Tag Archives: Peace

December 13, 2022 · 7:58 pm

A prayer for the Dakota 38+2 Memorial Ride

Great Spirit,

you see them,

you accompany them,

two-legged and four-legged

making their way

from Lower Brule, SD to Mankota, MN.

They ride to remember.

They ride to honor the 38 Dakota

who were hung in Mankato in 1862

and two other Dakota, who were hung in 1864.

They ride in a spirit

of peace, understanding, and forgiveness.

May the horses and the riders

and their families and supporters

know your presence

offering strength and grace,

community and perseverance,

particularly in the cold of winter.

May their effort

touch hears and minds and spirits

across this country

and lead to repentance and repair

on the part of the dominant culture.

May it be so.

Amen.

The executions resulted from the US-Dakota War of 1862. This source is the Minnesota Historical Society. A Go Fund Me page by the Dakota 38plus2 Wokiksuye Horse Ride 2022 provides information about the ride and the history behind it, including the conflict and the establishment of the ride. It offers an opportunity to support the ride and links to a vide about the ride.

Leave a comment

Filed under Antiracism, Capital Punishment, Current Events, Death Penalty, Human Rights

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 17, 2022 · 9:51 pm

A prayer for the children of Iran

We pray, God,

for the children of Iran

who demonstrate incredible courage

by joining protests against the government.

Watch over children who take a stand.

Protect children taken into custody.

Work healing in children who are injured.

Comfort family and friends

who grieve for children who have been killed.

Speed the day when justice which leads to peace

prevails in Iran—for the children and all the people.

We pray in the name of Jesus who welcomed children. Amen

Leave a comment

Filed under Current Events, Human Rights, Prayer

Tagged as , , ,

March 22, 2022 · 12:11 am

A prayer for the children

I sat to entertain myself, O God.

I smiled as the movie rolled,

and the story flowed.

Then the cannon balls began to fly

and the children began to cry

and cinematic illusion blurred with harsh reality.

I imagined shells falling on Mariupol,

drone attacks in Yemen,

bullets tearing flesh in Tigray

and always children cry.

“And how are the children?”

asks the Masai people.

God, you know.

In places the children are well.

In places the children are strong.

In places the children are safe.

But you also know, O God,

that in places,

too, too many places,

the children cry in terror,

cry in pain,

cry as loved ones suffer and die.

cry from hunger.

The children are not well.

in any conflict,

in every conflict,

the children suffer.

O God, in the name of Jesus,

who bade the children come to him,

I pray for the children of

Mariupol,

Yemen,

Tigray.

I pray for the children

caught up in every conflict and any conflict.

I pray for the children who cry.

Protect the children, O God.

Hear their cries.

Watch over them.

Guide the nations of the world

to end conflicts

and establish the justice

that leads to wholeness and peace

in which children may thrive.

Guide me to discern my part

to support such efforts.

I pray in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

1 Comment

Filed under Current Events, Human Rights, Prayer

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

February 23, 2022 · 11:51 pm

A prayer for peace

Again, God, we pray for peace.
Dona nobis pacem.
Still, God, we pray for peace.
Dona nobis pacem.
For the people of Ukraine, we pray.
Dona nobis pacem.
For the people of Russia, we pray.
Dona nobis pacem.
For the people of Europe, we pray.
Dona nobis pacem.
For the people of the world, we pray.
Dona nobis pacem.
For peace rooted in justice, we pray.
Dona nobis pacem.
Again, God, we pray for peace.
Dona nobis pacem.
Still, God, we pray for peace.
Dona nobis pacem.

23 February 2022

Leave a comment

Filed under Current Events, Prayer

Tagged as , , ,

December 26, 2021 · 11:18 am

A Spot of Tea or the Cup of Christ

Perhaps I should have felt disappointed.  Our tea with Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu was canceled.  I had looked forward to this visit.  We were to meet him and to share tea with him at his home on Bishop’s Court.  However, his schedule became very hectic during the days when we were in Cape Town.  Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the Archbishop had to change his hectic schedule.  I complain about how full my calendar gets – imagine what his looks like!  At any rate, the tea with our group from Cleveland was dropped from Archbishop Tutu’s schedule because he had to go to Johannesburg during that time.

This photo, by Benny Gool, is in the public domain, according to the Archbishop’s personal assistant.

On Thursday, November 2, we rose early.  We arrived at St. George’s Cathedral in Cape Town for the 8:00 am All Soul’s Day mass.  Archbishop Tutu was the celebrant.  Brightness and life beamed from him as he prayed his way through the mass.  When the time came to pass the peace, he came among us and wished the peace of Christ upon us.  The service continued.  The moment of the Eucharist arrived. We made our way forward. From the hands of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, we received the host.  From his eyes, loved shone on each person. From his face, welcome emanated, surrounding us each and all and embracing the world.  

As the service ended, Archbishop Tutu asked that we be introduced to the congregation of about thirty or so.  He greeted us warmly.  We presented him with a “Rainbow Children” stole.  In joy he put it on.  We could sense his excitement although he did manage to refrain from dancing!  It took an effort.  Then he asked if we were really from the United States – because no one was ready to take pictures.  The cameras came out and, with gracious exuberance, Archbishop Tutu posed with the group and with each of us individually.  Then he was gone.

Perhaps I should feel disappointed.  But I do not.  If you had a choice between sharing with Archbishop Desmond Tutu either a spot of tea or the cup of Christ – how would you choose?

For the life and faith and love of witness of Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu, thanks be to God.

