International Day of Prayer for Peace - September 21st

Worldwide from the individual to the community, this day is to focus on what makes for Peace.

September 21st is the United Nations-sponsored International Day of Peace. Each year  the World Council of Churches also calls churches and parishes to observe the International Day of Prayer for Peace.

The WCC has marked the day by inviting contributions to a Global 'peace prayer wall'. This year’s observances are taking place in parishes and on Facebook, led by people who attended a World Council of Churches peace convocation in Jamaica this May. An article in Ekklesia gives some examples of heartfelt and powerful prayers from around the world.

Some of the offerings from the UK included:
Noting the military drones appearing in local skies, a prayer from Wales begins: “Mewn byd lle mae mwy a mwy o sylw'n cael ei roi i ryfe” which translates, “In a world where increased attention is being given to war, in a country where there is an increase in military activity…it’s essential that the people of Wales continue to work for peace and reconciliation”.

Stefan Gillies’ peace day prayer is for a man in prison, naval medic Michael Lyons. Lyons is a conscientious objector in detention for refusing to deploy to Afghanistan. Churches Together in Britain and Ireland are publicising his case.

Closer to home, Noeline Sanders from Windlesham, who attended the Peace Convocation in Jamaica, offered this prayer for the International Day for Peace:

We pray for change agents in this world, that the agency to uphold human flourishing be contagious. So that Just Peace from Just relationships is not just a "nice idea", but one that is felt in our pulse, individually and collectively and acted upon.

* More information on the International Day of Prayer for Peace:
www.overcomingviolence.org/IDPP

* Peace prayer wall on Facebook - Of the many peace making individuals and organisations reflecting the day is, Peace Direct, an organisation that supports local peace builders is inviting indviduals to mark " this global day of ceasefire by calling a ceasefire on the conflicts in your life. They've created online PeaceCards to help you do just that. Create your own PeaceCard.

It is a day to take time to engage with what makes for Peace and extend the agency for Peace going forward everyday.