I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8Rabbi Jerome Epstein, executive vice president of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the association of Conservative synagogues, wrote a widely distributed prayer of petition that several readers cited. It says, in part:
A Prayer for Our Soldiers
God of love, God of peace. Out of the depths of despair, we call to You. Our ears ring with the words "Do not fear." But our stomachs churn with the acid of doubt. Determined to preserve our shared world from the tyranny of terrorism, we turn to You for answers, for values, for strengths.
We stand before You with respect and concern for those who have been summoned to protect and secure our nation, our world. Give them the courage to meet the chilling stare of death...Return them safely to fulfill dreams unrealized so that they may bless Your name through the lives they live. May their efforts further the cause of peace throughout the world and bring us closer to the day when "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn of war anymore." Amen.
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Sorry it's taken me so long to post this. I wanted to share with you a prayer from the PCUSA Book of Common Worship called "For Those in the Military" (pg. 818):
Righteous God, you rule the nations. Guard brave men and women who risk themselves in battle for their country. Give them compassion for enemies who also fight for patriotic causes. Keep our sons and daughters from hate that hardens, or from scorekeeping with human lives. Though they must be at war, let them live for peace, as eager for agreement as for victory. Encourgae them as they encourage one another, and never let hard duty separate them from loyalty to your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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