The United Church of Christ welcomes all in the wider church to participate in an interactive sharing of prayers. The People’s Prayers for Peace Initiative is an open invitation to read and write prayers, posted daily at UCC.org. This call for prayers comes amid ongoing war and violence globally as well as continued injustice in the United States. Click here to share your prayers. The following prayer was recently shared by Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister & President/CEO, UCC:

Bring us back from the edge, O Lord, the edge where our humanity frays. Draw us closer to your everlasting light, as our lives are impacted again by the violence that pulses around us. Grant us wisdom to lower the guns and to eliminate the rhetoric which has become a relentless stream of violence. Provide us with words of hope where hope feels elusive and our desire for change seems long in coming.

Cleanse from us the toxic hate which fills our media, oozes into our town halls and public squares, and seeps into our schools and faith communities. May your love find us in new ways as we wrestle with the anger and animosity surrounding us.

We know that your light still shines, your path of peace remains close by, your Spirit is ever ready to guide us beyond the edge and into your love. Open our hearts to seek, find, and follow you. End the violence. Bring us back from the edge, O Lord we pray. Amen.