Pray with Korea, August 9, 2026

Lectionary Selection: Matthew 14:22-33

Prayers for Korea

God of peace and hope,

We thank you for the faithful witness of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea and for the mission of the Church of Reconciliation and Peace. Bless this house of faith as it offers a place for prayer, education, vision, and hope beside a border that has divided families and peoples for generations.

Heal the division and distrust that keep open the wounds of war on the Korean Peninsula. Strengthen all who work patiently for justice, reconciliation, and lasting peace. May small but courageous acts of faith continue to open new paths toward understanding and unity.

When we find ourselves surrounded by uncertainty, remind us of Jesus, who came to his disciples across the stormy sea. Give us the courage of Peter to step beyond what feels safe and familiar, trusting that Christ goes before us even in the midst of troubled waters.

May your church always be a light in places of darkness, a bridge where others see barriers, and a living sign of your kingdom where justice, peace, and abundant life flourish.

In the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Amen.

Mission Moment from Korea

One year ago this week, Christians gathered just south of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to dedicate a church built to be both a sanctuary and a signpost for peace. Located beside the Border Peace School in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, the Church of Reconciliation and Peace serves as both a house of worship and a center for peace education, spiritual formation, and reconciliation. The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) envisions the church as a sanctuary for prayer, a place of dialogue, and a living sign of hope near one of the world’s most heavily militarized borders.

The PROK built the Church of Reconciliation and Peace as a witness that God has not given up on reconciliation. As churches around the world observe the Sunday of Prayer for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula, just days before South Korea marks National Liberation Day on August 15, we remember this remarkable act of faith. Koreans celebrate liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945 while also remembering that liberation was soon followed by the painful division of the peninsula. More than seventy years later, the longing for reconciliation and lasting peace continues.

During the church’s dedication service, Moderator Rev. Park Sang Kyu reflected on the significance of building a church in a place marked by conflict: “Though we still dwell in a land divided, God always begins great history with a small spark.” He recalled how a small prayer gathering at St. Nicholas Church in Leipzig helped inspire the peaceful movement that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall, expressing his hope that the Church of Reconciliation and Peace would likewise become a place where faithful prayer helps shape a different future for Korea—a “candle that lights the dark history of division.”

In this week’s Gospel, Peter steps out of the boat while the storm is still raging (Matthew 14:22–33). Jesus does not first calm the sea; he first calls Peter to trust. The Church of Reconciliation and Peace embodies that same faith. Rather than waiting for division to end before working for reconciliation, the PROK has stepped into the uncertainty, trusting that Christ is already present amid the storm.

This witness takes on added significance as churches prepare to gather in Korea this September for the 40th anniversary of the historic Glion Meeting and the Ecumenical Pilgrimage for Peace, including a pilgrimage along the DMZ. May the Church of Reconciliation and Peace continue to remind Christians everywhere that faithful prayer, courageous witness, and persistent hope can become lights that guide God’s people toward reconciliation, justice, and peace.

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