Candlelight vigil held on 3rd December in Seoul for the peace of the Korean Peninsula. We pray in solidarity with our sisters and brothers
People across the globe are being invited to extend A’ Light of Peace’ for the Korean Peninsula and for a world free from nuclear weapons, by the World Council of Churches (WCC).
On 3 December, the first Sunday in Advent, the WCC is encouraging Christians to express solidarity with the Korean people and to support efforts to ease tensions and sustain hope.
On 10 December, the second Sunday in Advent, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, a partner of the WCC, will receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
The WCC hopes that people across the world from many faith traditions can unify and amplify voices of peace by lighting candles during special prayers and worship services on these two Sundays.
Prayers
The WCC has published 2 prayers for these services:
God of life, lead us to justice and peace! So we prayed when we were gathered in Busan, Korea, 4 years ago, so we pray today when we are hearing the threats of war in the Korean peninsula.
God of light, lead us to justice and peace! So we pray when we start our Advent season, expressing our expectations to the light of the world that has come to us in Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
God of hope, lead us to justice and peace! So we pray when we see the realities of injustices and unsolved conflicts being extended and expanded, even becoming enormous, when we see how the horizon gets filled with worries for the future of the people of Korea.
God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the giver of all life, our saviour and comforter, give the people of Korea peace, and give peace to all peoples all over the world.
God, grant us that our light shine where we are, so that we share the life and the hope you have given us.
God in your grace, hear our prayer!
Amen
God of grace and glory, we turn our faces and hearts to you with gratitude for your deep love for your creation. We thank you for your kindness in the morning and your faithfulness through the night.
We lift our prayers on behalf of our brothers and sisters of the Korean peninsula. We continue to pray that some day from the highest mountain in the north to the highest mountain in the south, people will see one another again and live in peace.
So many threats abound, and a nuclear threat hovers in the clouds. But we trust your steadfast care for all. You are our refuge and our strength. We pray that love and peace will reign and abundant life will come to all your children. Amen.
More information
For full details of the WCC campaign A Light of Peace – for the Korean Peninsula and a world free from nuclear weapons see the WCC website.
More Advent resources
We feature more Advent resources from the churches on our Advent 2017 page.
