Week of Prayer For World Peace 2014 – 2015

THE INTERNATIONAL PRAYER FOR PEACE

Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth Lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust Lead me from hate to love, from war to peace Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe

4 0 th An n i v er s ar y 19 7 4 - 20 1 4

Shared Faith Worship Although it was a Christian initiative that led to the founding of the Week of Prayer for World Peace in 1974, it soon became an inter faith activity, and now welcomes everyone, of all faith traditions or none, to take part. Our first Chairman, the late Dr Edward Carpenter, former Dean of Westminster Abbey, established the guiding principle of the Week in the words ‘The peace of the world must be prayed for by the faiths of the world”, and this is still the basis of our work today. “For those who want to persevere with the idea of praying with people of other faiths, three thoughts may be helpful. First, the different prayers that we say are said by neighbours in the same town and the same street every week and by worshipping together we simply bring under one roof what happens anyway under the same sky. Secondly, we are convinced that there is only one humanity that prays, and one Divinity that we pray to, whatever different opinions we may have about that one Divinity. Thirdly, we recognise that inter faith partnership does not itself imply agreement. The things we agree on are many, and precious. The things we disagree on are precious too. When we stand with a follower of another faith who is praying, whenever we can agree with the prayer, we give it our interior assent. Where we cannot agree, we withhold our interior assent. It is still good to stand with that person as a friend and as a partner for peace.” The Week of Prayer for World Peace 2014 is 12th – 19th October. Please use this leaflet of prayers and reflections during this week and at any time you would like

WPWP 40th Anniversary An interfaith gathering of prayer and peace will be held at 2.30 pm - Sunday 19th October 2014 Al-Khoei Foundation The Stone Hall Chevening Road London NW6 6TN

ALL WELCOME

Queens Park (Bakerloo Line and Euston-Watford Overground) and Brondesbury Park (North London Line) The centre is a ten-minute walk away

Would you like to become a Friend of the Week of Prayer for World Peace? We are inviting organizations and individuals to sponsor us so that we can continue our work. Please contact Lesley Daisley for details of how to set up your standing order at £30 per annum for corporate sponsorship, £15 per individual or £20 per family.

DAY 1 TRUTH

We pray for the ability to align our words, thoughts and deeds in truth ... truth is reached in the hearts of people beyond words - George Fox When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall – think of it, always - Mahatma Gandhi Accept the truth even if it is expressed by adversaries - Jain

Take heed, dear Friends, to the promptings of love and truth in your hearts. Trust them as the leadings of God whose Light shows us our darkness and brings us to new life - Quaker Advice & Queries No. 1 Beauty is truth, truth beauty, that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know John Keats

On three noble ideals be ever intent: The good thought well thought, The good word well spoken, The good deed well done - Zoroastrian

DAY 2 FRIENDSHIP

May all our communities blossom with the warmth of friendship Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away - George Eliot

Love me when I least deserve it, because that’s when I really need it - Sikh A Friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of Nature - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible - Dalai Lama

DAY 3 UNITY

May we understand the unity behind all perceived diversity O my God! O my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great purpose. May they follow Thy commandments and abide in Thy law. Help them, O God, in their endeavour, and grant them strength to serve Thee. O God! Leave them not to themselves, but guide their steps by the light of Thy knowledge, and cheer their hearts by Thy love. Verily, Thou art their Helper and their Lord

colour, class and political prejudices, still, as children of one God we are able in our souls to feel brotherhood and world unity. May we work for the creation of a world in which every nation will be a useful part, guided by God through man’s enlightened conscience - Hindu, Paramahansa Yogananda

Let us pray that all livings beings realise that they are all brothers and sisters, all - Bahá-i, Bahá'u'lláh nourished from the same source of life. Let us pray that we ourselves cease to Let us pray in our hearts for a League of be the cause of suffering to each other Souls and a United World. Though we Let us pray for the establishment of may seem divided by race, creed, peace in our hearts and on earth - Buddhist, Thich Nhat Hahn

DAY 4 SERVING OTHERS

Remember that true fulfillment comes when we work for others The Talmud refers to a certain Rabbi Baruqa of Huza who asked the prophet Elijah “Is there anyone among all these people who will have a share in the World to Come?” Elijah answered, “There is none.” Later, two men came to the market place, and Elijah said to Rabbi Baruqa “These two will have a share in the world to come.” Rabbi Baruqa asked the newcomers, “What is your occupation?” They replied, “We are clowns. When we see someone who is sad we cheer him up. When we

see two people quarrelling we try to make peace between them.” - Jewish, Sidney Shipton, former WPWP President When you came into this world, you cried and everyone else smiled. You should so live your life that when you leave, everyone else will cry, but you will be smiling - Paramahansa Yogananda, Hindu Happiness comes to those who bring happiness to others - Zoroastrian

DAY 5 PEACE

We pray for peace in ourselves, our communities, nations and in the world Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid - Christian, John 14 v 27 Can you put a price on peace? Imagine where we would be without technology – Where? A world with greed and arrogance, but where there are starving innocent children. How can this be when we are meant to be the next generation? How? We cannot put a price on peace, a price on life, a price on hope.

