KNCC

(2004.07.12)
* This prayer was written jointly by the National Council of Churches in Korea and the Korean Christians Federation.

 

2004 Common Prayer for Peace and Reunification

of the Korean Peninsula

 

Almighty God,

you nurture your entire creation with love;

you make the crooked way straight,

and transform sorrow to joy.

We thank you.

 

Once again we celebrate August 15th.

On this day sixty years ago we were liberated from japan.

But, without any reference to the will of our people,

outside forces divided our land,

and we have carried this painful history of division until today.

 

God, forgive us.

We experienced the joy of liberation and the sorrow of division.

The painful and confusing history has been a heavy burden for the entire nation.

But we Christians,

who bear the responsibility to work for the peace and reunification of our land,

have simply floating through time over these past sixty years.

 

God, we know your great and astounding love.

To our people who have carried the sorrowful cross of division,

you gave the light of hope with the June 15 South-North Agreement

which brought amazing change to our people.

 

Though the wall of division still separates us,

brothers and sisters in South and North

are crossing the barrier and deepening our mutual trust.

Even in the weariness of our busy daily lives

We now always pray for our sisters and brothers on the other side.

 

God,

we fervently pray that the change not end here,

that the distorted history of sixty years of division may be made straight,

peace may reign,

reunification may be attained,

and finally our people"s new history may begin.

Let us Christians take the lead in this work.

 

Ardently trusting that peace an reunification of this land is near,

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.