The Lord be with you
And also with you
Grace to you and peace
from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ
Amen
(Read responsively)
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Let us confess the ways we have failed to live in peace.
(A moment of silence)
Merciful God,
We have not loved you with our whole heart,
And we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
Where we have caused division, forgive us.
Where we have stayed silent, forgive us.
Make us instruments of your peace.
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
In Christ, we are forgiven
Thanks be to God
A reading from the prophet Isaiah.
And they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruninghooks:
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
A reading from the Gospel.
Blessed are the peacemakers:
for they shall be called the children of God.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Let us take a moment to share with one another
What these words stir in us,
A hope, or what is on our hearts
(Time of sharing)
Let us pray for the peace of the world.
For nations at war, and for all who suffer from violence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
For leaders, that they may seek justice and peace
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
For our communities, our neighbors, and our families
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
For the sick, the grieving, the lonely, and the forgotten
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
(Others may add their own prayers, each ending with)
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
(All together)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
(All together)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you
(Share a sign of peace with one another: a handshake, a hug, or a simple "Peace be with you.")
We now will end our time of gathering by lighting a candle with a prayer for peace.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called the children of God
(The candle is lit. A moment of silence.)
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Amen
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
Thanks be to God