Pray with Korea, January 8, 2023
Lectionary Selection: Matthew 3:13-17
Prayers from Korea
O Lord, how long shall we continue to keep the division on the Korean Peninsula?
When will peace come to the painful and broken land of Korea?
When will the South and the North lay down the weapons aimed at each other, hold each other’s hand, and sing a song of peace?
When will you lift the thick shadow of division?
O Lord, we have been living in the pain of division for a long time.
Following the brotherly Korean War with its incalculable number of deaths, countless families were separated by the war, and many people lost their livelihoods.
The forces of the division system are the major stumbling blocks in the path toward peace and reunification, while military tensions are rising on the Korean Peninsula in the midst of mistrust.
Our hearts break when we look at the rusty barbed wire.
O Lord, grant your healing grace to those suffering from the wounds of division.
Help us to stop demonizing each other and instead to pursue peace and coexistence.
Empower us to take down the rusty barbed wire and the desires of all who block the way of peace.
Grant us love that encourages us to overcome suspicion and hatred.
Help us to discover the truth in ourselves so that we can become agents of peace and reconciliation through your grace.
Amen
Prayer from the 2022 Prayer for Peace and Reunification on the Korean Peninsula
Mission Moment from Korea
The Korean War began in 1950. While open clashes ceased in 1953 with the signing of an armistice, a peace treaty has not yet been established, and the war is not over. For more than 70 years, the Korean people have endured a constant state of hostility and war, which has solidified the division of the peninsula.
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ are responding to an urgent request from the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), a longtime mission partner of Global Ministries, to join with them in supporting the Korea Peace Appeal and calling for an official end to the Korean War.
The Korea Peace Appeal Campaign is a global campaign that seeks to gather 100 million signatures by the 70th anniversary of the signing of the armistice. The NCCK has challenged our denominations to gather 10,000 signatures. Encourage your friends, family, and congregation to sign the Korea Peace Appeal today!
Partners in Korea
- Hanshin University
- National Council of Churches in Korea
- Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea
Make a gift to support the work of the National Council of Churches in Korea