Prayers of Hope for Ukraine and Russia

Friday, February 25, 2022

Ukrainians, Kharkov's City Square

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Jesus, Teach Us

From Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community by Padraig Ó Tuama

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” Matthew 26:52

Jesus of the sheathed sword,
in your name, many swords have been used
and many people have perished. 
Speak to us, teach us, again and again, 
that violence begets violence. 
Teach us. 
Again and again.
Over and over. 
Because we keep forgetting, 
and we need to keep remembering. 
Over and over. 

Amen 

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Under Your Wings 

From Liturgies from Below: Praying with People at the end of the World  
by Cláudio Carvalhaes

O Lord, hide those who are harassed by violence under your wings;
shield them from rains of bullets and bombs in your refuge;
counter the fists and thrusts cast into their faces.
O Lord, may you be the fighter for those who cannot fight for themselves.

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Prayer

From Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer by Maya Angelou

Father Mother God,
thank You for Your presence
during the hard and mean days,
for then we have You to lean upon.

Thank You for Your presence
during the bright and sunny days,
for then we can share that which we have
with those who have less.

And thank You for Your presence
during the Holy Days,
for then we are able to celebrate
You and our families and our friends.

For those who have no voice,
we ask You to speak.

For those who feel unworthy,
we ask You to pour Your love out
in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain,
we ask You to bathe them
in the river of Your healing. 

For those who are lonely,
we ask You to keep them company.

For those who are depressed,
we ask You to shower upon them
the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You—
the borderless sea of substance,
we ask You to give to all the world
that which we need most—
Peace.

Amen.

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A Prayer In Times of Violence

From Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community by Padraig Ó Tuama

God of All Humanity—
in times of violence,
we see how inhuman we can be. 

We pray for those who,
today, are weighed down by grief.

We pray for those who,
yesterday, were weighed down by grief. 

And the day before, 
and all the days before
the day before.

We pray, too, for those who 
help us turn towards justice and peace. 

Turn us all towards justice and peace
because we need it. 

Amen. 

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Believe, Behave, and Belong 

From Liturgies from Below: Praying with People at the end of the World  
by Cláudio Carvalhaes

May the peace you experience here silence the sounds of conflict and weapons of warfare.

May the joy of knowing you are loved conquer hatred and mend broken relationships in the community.

May the love that surrounds you break down walls and barriers of political, social, and physical indifference.

May the Creator bless you richly with healing grace.

May you be a blessing to others, showing acts of kindness to your neighbor and all you encounter.

Believe, behave, and belong!

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Amazing Peace

From Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer by Maya Angelou

We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers,
Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.
Peace.

We look at our world and speak the word aloud.
Peace.

We look at each other, then into ourselves, and
we say without shyness or apology or hesitation:

Peace, My Brother.
Peace, My Sister.
Peace, My Soul.