21st September 2016 - International
Prayer Day for Peace
(An invitation to "Do" and
“Practice” Peace)
"Sustainable Development Goals:
Building Blocks for Peace” (United Nations)
Each year, the International Day of
Peace is observed around the world on 21st September. The General Assembly of the
United Nations has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals
to inculcate the culture of Peace, both within and among all nations and
peoples.
The World
Council of Churches calls Churches and all the faith and peace loving
communities to observe the International Day of Prayer for Peace. Observances of the peace prayer day began in 2004 during a meeting between the then WCC
General Secretary Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan,
and coincides with the UN International Day of Peace.
The Commission
on Justice Peace and Creation of the National Council of Churches in India has
been facilitating and working with the Indian Churches for the past seven years
to ensure that this day addresses issues related to peace and societal
harmony. Along with the Indian Churches we are working
and raising voices for Peace wherever there are conflicts such as in Iraq, Egypt,
Sri Lanka, Palestine and other such contexts, even within India where unjust
and inhuman policies and politics are gravely affecting the general innocent public. The
NCCI joins the global communities who seek peace and demand suitable mechanisms
for 'truth and reconciliation'. On 3rd
February 2014, at the NCCI's Centenary Symposium, the South Asian National
Councils have decided to work on a common theme 'Peace and Human Security in
South Asia'.
Invitation:
The Commission on Unity and Mission of the National Council of Churches in India, invites all NCCI Constituent
Members, Interfaith and Peace Loving Communities to creatively observe this day
in your respective congregations, communities and institutions.
Such observances would offer opportunities
for all of us to support the peace campaign widely and to reaffirm the words of
Jesus ' ... blessed are the peace makers
(Matthew 5: 20)' by ministering for the Right of Peoples to Peace, thereby following the call of God in promoting peace in our region.
The International Prayer Day for
Peace also invites all to honour the practice of cessation of hostilities and to commemorate
the Day by organizing events to 'light a candle' and encouraging the people to
'pledge for peace', offering special prayers for peace and for victims and martyrs in
conflicts, creating public awareness on issues
related to peace, thereby affirming the declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace,
with its central message that humanity’s sustainable progress and the realization of fundamental rights and freedom depend on peace and security. It
is central to the Rights upfront approach, which calls upon the national and
international communities to act early and more concertedly in the face of human
rights violations, which are often the precursors of worse to come.
This Day also unites all of us as an
earth family to deliver the right to peace by encouraging fighters to lay down
and give-up their arms. Let this Day make us stand in solidarity with the
civilians killed by terrorism and war, the traumatized families whose homes and
futures lie in ruins, the countries whose development has been set back by
decades.
History has shown that, no matter how
fierce, conflict can end, peace can prevail and reconciliation can
triumph. On 21st September, at concerts and special events around the world
-- in major cities and small towns, in conflict zones and peaceful communities
– people will broadcast this essential message. They will celebrate the
value of human diversity and the strength of our unity.
Therefore, the NCCI urges every
peace-loving person and congregations to engage with their friends and
neighbours, their community organizations and governments: together let us pray
and claim the right of peoples to peace. Let us dedicate this day to praying
and sowing seeds of local possibilities for a harvest of global peace.
Yours,
Rt. Rev. Dr. Prem Chand Singh,
President
Mr. Liju J Kuriakose Mrs. Aleyamma Thomas Rev.
Dr. Rathnakara Sadananda
Vice Presidents
Rev. Dr. A G Augustine Jayakumar Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad
Treasurer General Secretary
Rev. R.
Christopher Rajkumar
Executive
Secretary
Suggested Prayers
God our creator,
Your Son Jesus Christ said to the apostles
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you”.
Give us courage to challenge the perpetrators of violence
and to change their behaviour.
Help us devote our whole life,
thought and energy to the task of making peace.
We pray for the war affected societies including Gaza, Sri
Lanka, Iraq, Egypt and other places and the victims of the conflicts,
where fear, violent thoughts or action shall no longer exist,
and where selfishness will not lead people to commit injustice to others.
As for the peoples of every earth community and race,
may your 'kindom' come; through your
reign of Justice, Peace and Love.
May peace prevail in Asia.
May peace prevail on earth.
We pray in the name of Jesus the Prince of Peace
Amen.
While holding a lighted candle the following
Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi could be recited
as a pledge
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be
consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen...
Special Event:
This NCCI joins hands with the United Evangelical Lutheran
Churches in India, Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute,
Tamilnadu Christian Council and Christian Service Agency in organizing a peace
symposium on the UN’s theme of the day i.e., ‘Sustainable Development Goals:
Building Blocks of Peace’. The Peace Worship is scheduled to be held at the
Gurukul Chapel at 10.00 and followed by a Peace Tree Plantation and Peace
Fellowship at 10.30 am, and from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm, a Peace Symposium is scheduled
at Church Women Centre, UELCI Campus, Chennai.
Chennai based ecumenists, clerics and interested people are welcome.
Note: The Commission on Justice Peace and Creation of the
NCCI (now renamed as Commission on Unity and Mission) and the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI) have jointly
developed a ‘Peace Manual’. Interested persons may contact The Commission on Unity and Mission - NCCI Post Box 205, Civil lines, Nagpur - 440001.
(Maharashtra) Phone: +917122561464 email: ncci@nccindia.in.
The National United Christian Forum (NUCF) composed of National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) & Evangelical Fellowship of India Council of Churches (EFICC) held a ‘National Level Church Leaders Consultation’ on 15th March 2017, at Bible Bhavan, Delhi.
