May we be filled with the vision of peace.

War is STILL not the answer. Occupation is not liberation.

We pray to let go of the belief that we need wars...

A War Never Ends...

an interfaith response from

Fellowship of Reconciliation

by Phil Bentley of Jewish Peace Fellowship,

Rabia Harris of Muslim Peace Fellowship, and

Janet Chisholm of Episcopal Peace Fellowship

We are Americans, US citizens

Followers of many spiritual traditions

Compelled to speak, for ourselves and for others.

Convinced that war achieves neither freedom nor peace.

Called to speak the truth as our faiths demand.

May we be filled with the strength to seek peace.

War will not end when the guns are silent.

Violence can never lead to peace.

Our government does not faithfully represent us

Therefore it is our obligation to speak.

We will bear the responsibility.

We will willingly accept what is required.

We will stand against the forces of death.

We will stand for life.

May we be filled with the courage to seek peace.

Duty calls upon us to prohibit violence

Directed at our helpless brothers and sisters

To limit the monstrous domination of war

To repair the ruin, whenever, wherever we can:

The direct horrors inflicted on the people

The damage to their homes, lands, heritage, institutions

The disruption of their eating, drinking, traveling,

breathing, living

May we be filled with the compassion to seek peace.

We grieve for the harm to our own country

The degradation suffered here in common

The contagion of fear and distrust

The restriction of our freedoms

The quashing of our dialogue and dissent

We grieve the terrible wounding of sisters and brothers sent to fight

Children captured by the demons of war

Who will suffer illness of body and spirit

Whose families too absorb the blows of violence

We grieve the rupture of families when a member is killed

Parents, spouses, infants overcome with grief

Losing a source of sustenance and survival

May we be filled with the endurance to seek peace.

War will not fulfill those government promises.

For it is based on lies, and lies have been told.

Here we stand on truth, and stand together.

United as one humanity, here we are.

We grasp the horror of war in all its fullness.

And embrace it with our joined compassion.

May we be filled with the vision of peace.

Recognizing our weakness

We call on the Spirit of Mercy to guide us now.

Nothing is stronger. The spirit will prevail.

Amen.

Light a Candle for Peace  on your own or GO to:

GRATEFULNESS.ORG