Prayers for Peacemakers: Pray for peace within the church

Pray for peace within the church, both locally and globally. True peace flourishes only in a context of truth and trust. May this congregation seek both as we deliberate today, and may the broader church find unity amongst its many divisions.

Prayers for Peacemakers: Pray for missing and murdered aborignial women

Pray for awareness of the 510 aboriginal girls and women who have gone missing or been murdered since 1980. The United Nations as well as Amnesty International have called on the Canadian government to probe these deaths and unsolved disappearances of indigenous women. May also the underlying factors of racism, marginalization and impoverishment be addressed.

Prayers for Peacemakers: Pray for those those in voluntary service

Pray for those in voluntary service. MCC has 1,029 personnel in 53 countries, and many others work in missions and for a variety of NGOs. May their efforts bear fruit — abroad as well as at home. A special prayer for the release of the three health workers (including a nurse from Montreal) who were kidnapped from the MSF compound in Sudan this week.

Prayers for Peacemakers: Pray for those who suffer on the basis of gender

Pray for those who suffer injustice and oppression on the basis of gender. Today is International Women's Day, an opportunity for us all to redouble our efforts to achieve equality — women do two-thirds of the world’s work, receive 10% of the world’s income and own 1% of the means of production. Jesus broke cultural, ethnic and gender barriers, ministering to women and treating each one as a person. May we follow this example and spur others to do the same.

Prayers for Peacemakers: Pray for past and future victims of landmines

Pray for past and future victims of landmines. Landmines and cluster munitions menace communities, as their presence makes everyday tasks like pursuing a livelihood or going to school extremely dangerous. Today culminates Canadian Landmine Action Week — may our voices be heard that these remnants of war should be eradicated. For further info, visit www.minesactioncanada.org