A Selection of Prayers for Peace from the Jewish, Christian and Islamic Traditions
-- Collected from the National Council of Churches Web Site --
http://www.ncccusa.org/iraq/peaceprayers.html

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 faith….

Bless all the spiritual seed of Abraham together
with the light of your Presence.
From 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 Herbet Bronstein
Northshore Congregation Israel, Glencoe, IL

God Our Creator, who made the earth a peaceful garden,
help us restore that peace wherever it has been broken
by terrorism and injustice, especially in the Middle East.
We repent for the times when religious language
Hhs fostered hatred and division….

Bring healing to those whose lives have been shattered by violence.
Instill a renewed spirit of reconciliation in those
who lead our people politically and religiously. Amen

--Reverend John T. Pawlikowski, OSM
Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL

Lord God…
Bless all your children in the Middle East
with the gift of peace.
Reach out and embrace Muslims, Jews and Christians.
Dry their tears with your gentle hands.
Surround their trembling bodies with your loving arms.
Replace their fears with the hope and vision
of peaceful times to come. Amen

--The Reverend Said Ailabouni
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Chicago, IL

In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful,
Praise be to God, the Cherisher and sustainer of the Worlds,
The Mercy-giving, the Merciful….
O Lord, Lead us from hate to love and from violence to peace,
from fear to trust and from despair to hope. Enable us
to eliminate poverty, prejudice and oppression
so that peace may prevail with righteousness and justice. Amen

--Dawud Ahmad Assad
Council of Mosques, USA, New York, NY

O God….
Forgive our complacency.
Stamp out the prejudices that lead to hatred.
Fill us with the reconciling spirit of you presence.
So may we join people of good will-
in the Middle East and throughout the world-
who raise before Jerusalem's gates
their insistent shalom:
"Peace be within your walls….
Peace be within you," Amen.

--The Reverends Harry and Judith Hoehler
First Parish (Unitarian-Universalist), Weston, MA

In the name of God,
Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Accept our prayer to sustain us
and our brothers and sisters of different beliefs
in our desire for peace….
Help us to find this peace in our living together,
and in mutual sustenance with our neighbors. Amen

--Mian Ashraf
New England Islamic Center, Sharon, MA

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

This we know:
Fear can yield to faith, hope can reignite,
Rage can cease, hatred can be melted….
Merciful One, illumine the sight of your children
To see You in each other's eyes.
Merciful One, spread the canopy of your peace over us,
Over Israel, over Ishmael, over all who dwell on earth. Amen

--Rabbi Sheila Weinberg
Jewish community of Amherst, Amherst, MA

As crisis threatens, o caring God,
we acknowledge before you our fears;
we acknowledge before you our anxieties
we acknowledge before you our doubts.
Help us to recognize in the depths of our being
that we are not alone,
but that you are truly present in this painful hour.
We pray that you might ease our burdens
by the assurance of your companionship,
by the knowledge of your abiding love,
and by the hope we share in Jesus Christ,
in whose name we pray. Amen.

--United Church of Canada's Book of Services

The Lord is my shepherd,
I need nothing more.
You give me rest in green meadows,
setting me near calm waters,
where you revive my spirit.

You guide me along sure paths,
you are true to your name.
Though I should walk in death's dark balley,
I fear no evil with you by my side,
your shepherd's staff to comfort me.

You spread a table before me
as my foes look on.
You soothe my head with oil;
my cup is more than full.

Goodness and love will tend me
every day of my life.
I will dwell in the house of the Lord
as long as I shall live.

--Psalm 23

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted…
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy…
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

--Matthew 5