Prayer
On this Easter morning, we praise Jesus Christ, who has triumphed over death, and we pray that our people and the whole world may walk in the path of new life.
Yet before we fully rejoice in the resurrection, we come before God in repentance. The relationship between North and South has long been marked by deep division, and the language of violence and hostility continues to push us further apart. Military tensions are rising not only on the Korean Peninsula but throughout Northeast Asia, and in the power struggles of global superpowers, peace remains fragile and uncertain. O God, we kneel before you—renew us, transform us.
God of new hearts, come to us.
Though we are one people, one family, we have grown accustomed to treating each other as adversaries. Forgive us for mistrusting and confronting one another instead of striving for peace. When political regimes and systems change, our path toward unity wavers—grant us wisdom to set it right. Strengthen us to build true peace through people-to-people solidarity. Give us the courage to walk this path unwaveringly.
God of peace, come to us.
Seventy-two years have passed since the end of war on this land, yet we still live in uncertainty, without even an official declaration of its end. Not through military force and threats, but through dialogue and trust, may we seek peace. Grant us the strength to restore inter-Korean encounters and the determination to walk the path of genuine reconciliation. Give us the perseverance to work tirelessly for peace.
God of love, come to us.
Now is the time to reopen long-closed roads and extend our hands to one another. May the wisdom of people-to-people engagement breathe new life into our cooperation. May the Kaesong Industrial Complex shine with new light, the paths to Mount Geumgang reopen, and separated families reunite freely. Strengthen us to keep long-standing promises from fading into history. Give us courage to uphold and realize these commitments.
God of resurrection, come to us.
We believe that the power of Christ’s resurrection is the very source of overcoming division and striving toward reconciliation. As churches of this land, rooted in the mystery of resurrection, we lift up this prayer: May we become a church that seeks paths of reconciliation and cooperation rather than war and confrontation. May we be a church that envisions new possibilities beyond ideological conflict. May we be a bridge, connecting the South with the North in prayer together with the global ecumenical community. May we be a church that works for peace.
May God’s will be done on the Korean Peninsula as it is in heaven. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
20 April 2025
The National Council of Churches in Korea
