The fires of the world are raging again. Threats of violence and war pervade our hearts and minds. Visions of refugees leaving their homelands and begging for safe entry elsewhere haunt us. We may struggle to maintain our faith in the UU principle of inherent worth and dignity of every person when such evil seems to not only exist, but threatens the existence of others.
Just last week during our monthly meeting, the Pastoral Care Team shared with the ministers that it feels like time to create ritual space for us all to hold our grief. Together, we decided to offer two Peace Vigils in the next 2 weeks as an offering to the community.
All are invited to gather in the Sanctuary this Thu., Mar. 17, at 7 p.m. for quiet candle lighting, meditation and fellowship. Both ministers and several Pastoral Care Team members will be present and available to meet with individuals or small groups during the hour.
We will host an additional vigil on Zoom only on Thu., Mar. 24, at 7 p.m. We will engage in candle lighting, meditation and breakout rooms for this event.
In the words of John O’Donohue in his “Blessing for One Who Is Exhausted,” “be excessively gentle with yourself.” These times do not call for more pressure. Meditation and prayer can be done in private or in community.
What does it mean to pray for peace? What does it matter? I’m afraid I don’t have a concrete answer. I can only offer my own experience with the spiritual practice of prayer.
I ran across Reinhold Niebuhr’s “The Serenity Prayer” as a young person and remember reading it as a universal prayer. The prayer could be addressed to a Divine, the Universe, Spirit of Life or simply prayed without address. It does not request magic, simply serenity – another word for peace. It humbly asks for peace on an intimate level. It is with these intimate moments of our faith that we can reflect on the ultimate: world peace. I learned much later that Reinhold Niebuhr prayed an early version of this prayer during World War II with his small congregation in Massachusetts. In 1944, a written version of the prayer was published in “The Book of Prayers and Services for the Armed Forces.” The prayer was modified with permission from Niebuhr for use in Alcoholics Anonymous fellowship meetings as they were also developing during this time. It is well known outside of these original circles today. It returns to me in moments when the world seems on fire and I feel out of control.
Would you pray with me?
“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.”
May it be so. Amen.
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