September 21st, the International Day of Peace, was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.
Today, amidst staggering volatility, the search for peace feels overwhelming—but it has never been more urgent.
Peace is more than the absence of war; it is the foundation necessary to collectively tackle humanity’s challenges. It is the lived experience of safety, dignity, opportunities, and cooperation in our daily lives.
Under the theme Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day, this year’s International Day of Peace honours the 'everyday architects of peace'—people driving local action, laying the groundwork for stability, and building a lasting peace from the ground up.
Remember, peace isn’t just built in conference rooms—it is shaped by everyone, everywhere, every day.
Everyone, everywhere can do their part for peace. Take one small step for peace every day:
~Give your time to help someone else.
~Lend your voice to drive positive change.
~Host a Peace Circle - an intergeneration youth-led conversation on solutions.
~Use your platform to promote a cause or tell a story of peace and hope
Let us pray:
Creator God, we turn to You.
Be with all those mourning, injured, displaced and dispossessed by war.
Guide our actions, we pray, as we reach out in solidarity and love to those in need of safety and refuge.
Nurture compassion and steadfastness in first responders and caregivers; may they too receive care and support.
Touch the hearts and minds of leaders everywhere to work courageously for peace with justice for all.
God of love and justice, be with us as we seek to do your will.
Amen.
