United Religious Community of St. Joseph County
OBSERVING THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF
PRAYERS FOR PEACE
WITH A WEEK OF PRAYERS AND REFLECTIONS
September 23, 2021
The photo above was of the sunset over the City of South Bend, Indiana (USA) from Wednesday, Sept 22, shortly after the URC Board Retreat. We took this as a good sign of the work of the board this evening; more on that soon, but your input for our planning is encouraged:

Reflections: Days 2 and 3

Thanks for your patience as a busy day prevented your editor from getting out Day 2 reflections for the observance of the International Day of Prayers for Peace, Sept. 21



Here are reflections for Days 2 and 3:

An Interfaith Universal Prayer for Peace

We pause in quiet reflection to offer this prayer for a peaceful world. In our individual and personal ways, we call upon the Holy One who sustains our lives and who inspires us to live with compassion and kindness and peace. We ask for daily guidance in all of our personal relationships; in our work and play, and in our community involvement that we might model the possibilities of peace in everything we say and in everything we do. We pray for wisdom and compassion within the hearts and minds of all world leaders who have the power and the responsibility of making decisions that impact the presence of peace. We pray for courage, dedication, and integrity within the spirits of all those who work for peace around the world. We pray for all those who harbor thoughts and feelings of hatred, violence, and greed that their hearts and minds and souls will be transformed into Your likeness of compassion and kindness. We are thankful for Your presence within our lives and ask for Your blessing as we try to live peaceful lives and seek ways for all people to live in harmony and peace.

Dr. John Heidel’s Interfaith Prayer
HAWAII CONFERENCE OF RELIGIONS FOR PEACE
UNIVERSAL PRAYER

Pray for Peace through Interfaith Dialogue 

(From the Dominican Sisters, a Catholic Religious Order:)

God of all people, open our hearts to understanding other faith traditions. We are all made in your image and seek to know and follow your ways, to praise you, and to be instruments of your Holy presence. May we respect those who are different from us, who follow a different faith tradition than us. May we seek to know the truth of your Word and find common ground among the many faith traditions and recognize that we share a common humanity. Help us to be people of compassion and understanding, creating a path to a peaceful coexistence among all people. Amen.