Since the outbreak of war during the early hours of yesterday morning, the Anglican Communion Office has received many messages, statements and prayers from a variety of Christians and Church Leaders throughout the Anglican Communion. Anglicans and Episcopalians are uniting globally to demonstrate a significant accord in what is central to our mission as Christians.

Before war even commenced, churches were offering their support to their congregations and individuals in need of time for reflection and prayer. During March 10-15, thirty minutes of prayers were offered at Trinity Church, Highland Park, Illinois at 7:30am and 7:30pm. Additionally on Sunday 16 March, a day long prayer vigil was held from 7:30am to 7:30pm.

According to the Episcopal News Service, churches in cities and towns across the United States joined in more than 6,500 vigils around the globe organised for Sunday 16 March at the prompting of South Africa's Anglican Archbishop, Desmond Tutu, and the National Council of Churches.

On Sunday 23 March at 6pm, the Rt Revd Paul Moore, 13th Bishop of New York, will preach at 'A Solemn Evensong for Peace' in the Cathedral Church of St John the Divine, New York. The Rt Revd Mark Sisk, Bishop of New York, will officiate. Daily Prayers for peace will be offered at the Peace Altar in the Cathedral Nave at 5:15pm each afternoon.

Washington National Cathedral, USA, announces the following prayer schedule adjustments:

• Evening Prayer services at 5:30pm with special Intercessions for Peace and the Great Liturgy
• Hourly Prayers for Peace led by Cathedral Clergy/Staff and Volunteers
• The daily 2:30pm Intercessions will be held in the War Memorial chapel and include special prayers for peace
• The War Memorial Chapel will be reserved for private prayer along with the Holy Spirit and Resurrection Chapels
• Sunday Services will include special Petitions for Peace, Prayers of the People and a concluding Collect for Peace at all services

The Episcopal Church Center plaza will become the focus for Chicago area peace efforts in the coming week. A 24-hour vigil, billed as 'A Public Mourning for All Casualties of War', will begin at noon today (Friday 21 March), and run for seven days. The vigil, which has been organised by The Episcopal Peace Fellowship along with the American Friends Service Committee, will take place in a tent on the street-level section of the Episcopal Church Center plaza at Huron and Rush Streets, one block west of North Michigan Avenue. The planners intend it to be a gathering point for people to mourn, meditate, share experiences, or simply to encounter supportive community. People will be invited to write their thoughts and prayers in a memorial book and leave offerings of flowers, candles, and other tokens of mourning. They will also be invited to walk the labyrinth on the plaza's upper terrace.

Clergy around Barnet in the UK are keeping their churches open for people to go in for prayer and reflection as the war with Iraq gathers momentum. The Rt Revd Christopher Herbert, the bishop of St Albans, has issued guidance to clergy and Christian ministers on how they can help families of any casualties. He said, "War can be a traumatic experience for everyone, not just those who are directly involved and their families, but right across the population. I expect our churches, and other places of worship, to be the focus of much prayer and reflection and to meet a vital human need."

Dean Phillip Jensen of St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, offers an invitation to a Special Prayer Service, which will include a sermon that explores issues surrounding war and peace. The service will be held at the Cathedral at 10.30am on Sunday 23 March.

"We trust that many people will join in services in their local parishes at this critical time when our Australian troops are fighting overseas," Dean Phillip Jensen said. "However many people may be in the city for the day and they may wish to join with us in this special service. There will also be people who do not have a local Church to attend, but who feel overwhelmed, saddened and perhaps even fearful at this present time.

During his sermon, the Dean will focus on a number of biblical passages, including a passage from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. A time to love, and a time to hate, a time for war, and a time for peace."

The Bishops of the Church in Wales yesterday called for prayer and reflection in response to the commencement of hostilities against Iraq and have written to all the clerics of the Church in Wales, requesting that they ensure that church buildings are open for prayer, for the lighting of candles and for vigils for the duration of hostilities.

They have also sent each parish a collection of prayers that focus on the suffering which is an inevitable consequence of war. These prayers are for general use during worship on Sundays and weekdays and also focus on the whole region of the Middle East and on those countries directly affected, or likely to be affected by the conflict - Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Jordan, Iran, Palestine/Israel, as well as ethnic groups such as the Kurds.

The Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope and the Dean of York, the Very Revd Raymond Furnell, led prayers for peace at a special service in York Minster at 5.00pm yesterday. The Archbishop commends the following prayer for peace:

"O God whose will is to fold heaven and earth in a single peace; let the design of your great love lighten upon the waste of our wraths and sorrows; and give peace among nations, peace in our homes and peace in our hearts through your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen."

The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Richard Harries, has issued special advice and prayers for parents of children who might be frightened by the war in Iraq. These have been put together by Jenny Hyson, the Bishop's Officer for Children in the Diocese of Oxford.

Prayers for children

At a time such as this children may ask why do we have to fight each other? Why does God let it happen? Where is God? Children will be seeing images of war on the television and in newspapers and they may be afraid by what they see and whether it will happen to them. Help the children by listening to their questions and being honest in response.

Prayer activities for children

Whether with a children's group or as a family collect together newspaper headlines and pictures as a focus for prayer. Point to the images of individual people and remind the children that God cares for each and every one of them. Light a nightlight candle and remind the children that God is in the darkest places bringing his love.

Alternatively give the children little silver stars to stick on the images that upset them or which make them afraid. Invite the children to ask God to bring the light of his love into those places.

Prayers that might be used at this time with children

Lord God
Let your peace rest so gently on our hearts and minds
That we may have the strength
To work for peace in our world
Today, tomorrow and for ever.

God of goodness and love, whom we can trust to be with us in every hour of need; Watch over and protect all who are faced with the fears of fighting and war. Protect the children and their families keep them together and safe from harm. We ask that peace will soon return. And that this war may bring about a new freedom and hope. Where countries will once again live at peace with one another. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

From Prayers for Children. Compiled by Christopher Herbert.