Gracious and loving God,
Make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is strife and enmity,
Allow my presence to point to a better way.
Where there is jealousy and deceit,
Allow my passion to point to a better way.
Where there is violence and destruction,
Allow my prayer to point to a better way.
Holy God, I recognize that alone I can do nothing.
It is only through you that strife, jealousy and violence can end.
It is only through you that enmity, deceit and destruction can cease.
Make me an instrument of your peace.
Eternal God, be with all victims of terror.
Wrap your arms of love around those who have violence done to them.
Whether by a zealot with a gun, an extremist with a bomb or a government with a missile,
Too many peoples lives have been shattered through violence.
Make us an instrument of your peace.
We know that through Jesus Christ you walked with us
And experienced violence in all of its forms
And we confess that we cannot be an instrument of your peace
If we are not willing to engage in the world.
May our prayers lead us to build bridges.
May our prayers encourage us to create communities of care.
May our prayers inspire us to action on behalf of your kingdom.
In Christ’s name. Amen.