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PRAYING AGAIN FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
As Ireland seperated St.Patrick’s day this week, there must have been a tinge of uncertainty in the celebrations.
In some ways the day was marked by another remarkable scene, as Gerry Adams met the new US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton and President Obama met with First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness. I’m sure for Mrs Clinton it must have brought back memories of her husbands role in the Good Friday accord and of his first handshake with Adams. Northern Ireland had come so far.
Yet as America’s new President hailed the heroism and courage of the people of the province, his speech was a response to new violence. Two soldiers and a policeman murdered, even as I write tonight shots have been fired on Bangor’s Bloomfield Estate.
President Obama had asked about the "real question" - how the people of Northern Ireland would respond following the killings. "Now we know the answer - they responded heroically. They and their leaders on both sides have condemned this violence and refrained from the old partisan impulses.”
I’ve spent much of the 22 years of my Christian journey, since my conversion aged 17, as someone who felt moved by Ireland, and wanting to pray for peace. This week those prayers are firmly in my heart and I wanted to ask you to join with them too.
* Lets pray for heroic and courageous responses from the people of Northern Ireland.
* Lets pray for a turn to peace from the way of the gun.
* Lets pray for a new generation of Irish people, committed to integration, tolerance and peace.
* Lets pray for all those involved in the politics of Northern Ireland to have wisdom.
* Lets pray for peace.
(From the Catalyst Prayer)
One: From the arrogance of power
All: Deliver us
One: From the myth of redemptive violence
All: Deliver us
One: From the tyranny of greed
All: Deliver us
One: From the ugliness of racism
All: Deliver us
One: From the cancer of hatred
All: Deliver us
One: From the seduction of wealth
All: Deliver us
One: From the addiction of control
All: Deliver us
One: From the idolatry of nationalism
All: Deliver us
One: From the paralysis of cynicism
All: Deliver us
One: From the violence of apathy
All: Deliver us
One: From the ghettos of poverty
All: Deliver us
One: From the ghettos of wealth
All: Deliver us
One: From a lack of imagination
All: Deliver us
One: Deliver us, O God
All: Guide our feet into the way of peace
One: We will not conform to the patterns of this world
All: Let us be transformed by the renewing of our minds
One: With the help of God’s grace
All: Let us resist evil wherever we find it
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Andy Freeman, 18/03/2009 |
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