A girl sets a floating candle lantern on the river in Hiroshima, Japan, 2015. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/WCC
In a global campaign, the World Council of Churches invites people across the globe to extend “A Light of Peace” for the Korean Peninsula and for a world free from nuclear weapons.
On the first Sunday in Advent – 3 December – the WCC invites the global Christian fellowship to express solidarity for the Korean people and to support efforts to ease tensions and sustain hope.
On the second Sunday in Advent – 10 December – one of WCC’s partners, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons – will receive the Nobel Peace Prize at an award ceremony in Oslo, Norway.
By lighting candles during special prayers and worship services two Sundays in a row, people in many nations from many faith traditions can unify and amplify voices of peace.
Throughout the campaign, the WCC will release special prayers, social media photos, and news and video releases.
Prayers
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God of life, lead as to justice and peace! So we prayed when we were gathered in Busan, Korea, 4 years ago, so we pray today when we are hearing the threats of war in the Korean peninsula.
God of light, lead us to justice and peace! So we pray when we start our Advent season, expressing our expectations to the light of the world that has come to us in Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
God of hope, lead us to justice and peace! So we pray when we see the realities of injustices and unsolved conflicts being extended and expanded, even becoming enormous, when we see how the horizon gets filled with worries for the future of the people of Korea.
God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the giver of all life, our saviour and comforter, give the people of Korea peace, and give peace to all peoples all over the world.
God, grant us that our light shine where we are, so that we share the life and the hope you have given us.
God in your grace, hear our prayer!
Amen
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God of grace and glory, we turn our faces and hearts to you with gratitude for your deep love for your creation. We thank you for your kindness in the morning and your faithfulness through the night.
We lift our prayers on behalf of our brothers and sisters of the Korean peninsula. We continue to pray that some day from the highest mountain in the north to the highest mountain in the south, people will see one another again and live in peace.
So many threats abound, and a nuclear threat hovers in the clouds. But we trust your steadfast care for all. You are our refuge and our strength. We pray that love and peace will reign and abundant life will come to all your children. Amen.
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This article originally appeared at www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre.
