The Lord will not bless warfare conceived by human greed

The Lord will not bless warfare conceived by human greed.
Christ never blesses violence, but turns to human need :
he sets his face against war that harms humanity
and raises up peacemakers with his integrity.


Christ saves the homeless victim for whom Earth was not home.
He rescues yet the righteous and saves each broken soul.
Christ weighs the works of nations and sees all lies laid bare.
He judges leaders, empires and peoples unaware.


The Lord of all the ages -- who loves both small and great --
insists we love creation, choose peace not wars of hate;
demands we turn from evil and walk his Way alone --
Christ's love of every person, our Gospel to make known.


© 2008 by Vincent Uher


Suggested Tunes: Blairgowrie, King's Lynn, Passion Chorale (O Sacred Head)

A Child's Prayer for Peace

From an old Anglican Children's Prayer Book

Behold, How Like a Monarch

Behold, how like a monarch
Peace enters in to reign
when all things rightly ordered
proclaim Christ's true domain.
God crowns each true peacemaker
with blessings from above
to share with friend and neighbour
the treasure of God's love.

The sacrifice of Jesus,
his rising from the dead,
his sending of the Spirit
turns this world on its head.
The promise of our Saviour
sings, 'Heaven is at hand.
Receive the Holy Spirit.
Peace to you and your land.'

Long nights we knew of warfare,
of desperate people's cries.
We see how nations falter
destroyed by greed and lies.
Christ's Cross, a contradiction
"Lay down your life for friends
so justice, hope, and mercy
fill the world's farthest ends."

To put an end to terror
we long to do what's right.
To save the world from horrors,
to vanquish evil's might.
Unless God leads and guides us
we turn Earth into hell.
Christ, shepherd all the nations
so all things shall be well!

Christ's peace, the Church's power,
His peace, our bravest song.
His sacrifice, his bleeding
make peace where once was wrong.
His Gospel mark our actions.
Our actions be as prayers
till Christ rules every nation,
swords beat into ploughshares.

Creator of all nature,
the Word through whom Life came,
the Spirit through us moving,
One God, we praise your Name.
We tell out your great goodness,
your tenderness and might
by which you end all terror.
Your peace crowns all with light.

---

Words: Copyright © 2003 Vincent Uher. All rights reserved.
Suggested tunes: Es flog ein kleins Waldvöglein (Woodbird)
or Passion Chorale (Herzlich thut mich verlangen)
Meter: 76 76 D