For Use before the Annapolis Peace Conference
From the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative
For Peace in the Middle East
Holy Peace Maker, Grant peace in the Middle East.
Console us in our frustration in pursuing this peace;
Remind us of our common heritage that is centered in you and our brother Abraham;
Sustain us in our never ending desire to see peace to the Middle East.Keep our nations at the table to work for peace;
Keep our leaders open to your peace, a peace with justice;
Keep all of our hearts united in being witnesses for peace.Holy Peace Maker, bless those who gather in Annapolis, Maryland and
plant the seed of peace in their hearts and the seed of grace in their actions
so that justice, mercy, forgiveness and peace might reign in the Middle East. Amen.—Bishop John Schol
The United Methodist Church, Washington, DC Area
Baltimore-Washington Conference
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 of faith. . . .
Bless all the spiritual seed of Abraham together
with the light of your Presence.
For in 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 Herbert Bronstein, Emeritus
Northshore Congregation Israel, Glencoe, IL
God of mercy and compassion,
of grace and reconciliation,
pour your power upon all your children in the Middle East:
Jews, Muslims and Christians,
Palestinians and Israelis.
Let hatred be turned into love, fear to trust, despair to hope,
oppression to freedom, occupation to liberation,
that violent encounters may be replaced by loving embraces,
and peace and justice could be experienced by all. Amen.—The Reverend Said Ailabouni, Senior Pastor
Grace Lutheran Church, La Grange, IL
In the Name of God, The Everlasting Merciful, The Cherisher
Of the Worlds and Worthy of all Praise,
Our Lord: You have created us from a single (pair) of a male
And a female and made us into Nations and Tribes that we may
Know one another (not that we may despise each other) so
Help us to love each other and take the hatred and anger from our
Hearts so that People of The Book (Jews, Christians and Muslims)
In the Middle East may live in Peace and Justice. Amen—Dawud Ahmad Assad
Council of Mosques, USA, New York, NY
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
Lord God, we turn to you in these trying hours when
conflict is a daily reality for our sisters and brothers
in Israel and Palestine. We promise you to work to our
utmost for peace and reconciliation in the region. But we
know we cannot do it alone. We very much need the strength
of your presence in our midst if we are to overcome the
obstacles before us. So our prayer at this moment is that
you add your support to our efforts, that you show yourself
as a tower of strength in those moments when the barriers
seem impassable. Together we can become beacons of hope
for just and peaceful societies in the land so very dear
to the peoples of your covenant. Amen.—Reverend John T. Pawlikowski, OSM
Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL
Almighty God!
After almost a century of mistrust and fratricide,
you inspired Jews, Christians and Muslims
to take the path of reconciliation in the Middle East. . . .
We ask for your forgiveness, O God,
yet we find it hard to forgive our past enemies.
May Your Words touch those who still stray
in the wilderness of vengeful violence,
forgetting your command to "forgive and overlook,
till God accomplishs His Purpose;
for God hath power over all things." Amen—Abdelwahab Hechiche
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
(For more information and/or to become involved in the Interreligious Intiative for Peace contact: usicpme@aol.com)