David Crumm: John Philip Newell's Prayer for Peace on 11-11-11

Popular Celtic writer and teacher  John Philip Newell  is a regular guest at ReadTheSpirit. Here is our latest interview with John Philip-and, at the end of the story, you'll find links to more coverage of his work.

This year , John Philip is transforming his regular teaching schedule across the U.S. to focus on religiously diverse gatherings where people join to pray for peace. On 11-11-11, the way that John Philip refers to the historic Armistice Day, he will be in Austin, Texas. (Our Holidays column covers the history and current news about Veterans/Armistice Day 2011.) Anyone in Texas, this week, is welcome to stop by and chant along with this gathering-or you can simply pause wherever you are to pray along with John Philip's movement.

In a column for Huffington Post, John Philip described this effort: "On 11/11/11, Armistice Day, people from different ethnic groups and religions will gather together to chant for peace at All Saints Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas. The armistice that ended the hostilities of World War I was signed on Nov. 11, 1918. We need a new end of hostilities in the world today. Libya needs it. We need it. Every nation, every community, every family on earth needs it. I invite you to join in this offering of prayer for peace, wherever you may be."

PRAY THIS PRAYER WITH JOHN PHILIP NEWELL ON 11-11-11

HERE IS THE PRAYER  John Philip Newell is sharing across the Internet, inviting like-minded men and women to pray in solidarity with this movement on 11-11-11.

_ To the home of peace,

to the field of love,

to the land where forgiveness and right relationship meet,

we look, O God,

with longing for earth's children,

with compassion for the creatures,

with hearts breaking for the nations and people we love._

_ Open us to visions we have never known,

strengthen us for self-givings we have never made,

delight us with a oneness we could never have imagined,

that we may truly be born of You,

makers of peace._

(From John Philip Newell's Praying with the Earth : A Prayerbook for Peace )

Originally published at www.ReadTheSpirit.com, an online journal covering religion and cultural diversity.