Today in our prayers for the people of Haiti.

Prayer for Peace

Stephen Shields

Compassionate and Eternal God,

We call upon you this day, as do many others of different faith communities, in a spirit of united prayer for peace. We marvel at the diversity of your human creations—the different expressions of faith that have emerged in various cultures around the planet— and we know that it is in such diversity that we find distinctive and unparalleled beauty.

We recalled the experience of the children of Israel, who so many centuries ago, found themselves in captivity by the waters of Babylon. There, as they sat down and wept, they wondered how to worship their God in a strange land. And it was then that a most marvelous revelation came to light when they realized that you, O God, were more than just their national God, but you were the one God, to whom all humankind must give humble and joyous worship.

And so, we join countless millions today who pray to you through the experiences of their times and places—and their rich cultural and religious communities—and pray for peace in the world. Bring, O God, peace to each of us and to all men, women, and children. Send among us teachers who will guide us just as Jesus and others like him have taught generations past.

We offer this prayer with humble anticipation. Amen.