Prayer of Intercession – September 10, 2006
Bruce Van Voorhis – Hong Kong
In our violent world, Lord, we pray for peace. We pray that the people of Iraq and Afghanistan will soon know your peace. We pray too for a peaceful resolution of the disputes in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon and Iran. In Asia, we pray for an end to the extrajudicial killings and disappearances in the Philippines and for the political disputes in Nepal, Burma, Kashmir and East Timor to be decided without further violence. We especially remember today the families and friends of those who lost loved ones on Sept. 11 and in all of the other tragedies since then. May your peace replace the insanity of jihad and the “war on terrorism.”
Bruce Van Voorhis – Hong Kong
In our violent world, Lord, we pray for peace. We pray that the people of Iraq and Afghanistan will soon know your peace. We pray too for a peaceful resolution of the disputes in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon and Iran. In Asia, we pray for an end to the extrajudicial killings and disappearances in the Philippines and for the political disputes in Nepal, Burma, Kashmir and East Timor to be decided without further violence. We especially remember today the families and friends of those who lost loved ones on Sept. 11 and in all of the other tragedies since then. May your peace replace the insanity of jihad and the “war on terrorism.”
In our unjust world, Lord, we pray for justice. We pray that justice will be done for those who have been illegally detained, who have been tortured, and who have been denied their rights. We pray that there will be justice for those forced out of their homes and off their land in the name of development. We pray that justice will prevail in the workplace for workers who have been exploited.
In our divided world, Lord, we pray for tolerance, understanding and love. We pray that religion is no longer used to justify violence. We pray that we can learn to bridge our different identities with our common humanity that we can learn to include others who are different rather than exclude them.
In our busy world, Lord, we pray for time to reflect and be quiet. We pray that our busy lives will slow down so that we can discern you in our lives and reflect on what is truly important.
With others around the world, we remember today too our sisters and brothers in the Balkans in the countries of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia and Yugoslavia. Help the people of these lands rebuild their lives and heal the ethnic and religious divisions that have caused so much suffering.
We also ask for your blessing on our church family at Kowloon Union Church. May you guide our spiritual development and our witness in society.
Silently or aloud, we now offer our prayers to you about what joys and concerns are in our hearts.
We offer our prayers to you in your Son’s name. Amen.
Bruce Van Voorhis
Bruce Van Voorhis serves as missionary with the Asian Human Rights Commission located in Hong Kong. He serves as a writer and editor with the Commission.