The leaders of four church denominations in Iowa are calling on people of all faiths to join them in praying for peace.

Bishop Joseph Charron of the Catholic Diocese of Des Moines says they will hold noon-time prayer services each of the first three Tuesdays in December. Bishop Charron was joined by bishops from the Lutheran, Episcopal and Methodist churches in Iowa to announce the prayer services. “The main reason behind these services is the growing concern, the growing violence in the world right now, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan and Lebanon, Darfur, and with that concern, to invite people to bring positive reflection upon how we can get beyond war and into peace and to pray for that,” he says.

Charron says the prayer services will be held at noon on December 5th, 12th and 19th at the Catholic Pastoral Center in downtown Des Moines. He says the 15-to-30-minute services will be open to anyone and will include vocal and silent prayers for peace. “Advent is truly a time for preparing for the birth of Jesus which is a time of love and peace,” Charron says.

He says protests may bring awareness, but not everyone is comfortable with, nor feels called, to protest. “Prayer is something everyone can offer,” Charron says.

A prayer service for peace is also scheduled for December 28th at 7 p.m. at the Urbandale United Church of Christ.