Pedagogy for Active Citizenship:
Educating for the Common Good
August 24, 2007: We Pray for Peace
The Deer’s Cry (Attributed to St Patrick)
Shaun Davey
CD: Pilgrim
I arise today
Through the strength of Heaven
Light of sun
Radiance of moon
Splendour of fire
Speed of lightning
Swiftness of wind
Depth of the sea
Stability of earth
Firmness of rock
I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me
God's eye to look before me
God's wisdom to guide me
God's way to lie before me
God's shield to protect me
From all who shall wish me ill
Afar and anear
Alone and in a multitude
Against every cruel
Merciless power
That may oppose my body and soul
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise, Christ to shield me
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me
I arise today.
Reader 1:
God of compassion,
unite us in a common vision of goodness.
Bring us together to help live out your dream for the earth:
A place of peace and justice,
Friendship and hope,
Joy and welcome.
Reader 2:
Jesus, our teacher,
You call us to be disciples
To be instruments of your healing,
reaching out to your beloved children;
To be instruments of your hope,
helping to make learning more effective;
To be instruments of your harmony,
bringing understanding where there is confusion.
Sacred presence, flow through us.
and may we bring your peace to a beautiful yet broken world.
Reader 1:
Spirit of Wisdom,
help us to remember that we are made in God’s image
and that we have the responsibility to cherish our
lives as God’s gift to each of us.
You have gifted us in our humanity;
may we use these gifts to create schools where peace
and justice reign.
May we use our gifts today to make our schools places
where wisdom and responsibility can be seen in our
actions.
Amen.
Reader 2: Creator God,
You have blessed us with goodness and love.
May our work this year be a worthy echo of your grace.
May our reflections be guided by your wisdom;
May our celebrations be touched by your joy.
In this school year let us continue to grow in love for you and
respect for one another.
Let us learn to see with your eyes. Help us to see You :
In stranger and friend;
To see You,
In young and old;
To see You,
In the happy and sad;
To see You,
In the hurt and the healing;
To see You,
In the successful and the struggling;
To see You,
In the popular and the unpopular;
To see You,
In the wise and the foolish;
To see You,
In male and female;
To see You,
In listening and in speaking;
To see You,
In hearts and in minds;
To see You,
In all of us, all the time, everywhere.
Reader 1:
Dare we utter the word peace?
Or Pax? Or Shalom? Or Salaam? Or Pace? Or Paix?
Dare we think of peace in the unreason of hatred?
Dare we call ourselves peacemakers when we are better
angermakers or fearmakers?
Dare we wish for peace and remain silent?
Dare we wish for peace?
Dare we?
I Wish for Peace
Michelle Tumes
I wish that I could say
the world was one
and fighting was a fable
And “agreed” would turn the tables
I wish for peace
I wish for peace
I wish that I could
see a world
that can be free
with no more crying
Oh but some of us
are trying
I wish for peace
I wish for peace
Who will hold the children dear
If there’s a painful tear?
Who will chase the clouds away?
Why pretend that there’s no God?
Why pretend that there’s no love
to wrap around you?
“I speak justice
to confound you.”
I pray for peace
I pray for peace
I pray for peace
Reader 2: Albert Einstein wrote: “There is danger in the world,
not because of those who do evil, but because of those
who look on and do nothing.”
Reader 1: God of justice and compassion,
When we see sorrow, let us comfort.
When we see pain, let us heal.
When we see conflict, let us work for peace.
When we see neglect, let us act with compassion.
Help us, dear God to live up to our responsibilities
and to help You in the building of the Civilization of Love.
Sign of Peace