Weekly Peace Prayer
for December 31, 2024
prepared by Sister Carmel Little, CSJP
Constitutions:
Peace is God’s gift to us, given in Christ,
a gift we experience and enjoy now, though not in its completeness.
We believe that peace points beyond itself in hope to the fullness of time. #1
Christ is our peace, the source of our power.
United with him we engage in the struggle
against the reality of evil and continue the work
of establishing God’s reign of justice and peace. #2
Leader: We gather in the presence of our gracious God who calls us to peace. We gather as people who long for peace – who work for peace – who pray for peace. And we gather in unity with people around the world this day – praying for peace for our world. We gather to our prayer our world, especially those parts that are enduring war and violence.
Gather the World:
The New Year, is placed in our hands as the old year passes away. The days and weeks to come are God's gift; they carry God's blessing. As a blessing we welcome them. Our hope for the year ending is that all that was good in it remain with us and all that was harmful be left behind.
Pause and reflect on the blessing of this past year – 2024 - Share a blessing.
Quiet Reflection
Reading: Amazing Peace
In our joy, we think we hear a whisper.
At first it is too soft. Then only half heard.
We listen carefully as it gathers strength.
We hear a sweetness.
The word is Peace.
It is loud now.
Louder than the explosion of bombs.
We tremble at the sound.
We are thrilled by its presence.
It is what we have hungered for.
Not just the absence of war. But true Peace.
A harmony of spirit, and comfort of courtesies.
Security for our beloveds and their beloveds.
We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers,
Look heavenward 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.
Maya Angelou (excerpt)
Prayer: God of Peace you created your people to live an abundant life
and walk in the way of peace. We come to you in faith and in hope as we celebrate the beginning of this year 2024
We pray that all nations might choose to walk in peace
and put aside warfare and strife. We ask you to give new and powerful gifts of courage and leadership to those who speak and work for peace.
Help us
to speak on behalf of peace,
to work for peace,
to pray for peace,
and live in peace each with one another. Amen
Quiet Reflection
Reading:
I have a small grain of hope –
one small crystal that gleams…
I need more.
I break off a fragment
to send to you.
Please take
this grain of a grain of hope
so that mine won’t shrink.
Please share your fragment
so that yours will grow.
Denise Levertov
Prayer:
We will hear what God proclaims;
for God proclaims peace.
God proclaims peace to the people and to the faithful ones,
and to those who put their trust in God.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
Justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
Psalm 85
Quiet Reflection
Blessing
Leader: Bless us Gracious God,
All: And bless the time and seasons of this New Year.
Leader: Bless our memories that we may be grateful.
All: Bless us with joy in your presence.
Leader: Bless us with gratitude for life and the wonders of your creation.
All: Bless us with hope that all will be well.
Leader: Bless us with courage to meet the challenges of this year.
All: Bless us with an appreciation of beauty.
Leader: Bless us with openness for truth.
All: Bless us with a sense of humor in the ambiguities of life.
Leader: Bless us with the desire to work for justice.
All: Bless us with hearts longing to walk in the way of peace.
Leader: Bless us with love for You, for all people and all creation.
All: God of Peace, we thank you for the gift of this past year
And we look forward to the New Year 2024
Help us to live it faithfully, joyfully, and generously.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amena