Hope, hope for a new life, a new beginning. How can this be where there are no second chances in life, just greed? Peace. How can you put a price on that? - Ruby Worrall, age 12 Peace consists of pure thought, pure feelings and pure wishes. When the energy of thought, word and action is balanced, stable and non-violent, the individual is at peace with the self, in relationships and with the world - Brahma Kumaris

DAY 6 NURTURE

May we remember to take time to nurture ourselves and others Letting go of everything else, with your whole heart take refuge in Me, for I will free you from everything that causes you pain. There is no need for fear or worry - Hindu, Bhagavad Gita, ch. 18 vs. 66 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever - Christian, Jewish, Psalm 23

DAY 7 ANIMALS

May we always be mindful of the beauty of God’s creatures Non-violence is the highest religion

To blessed animals the utmost kindness must be shown, the more the better. Tenderness and loving-kindness are basic Have you not considered that all that is principles of God’s heavenly between the heavens and the earth glori- Kingdom. Ye should most carefully bear fies God and that the birds spread their this matter in mind wings in the air to glorify God? He knows - ‘Abdu’l-Bahá , Bahá’-í everyone's prayers and praising; God has absolute knowledge of what they do May all beings be happy and at their ease, - Muslim, Qu’ran ch 24 free from pain, fear, distress or enmity; untroubled, well, unharmed, Have contentment in your mind and com- in peace passion towards all beings - Buddhist - Jain

- Sikh, Adi Granth

DAY 8 THE NATURAL WORLD

Let us be mindful that the earth is not ours to own, and may we be its conscientious caretakers Love is the only reality and it is not a mere He laid the earth for His creatures, with all sentiment. It is the ultimate truth that lies its fruits and blossom-bearing palm, chaffat the heart of creation. covered grain and scented herbs. Which - Rabindranath Tagore of our Lord’s blessings would you deny? - Muslim, Qu’ran ch. 55

This symbolic Pathway is an expression of our shared humanity. We are created to cooperate together for the common good to make this a world where caring and sharing matter more than things, where tolerance and understanding are fostered and justice brings hope and security to all - Archbishop Desmond Tutu about the World Peace Pathway in The Hague, World Peace Flame

If the world is to survive we have to imbibe more from the heart of Jesus and the heart of Krishna and the heart of Mohammed and your heart and mine - Mansukh Patel, co-founder World Peace Flame

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Please enclose payment with order, payable to WEEK OF PRAYER FOR WORLD PEACE Send to: Mrs Lesley Daisley, 11 Montrose Avenue, Queens Park, London, NW6 6LE Tel: 0208 968 4340 [email protected] www.weekofprayerforworldpeace.com Supporting Organisations Include: Anglican Pacifist Fellowship Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals Bharatya-Vidyan Bhavan Brahma Kumaris, Buddhist Society Campaign against the Arms Trade Centre for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations Christian Aid Christian CND Christian Peace Conference UK Church-Commission on Inter Faith Relations Fellowship Party Fellowship of Reconciliation Gandhi Foundation Hindu Council UK Jerusalem Peacemakers Justice and Peace Commission London Inter Faith Centre, Methodist Peace Fellowship Muslim Association for Teaching Humility, Morals, Altruism, Tolerance, Integration and Community Service Equality

National Council of Hindu Temples UK National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the UK Nipponzan Myohoji Northern Friends Peace Board, One World Week Oxfam Pax Christi Peace Direct Quaker Peace and Social Witness Quaker Universalist Group, Religions for Peace Rissho Kosei-kai Roman Catholic Committee for Other Faiths Schumacher Society Sikh Divine Fellowship Three Faith Forum Toc H Unitarian Peace Fellowship United Nations Association Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom World Congress of Faiths World Disarmament Campaign World Peace Flame Foundation World Peace Prayer Society Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe

We invite you to tell us how you have used this leaflet. Thank you!

PEACE AWARD The annual Wilson Hinkes Peace Award is made to groups or individuals working for peace. Previous winners include:2010 Millie Mittoo Childrens' Project - Working to provide female orphans in Pakistan with the best possible foundation to achieve happy and fulfilled lives 2011 The International School of Storytelling-Healing Words Festival – “sharing stories and playing together can be the beginning of a healing process of peace” 2012 Young Stars - young people working against gang culture in London Please contact Mrs Lesley Daisley for more information or apply to [email protected]

WPWP 40th Anniversary

An interfaith gathering of prayer and peace will be held at 2.30 pm - Sunday 19th October 2014 Al-Khoei Foundation The Stone Hall Chevening Road London NW6 6TN

ALL WELCOME! Queens Park (Bakerloo Line and Euston-Watford Overground) and Brondesbury Park (North London Line) The centre is a ten-minute walk away