.
by faith in your word…give us your peace.
by a hunger and thirst for justice…give us your peace.
by the coming of your reign…give us your peace.
by the outpouring of the Spirit…give us your peace.
by reconciliation of enemies…give us your peace.
by gentleness and nonviolence…give us your peace.
by the truth that sets us free…give us your peace.
by prophecy and witness…give us your peace.
by persecution because of your name…give us your peace.
by the power of your love…give us your peace.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world… have mercy on us.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world… have mercy on us.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world… grant us your peace.
Almighty God, kindle, we beseech you, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquility your dominion may increase till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Like the apostles, we long to learn to pray as Jesus prayed: with faith, fire and fervency. Too often, however, we’re not sure how to begin, what to say, or even if our prayers will be heard and answered. This four-session discussion series will explore the four traditional forms of prayer: Praise, Petition, Intercession and Thanksgiving. We’ll learn that praying is a simple tool everyone has been given to enter into a conversation with God. We will discover the wealth of resources for prayer in the Book of Common Prayer and learn the basics for developing a rewarding prayer life with some down to earth tips from best-selling author and pastor Max Lucado.