Prayers for peace and justice

Almighty God,
from whom all thought of truth and peace proceed:
kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all, the true love of peace
and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom
those who take counsel for the nations of the earth
that in tranquillity your kingdom may go forward,
till the earth be filled with the knowledge of your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for the Peace of the World (Common Worship)

God our deliverer,
defender of the poor and needy;
when the foundations of the earth are shaking,
give strength to your people to uphold justice and fight all wrong,
in the name of your son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

David Stancliffe (1942- )

O God, by your Son Jesus Christ you have set on earth
  a kingdom of holiness to measure its strength against all others;
make faith to prevail over fear, and righteousness over force,
and truth over the lie, and love and concord over all things;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

War Prayers, 1940

Almighty Father,
whose will is to restore all things
in your beloved Son, the King of all:
govern the hearts and minds of those in authority,
and bring the families of the nations,
divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin,
to be subject to his just and gentle rule;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect for the Third Sunday before Advent (Common Worship)

Eternal God,
in whose perfect realm
no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness,
and no strength known but the strength of love:
so guide and inspire the work of those who seek your kingdom
that all your people may find their security
in that love which casts out fear
and in the fellowship revealed to us
in Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Collect for Social Justice and Responsibility (Common Worship)

O God, who wouldest fold both heaven and earth
  in a single peace:
Let the design of thy great love
lighten upon the waste of our wraths and sorrows;
and give peace to thy Church,
peace among nations,
peace in our dwellings,
and peace in our hearts;
through thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

Eric Milner-White (1884-1963)

For the Armed Forces

Almighty God, stretch forth your mighty arm to strengthen and protect the armed forces: grant that, meeting danger with courage and all occasions with discipline and loyalty, they may truly serve the cause of justice and peace; to the honour of your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the victims of war

God of love, whose compassion never fails;
we bring before you the griefs and perils of peoples and nations;
the necessities of the homeless;
  the helplessness of the aged and weak;
the sighings of prisoners; the pains of the sick and injured;
  the sorrow of the bereaved.
Comfort and relieve them, O merciful Father, according to their needs;
for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

after St Anselm (1033-1109)

For the leaders of the nations

Sovereign Lord of peoples and nations,
we pray for all who are called to leadership among their fellows;
give them vision to see far into the issues of their time,
courage to uphold what they believe to be right
  and integrity in their words and motives;
and may their service to their peoples
  promote the welfare and peace of the whole human race;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Basil Naylor

For friends and loved ones

O God, your fatherly care reaches
  to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Bless those whom we love, who are now separated from us.
Watch over them, and protect them
  in all anxiety, danger and temptation;
and teach us and them to feel and know that you are always near,
and that we are one in you for ever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the dead

Give rest, O Christ, to your servants with the saints:
where sorrow and pain are no more,
neither sighing, but life everlasting.
You only are immortal, the creator and maker of all:
and we are mortal, formed from the dust of the earth,
and unto earth shall we return.
For so you ordained when you created me, saying:
'Dust you are and to dust you shall return.'
All of us go down to the dust,
yet weeping at the grave, we make our song:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Give rest, O Christ, to your servants with the saints:
where sorrow and pain are no more,
neither sighing, but life everlasting.

Common Worship: Pastoral Services

For those who mourn

Almighty God,
Father of all mercies and giver of all comfort:
deal graciously, we pray, with those who mourn,
that, casting all their care on you,
they may know the consolation of your love,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Common Worship: Pastoral Services

Prayers in time of conflict >>