The Interfaith Prayer

We are often asked about the Interfaith Prayer that opens each Community gathering. It was conceived by Rev. Allan when he was in seminary. The words are from significant texts, prayers, and writings from the world’s major spiritual traditions and beliefs. Anyone is welcome to use the prayer although we would appreciate if you would credit the Community of Peace and Spirituality.

(The bell sounds three times)
May the sound of this bell penetrate deep into the cosmos so that living beings everywhere might hear it and all suffering in them cease…

Lead me from the unreal to the real. Lead me from darkness to light. Lead me from death to immortality. OM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti…

Sh’ma Yisrael Adonoi Elohenu Adonoi echud…

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other…

La ilaha illa’llah, Muhammad rasulu’llah…

It is the Mother of the Universe, I do not know its name, so I call it, Tao…

I take refuge in the Buddha, I take refuge in the Dharma, I take refuge in the Sangha…

Grandfather, this we know; the earth does not belong to us, we belong to the earth. All things are connected…

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character…

We all come from the Goddess and to Her we shall return like a drop of rain flowing to the ocean…

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference…

And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love…
(The bell sounds three times)