A LITANY FOR PEACE
Hymn Bring Peace to Earth Again
ELW 700
Leader:
O God of mercy, hear our prayer:
bring peace to earth again!
Where armies scourge the countryside,
and people flee in fear,
where sirens scream through flaming nights
and death is ever near:
All:
O God of mercy, hear our prayer:
bring peace to earth again!
Psalm 46:1-7
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Kyrie
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above and for our salvation,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For this holy hours, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
Help, save, comfort and defend us gracious Lord.
Amen.
Let us pray--
a brief silence
Gracious God, grant peace among the nations. War and conflicts abound in the world you have created and we are particularly mindful this day of the conflict and danger in Eastern Europe and Ukraine. Stir the hearts and minds and wills of all people and leaders in this situation that solutions may be found and war averted. Help us all to be people who seek peace and pursue it. We trust you O Lord, because of your love for us poured out in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus who is our peace.
Amen.
Matthew 5:7-9
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Hymn Bring Peace to Earth Again
Leader:
O God, whose heart compassion bears
every human pain,
redeem this violent, wounding world
till gentleness shall reign.
All:
O God of mercy, hear our prayer:
bring peace to earth again!
Liturgical Text and Music from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, © 2006 and 2020 Augsburg Fortress. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies License #SAS016761. All rights reserved.
Let Us Beat Swords into Plowshares, a sculpture by Evgeniy Vuchetich, 1957, on display in the United Nations Art Collection; accessed online on 02/23/2022 at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swords_to_ploughshares
Bring Peace to Earth Again, Text: Herman G. Stuempfle Jr., 1923-2007. Music Perry Nelson, b. 1955; Text and Music © 1996 World Library Publications. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved. All rights reserved.
