A prayer on the 75th anniversary of Hiroshima & Nagaski

 

Sadako Sasaki Peace Child (Daryl Smith, 1990), Seattle Peace Park

August 6 and August 9, 2020, are the 75th Anniversaries of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

For the hibakusha, the survivors of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
we pray: Peace, peace, peace!

For all those affected by nuclear testing
we pray: Peace, peace, peace!

For our earth, and the places polluted by nuclear weapons, nuclear testing,
nuclear waste
we pray: Peace, peace, peace!

For the leaders of the world, for military strategists, for leaders of industries that profit from weapons manufacture
we pray: Peace, peace, peace!

For our world riven by conflict,
we pray: Peace, peace, peace!

That seeds of fear and mistrust might wither and love and justice flourish, that swords will be beaten into ploughshares
we pray: Peace, peace, peace!

Amen.

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The Rev. Jemma Allen is a priest of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia and primarily expresses that vocation as a counsellor and spiritual director. She is a PhD student at the University of Auckland and has a small private practice in Cockle Bay.