Prayer for Peace

June 21, 2004

Dear Congregations and Members of the CRCNA,

Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called sons [children] of God" —Matthew 5:9

The synod of the Christian Reformed Church meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan, declares June 27 to July 4, 2004 a week of prayer for peace. As a week of prayer, these dates bridge our two national holidays: Canada Day and Independence Day.

We grieve with and for those who experience the devastation of violence in its many forms and guises. We weep with victims of poverty, starvation, abortion, terror, and war-especially at this time for those who are victims of terror and war. The recent wars and persecutions in various countries bring this vividly to our attention. The injuries and loss of life on all sides of these conflicts brings sorrow and a need for confession.

We confess and repent at this time because sin pervades even our best intentions and efforts. Sin runs through every human heart, every human structure, and every national government. We ask our heavenly Father to forgive us for our sins and to send his Spirit to awaken in us a love for our neighbor that brings us to our knees in prayer for his battered creation.

Remembering that our primary allegiance is to Christ's kingdom and not to any nation or state, we ask the members and congregations of the Christian Reformed Church in both Canada and the United States to pray for the needs of the international community. Pray for:

Pray that families who mourn the loss of loved ones are comforted, and pray for those who are maimed and wounded that the Spirit of God will bring comfort and healing.

Our world belongs to God and we commend it to his care. Let us come together for a week of hearing what the Spirit has to say to the church. Let us listen to the Word of God. Let us listen to the voices of those who bear God's image. Let us in humility ask God for help to bring violence to an end, to tame the hearts of the vengeful, and to bring peace. We plead with our covenant God to manifest the majesty of his name, to maintain his fidelity as our covenant partner, and to bring peace from his loving heart of compassion.

—Signed by Officers of Synod 2004