Gathering for Peace

Gathering for Peace

On April 22nd at 7 p.m. an “anti-war prayer for the realization of peace" was held on the steps of

the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Gwanghwamun, Seoul.

The prayer event was sponsored by the Methodist Commission for Justice and Peace, the

Christian Social Mission Solidarity Committee, PROK Solidarity in Mission for Life, Living with

Jesus, National Ministers for Justice and Peace Council, Justice and Peace Christian Solidarity,

Korea Church Women United, the Committee for Reconciliation and Reunification of the National

Council of Churches, PROK General Assembly, the Korean Student Christian Federation,

YMCA National Council of the Republic of Korea, and the YWCA of Korea.

In the present tense situation on the Korean Peninsula, where no talks between North and South

Korea are being held, and work in the Gaesong Industrial Complex has come to a standstill, etc.,

dialogue between North-South and a peace treaty is the only way to end the crisis on the Korean

peninsula and to establish peace. The Christians gathered to pray for peace and reconciliation on

the Korean peninsula, and for genuine public dialogue to end both the conflict on the Korean

peninsula and the continuing threat of war.

Prayers were offered that: 'in this land all energy for war will disappear and the land will be full of

peace'; 'conversation for reconciliation between North and South Korea will soon start‘, and ‘the

signing of the peace treaty will be rapidly concluded‘.

A litany of scripture readings included the promises of Ezekiel 37:22, “I will make them one

nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they

will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms”; Isaiah 2:4, “God will judge

between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords

into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against

nation, nor will they train for war anymore“; Zechariah 9:10, “I will take away the chariots from

Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem and the battlebow will be broken. God will

proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the

ends of the earth“; and Psalm 133: 1-3, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live

together in unity.For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.“

The sermon‘s text was taken from Luke 19:42, “If you had only known on this day what

would bring you peace.“

Rev. Cho Heon Jeong (Chair of NCCK Reconciliation & Reunification) preached on the topic

"If we know the way of peace", saying "Today as we are heading towards an ongoing crisis of war

with South Korea and the United States against North Korea, the first priority over everything

else must be life. Jesus said that life is greater than the entire world. But now our society is

threatened by a black cloud of death, and many people are chosing to commit suicide. In these

60 years of division the dark clouds of hatred and death have been accumulating, forcing people

into the self-chosen death“.

Pastor Cho further stressed that the fate of the community of the two Koreas is inextricably linked.

"If Seoul is attacked, Pyongyang would also be devastated in flames and the whole peninsula

would feel the war. Should it come to war, it would be a lose-lose situation. Military exercises and

weapons training from South Korea and America are pure demonstration of new weapons”,

he reiterated.

Solidarity states were given in response by Rev. Bae Tae Jin, General Secretary of the PROK,

and Professor Noh Jeong Seon, chair of YMCA National Council.

As all participants gathered in a circle, holding hands, Ahn Seong Yong of Justice and Peace

Christian Solidarity read the decision confession, concluding with a prayer in unison by all

assembled: “God of peace, help us. Bring peace to our Korean Peninsula, and revive our fainting

hopes that this land will realize unity.“

Rev. Jeong Sang Bok of the Methodist Justice and Peace Commission ended the evening with a

benediction.

We hope that the signing of a peace agreement leads to the formation of a kingdom of peace.

Please pray for the realistic realization of peace on the land of the Korean Peninsula.