For the victims of violence and oppression,
for those whose lives are shattered
for those who have lost ones they loved:
O Lord, hear our prayer.
For those who see violence as their only means of being heard,
for those who live in fear or want,
for those whose hearts are scarred by hatred and bitterness:
O Lord, hear our prayer.
For those who must take decisions that affect the lives of nations,
for members of the armed forces,
and for those who work in relief and rescue organisations:
O Lord, hear our prayer.
For all those who believe themselves threatened,
for those who seek to build bridges and make peace,
for all men and women of goodwill:
O Lord, hear our prayer.
For a willingness to forgive and be forgiven,
for the determination to make peace a priority
for the courage to trust even in the darkest hours:
O Lord, hear our prayer.
For those who have died, and those who are left behind,
for the injured and distressed,
for those who will die through violence tonight:
O Lord, hear our prayer.
God our Father, your Son Jesus Christ was the victim of hatred and violence. Look with mercy on your broken world. Bring healing and hope to those whose lives are shattered by terrorist activity. Guide those who take decisions at national and international level, turn the hearts of those who resort to violence and guide all people of goodwill to seek that peace which is founded upon justice for all; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Shared Affirmation
This affirmation, subscribed to by Christian, Jewish and Muslim followers, is taken from ‘Beyond Our Tears’, a booklet of resources for inter-faith remembrance services produced by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.
We believe God made this world, God loves this world, God lives in this world. We believe God holds it and cradles it in loving hands: holding its pain, caring for every memory of every person in conflict. We believe God loves each human being, on every side of every struggle, who has given themselves, even to death, for their friends and family and country. We believe love lives longer than hatred; hope burns away at despair; God calls us from the violence, and we can work in love for a better world. So be it.
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