Peace Day 2023, March 7
"Be the Peace!"
Slogan: "Be the Peace!"
Scripture Readings:
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. (Romans 14:19 NIV) Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalms 34:14 NIV) If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12: 18 NIV) Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. (Thessalonians 5:13 NIV) Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
Prayer: Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy
O divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive
It in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Theme Song
“Give Peace a Chance” – by Paul Blake and Friends
Scripture Readings:
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. (Romans 14:19 NIV) Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalms 34:14 NIV) If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12: 18 NIV) Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. (Thessalonians 5:13 NIV) Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
Prayer: Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy
O divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive
It in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Theme Song
“Give Peace a Chance” – by Paul Blake and Friends
The Message
Today, we are going to learn from the trees how we can “Be the Peace”.
What do we see when we look at a tree?
We see that a tree stands tall, but how does a tree grow?
A tree starts as a seed. Then it grows into a sprout, then into a sapling, then into a mature tree. As the tree grows, its roots go deep into the ground, or sometimes underwater, to enable the tree to stand tall.
The tree’s roots carry water and nutrients from the soil through the trunk and branches to the leaves. Trees also need two substances called carbon dioxide and oxygen as well as sunlight to grow.
When we decide that we are going to be a peacemaker, we, too, start out like a tree. The seed stage is when we learn to be the peace in our situations of conflict at home and at school and anywhere we may be. We learn to solve conflicts peacefully.
The peacemaker’s roots are knowing what is wrong and what is right, and these roots grow stronger and stronger as we practise what is right.
Then we stand as solid as the trunk of a tree when we encourage others to choose peace and not negative behaviours such as fighting, kicking, cursing, and calling people names as these behaviours will not only hurt others but will also hurt them.
Like the leaves of a tree, which are green most of the time but can come in many colours, shapes, and sizes, we at this school are of different colours, shapes, and sizes and will each have our own ways of being the peace and showing others how to be the peace.
Do you remember that the tree needed to feed on nutrients to grow? To “Be the Peace”, peacemakers also have to feed on nutrients. Peacemakers feed on what is true, what is noble, and what is kind. Peacemakers do not feed on poisonous food like disrespect and disregard for others.
Trees welcome the birds; trees shade us from the heat of the Sun. Peacemakers also should be welcoming to others by being kind and by being someone that others want to be around because they are respectful, calm, and kind and find positive ways to deal with conflict, and because they show how to “Be the Peace”. Even when a peacemaker meets people who laugh at them because they show others how to “Be the Peace”, peacemakers can be strong like a tree that survives a storm, a drought, and a fire and continue to demonstrate that they can
be the peace.
Let’s all “Be the Peace”, starting today!
Today, we are going to learn from the trees how we can “Be the Peace”.
What do we see when we look at a tree?
We see that a tree stands tall, but how does a tree grow?
A tree starts as a seed. Then it grows into a sprout, then into a sapling, then into a mature tree. As the tree grows, its roots go deep into the ground, or sometimes underwater, to enable the tree to stand tall.
The tree’s roots carry water and nutrients from the soil through the trunk and branches to the leaves. Trees also need two substances called carbon dioxide and oxygen as well as sunlight to grow.
When we decide that we are going to be a peacemaker, we, too, start out like a tree. The seed stage is when we learn to be the peace in our situations of conflict at home and at school and anywhere we may be. We learn to solve conflicts peacefully.
The peacemaker’s roots are knowing what is wrong and what is right, and these roots grow stronger and stronger as we practise what is right.
Then we stand as solid as the trunk of a tree when we encourage others to choose peace and not negative behaviours such as fighting, kicking, cursing, and calling people names as these behaviours will not only hurt others but will also hurt them.
Like the leaves of a tree, which are green most of the time but can come in many colours, shapes, and sizes, we at this school are of different colours, shapes, and sizes and will each have our own ways of being the peace and showing others how to be the peace.
Do you remember that the tree needed to feed on nutrients to grow? To “Be the Peace”, peacemakers also have to feed on nutrients. Peacemakers feed on what is true, what is noble, and what is kind. Peacemakers do not feed on poisonous food like disrespect and disregard for others.
Trees welcome the birds; trees shade us from the heat of the Sun. Peacemakers also should be welcoming to others by being kind and by being someone that others want to be around because they are respectful, calm, and kind and find positive ways to deal with conflict, and because they show how to “Be the Peace”. Even when a peacemaker meets people who laugh at them because they show others how to “Be the Peace”, peacemakers can be strong like a tree that survives a storm, a drought, and a fire and continue to demonstrate that they can
be the peace.
Let’s all “Be the Peace”, starting today!