God of all the prophets, we gather in this time and this place to pause from our daily pursuits and to honor those who have served and those who serve.
This day,
We ask for blessings on all those who have served their country in the armed forces.
We ask for healing for the veterans who have been wounded, in body and soul, in conflicts around the globe.
We pray especially for the young men and women, in the thousands, who are coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan with injured bodies and traumatized spirits.
Be with those vet who find themselves homeless, jobless, hopeless and helpless,
Bring solace to them all, O Lord; may we pray for them when they cannot pray.
We ask for, an end to wars and the dawning of a new era of peace,
As a way to honor all the veterans of past wars.
Have mercy on all our veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and from operations whose names have not made it into the public eye.
Bring peace to their hearts and peace to the regions they fought in.
Bless all the veterans and soldiers this day,
May their calling to service continue in their lives in many positive ways.
Give us all the creative vision to see a world which, grown weary with fighting,
Moves to affirming the life of every human being and so moves beyond war.
Hear our prayer, God of Peace, hear our prayer.
Amen.
