Evening Prayer For the Peace of the World

Kyrie Confession

Lord Jesus, you wept over the sins of your city.
On our town: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you heal the wounds of sin and division, jealousy and bitterness.
On us: Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you bring pardon and peace to the sinner.
Grant us peace: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
 

The Collect

Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all, the true love of peace and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth that in tranquillity your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Liturgy of the Word 

Isaiah 57:15-19

15 For this is what the high and exalted One says –
    he who lives for ever, whose name is holy:
‘I live in a high and holy place,
    but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
    and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 I will not accuse them for ever,
    nor will I always be angry,
for then they would faint away because of me –
    the very people I have created.
17 I was enraged by their sinful greed;
    I punished them, and hid my face in anger,
    yet they kept on in their wilful ways.
18 I have seen their ways, but I will heal them;
    I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners,
19     creating praise on their lips.
Peace, peace, to those far and near,’
    says the Lord. ‘And I will heal them.’

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Micah 4:1-5

The mountain of the Lord
4 In the last days

the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
    as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
    and peoples will stream to it.

2 Many nations will come and say,

‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
    so that we may walk in his paths.’
The law will go out from Zion,
    the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
3 He will judge between many peoples
    and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide.
They will beat their swords into ploughshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
    nor will they train for war any more.

4 Everyone will sit under their own vine
    and under their own fig-tree,
and no one will make them afraid,
    for the Lord Almighty has spoken.
5 All the nations may walk
    in the name of their gods,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord
    our God for ever and ever.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 40:14-17

14 May all who want to take my life
    be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
    be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, ‘Aha! Aha!’
    be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
    ‘The Lord is great!’

17 But as for me, I am poor and needy;
    may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
    you are my God, do not delay.

Psalm 72

1 Endow the king with your justice, O God,
    the royal son with your righteousness.
2 May he judge your people in righteousness,
    your afflicted ones with justice.

3 May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
    the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4 May he defend the afflicted among the people
    and save the children of the needy;
    may he crush the oppressor.
5 May he endure as long as the sun,
    as long as the moon, through all generations.
6 May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
    like showers watering the earth.
7 In his days may the righteous flourish
    and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.

Psalm 85:8-13

8 I will listen to what God the Lord says;
    he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants –
    but let them not turn to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
    that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Love and faithfulness meet together;
    righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
    and righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,
    and our land will yield its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
    and prepares the way for his steps.

Philippians 4:6-9

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

1 Timothy 2:1-6

Instructions on worship
2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

James 3:13-18

Two kinds of wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 

15 Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Matthew 5:43-48

Love for enemies
43 ‘You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

John 15:9-17

9 ‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

12 My command is this: love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 

17 This is my command: love each other.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Intercession

The Priest prays the prayers on behalf of all present and the congregation responds with ‘hear our prayer’.

We pray for the leaders of the nations, that you will guide them in the ways of freedom, justice and truth.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray for those who bear arms on behalf of the nation, that they may have discipline and discernment, courage and compassion.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray for our enemies, and those who wish us harm, that you will turn the hearts of all to kindness and friendship.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray for the wounded and the captive, the grieving and the homeless, that in all their trials they may know your love and support.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

God of light and salvation, our refuge and our strength, We pray for the people of Israel and Palestine amid the escalating violence.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray for those killed and injured by rockets from Gaza in southern Israel. May your rod and staff comfort them. We pray for those who are grieving. May they know your ever-present help.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray for the protection of those who have been taken hostage by Hamas. As they walk through this dark valley, may they fear no evil.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray for the civilians of Gaza. May they know that their help comes from the Maker of heaven and earth.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

And we pray for those in leadership in Gaza and Israel. May you guide them along the right paths. We ask all this in union with Christ and trusting in the power of your Holy Spirit.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

O God of all justice and peace, we cry out to you in the midst of the pain and trauma of violence and fear which prevails in the Holy Land.  Be with those who need you in these days of suffering; we pray for people of all faiths – Jews, Muslims and Christians and for all people of the land. 
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

While we pray to you, O Lord, for an end to violence and the establishment of peace, we also call for you to bring justice and equity to the peoples.  Guide us into your kingdom where all people are treated with dignity and honour as your children – for to all of us you are our Heavenly Father. 
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Most holy God and Father, hear our prayers for all who strive for peace and all who fight for justice. Help us, who today remember the cost of war, to work for a better tomorrow; and, as we commend to you lives lost in terror and conflict, bring us all, in the end, to the peace of your presence; through Christ our Lord. 
Amen.

The Peace

Jesus says: 

‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.’

The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

 

Closing Hymn    

Now and at the Hour               

O spirit of God
Speak your peace
Speak your peace
Now and at the hour of our death
Amen, amen
Now and at the hour of our death
Amen, amen

Oh merciful God
Forgive us, forgive us
Oh merciful God
Forgive us, forgive us
For all the things
We have done and left undone
For all the things
We have done and left undone

Oh son of God
Rescue us, rescue us
Oh son of God
Rescue us, rescue us
Now and at the hour of our death
Amen, amen
Now and at the hour of our death
Amen

 

The Blessing 

God grant to the living grace,
to the departed rest,
to the Church, the King, the Commonwealth and all people,
unity, peace and concord,
and to us and all God’s servants,
life everlasting;

and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.