Cape Town, South Africa
2 November 1995
revised
North East, Maryland
26 December 2021

Leave a comment

Filed under Antiracism, Current Events, Human Rights, Uncategorized, Worship

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

December 24, 2021 · 10:40 am

It comes this night

It comes this night.

Faintly, 
ever so faintly,
it comes.

Above the roar
of anger and hatred,
Above the howl 
of prejudice and bigotry,

Above the maelstrom
of systems and structures,
Above the crash 
of violence and war,

Above the groan
of doubt and despair,
Above the dis-ease
of heartache and heartbreak

Above the tumult
of turmoil and trouble
Above the clamor
of struggle and strife

Above it all,
despite it all
because of it all,
it comes.

Faintly,
ever so faintly,
it comes.

A baby’s cry,
proclaiming
life and
love and 
justice and
peace and
hope,
this night
and all nights.

It comes.
Thank God, it comes.

Leave a comment

Filed under Advent, Prayer, Worship

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

September 11, 2021 · 11:33 am

A prayer, September 11, 2021

Gracious God,
twenty years on
we remember.

We remember
your precious children killed in
New York
Washington, DC,
Shanksville.

We remember
your precious children killed in
Afghanistan
Iraq
and around the world.

We remember
death
wounded bodies
wounded spirits
wounded souls.

We remember
acts of terror
acts of valor
acts of violence
acts of peace.

We remember
fear
anger
hate
prejudice.

We remember
kindness
courage
grace
generosity.

We remember
people coming together to
reach out
weep
sing
embrace
care.

We remember
songs ended
songs gone
songs created
songs begun
songs lived
songs shared.

Remembering,
may we take bold, faith-filled, hopeful steps
to unlearn the ways of war and
turn to ways that might make peace between people;
to overcome fear of one another
and recognize the dignity and value of every person;
to seek understanding of suffering
and nurture the empathy needed to work to alleviate it; and
to walk the paths of love
that leads to peace and justice.

Remembering Jesus,
in response to your Holy Spirit,
we pray. Amen.

with thanks to Shannan Vance-Ocampo, Chris Shelton, leaders of the United Church of Christ and Come from Away

Leave a comment

Filed under Current Events, Family, Friends, New York, Prayer

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

August 14, 2021 · 9:46 pm

A prayer for peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula 2021

Join the National Council of Churches in Korea in praying for peace on August 15 and every day.

God of creation,

We love this land where the people of the North and the South have built our own history together. We love the Korean Peninsula where we share our laughter and tears. But this land is moaning from the wounds of division.

The borders of different ideologies have driven this land into war and violence. The depths of hate are deep within us, and the forces that promote division are blocking our steps toward peace. The interference of major powers around the Korean Peninsula continues, and the people of the North and the South bear the burdens of conflict.

God of healing,

Hear our cry!

We pray that wounds of division will be healed.

Help us to stop hating and accusing each other, and plant the seeds of peace and coexistence. Help us to overcome the conflicts of ideology by the love of Christ.

Defeat the forces of evil that block the path of peace.

Help us stop the military exercises in the name of security.

God of reconciliation,

Grant the churches of the North and the South the strength and courage to lead the way of reconciliation and peace. We pray that the churches of the North and the South will strive to break down the walls of division and promote reconciliation.

God of peace,

We pray that we become a church dedicated to the true liberation today on the 76th anniversary of liberation from the Japanese Empire. We confess that peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula is not an option, but a calling that we must achieve. Although the barbed wire of division has torn us apart, we remember that our spirits and hearts are connected in the Lord. 

Help us walk together on the pilgrimage of justice and peace as we walk together for the Kingdom of God.

In Jesus’s name, we pray.

Amen!

15 August 2021
National Council of Churches in Korea

Leave a comment

Filed under Current Events

Tagged as , , , , ,

February 17, 2021 · 4:31 pm

So, dusty

Friends –
we are dust.
But do you not know
have you not seen
what the Holy One
can do with dust?
All of creation
every blessed creature,
every amazing facet,
every wonderful human being
you and me and all of us,
made from dust by God.
Made from dust and beloved of God.
So Dusty, if I may call us each that.
Go Dusty,
go and live.
Go and love kindness.
Go and do justice.
Go and walk this Lenten journey humbly with God.
Know, Dusty, that
the love of God
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
and the peace and fellowship of the Holy Spirit
are with us now and forever.
Amen.
17 February 2021
inspired by a blessing from Jan Richardson

Leave a comment

Filed under Lent, Poem, Prayer

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

September 21, 2020 · 7:28 pm

21 September 2020

Stretching. Gym in the apartment. NK Body Philosophy.
Walking. Germantown.
(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding – Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Down By the Riverside – Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Peace Train – Cat Stevens
A Song of Peace – David LaMotte
Peace Will Come – Tom Paxton
What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
Peace Has Broken Out – Eric Bogle
The Great Peace March – Holly Near
Peace In The Valley – John Scofield
Peace March – Bruce Cockburn
Go Well and Peace Be with You (Hambani Kahle) – Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Peace – Sweet Honey In The Rock
Pipes of Peace – Paul McCartney
Peace And Power – Joanne Shenandoah
Paz Y Libertad – José-Luis Orozco
Peace Train & People Get Ready – Abraham Jam
Imagine – Avril Lavigne
The Times They Are A Changin’ – Keb’ Mo’

Leave a comment

Filed under Exercise, Human Rights, Louisville, Music, playlist, United Nations

Tagged as , , , , , ,