Praying for Peace



The World Peace Prayer

The United Religions Initiative (www.uri.org) began in 1995 when, as part of the UN 50th celebrations, the Episcopal Bishop of California, William Swing, called for the creation of a United Nations-like body for the religions of the world. The URI service has brought into use the World Peace Prayer Ceremony for the people of the world's religions and spiritual traditions. The basic prayer is something created by the Prayer Society in Japan which arose after Hiroshima to pray for peace. They do it to pray for the people of each nation with a flag representing each nation as it is prayed for. URI has made banners for 15 religions, plus one for all others and one for the people of all beliefs yet to come. The folks carrying the banners line up down the processional aisle of the chapel, we speak the opening prayer in unison and then a person leads the prayer by speaking the name of the religion we should insert in the blank.

The prayer goes:

Opening Prayer

May Peace Prevail on Earth
I will pray for the happiness of the people
of all the spiritual traditions of the world.
For each religion and spiritual tradition:

May the __________ people live in peace
May peace prevail on earth.

In the blank insert:


Aboriginal
Muslim
Sikh
Baha'i
Jain
Taoist
Buddhist
Jewish
Unitarian
Christian
Native American
Wiccan
Hindu
Shinto
Zoroastrian


and then insert:

The People of all Other Spiritual Traditions of the World
The People of all Beliefs yet to come

Closing Prayer

May all the religions and spiritual traditions of the world live together in peace.
May Peace Prevail on Earth.


Dona nobis pacem; grant us peace.