'Pray for Peace'

Call for 'fervent prayer' for all humankind

The World Methodist Council (WMC) is calling for a time of “fervent prayer for peace for all humankind” on the first Sunday in Advent, Nov. 30. The council, which began issuing the call in 2007, is calling for the World Methodist family to make this an annual observance from the dawn of this day in the Kingdom of Tonga until the end of the day as the sun sets in Samoa in the South Pacific.

The Methodist/Wesleyan family around the world will pray for peace in many languages. A four-page bulletin emphasizes this with peace emblazoned on its cover in nearly 50 languages.

“We are called to seek righteousness and pursue peace,” says Dr. H. Eddie Fox, WMC world director of World Evangelism.

“We live in a complex world that seems to be trapped in a never-ending cycle of misunderstanding, conflicts and wars,” states the “Pray for Peace” four-age bulleting. “There are no easy answers to the difficult questions in the demand for justice from the different perspectives of people, cultures and nations. …

“This is a moment in which we, who are followers of Jesus, must clearly state our confidence and hope that in faithfulness to the living God we may have peace in the world.”

The bulletin outlines seven prayer goals:
# Peace with God within our inner selves,
# Peace within our families and closest relationships,
# Peace within our churches,
# Peace within our villages, communities, cities,
# Peace within our nation, and
# Peace among the nations
# Peace for all God’s Creation.

WMC has prepared a web page that contains many resources for its worldwide pray for peace emphasis.

The resources are all available for quick download to be printed locally or inserted in software for bulletins, newsletters, posters or whatever.

World Evangelism, World Methodist Council is headquartered in Nashville. You can learn more about Pray for Peace at (615) 340-7541 or World Methodist Council.