Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Latvia
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Lonely
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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It is good to meet with you today in this sacred place,
and we greet you in the name of our God who calls us to worship. Each
day in this Temple dedicated to the pursuit of peace, we pray to God for
peace in our world. In addition, each day we pray for a different
country.
Today we will hold up the people of Latvia in our prayers. Latvia is
located between Estonia and Lithuania in Asia. It was occupied by the
Germans during World War I, and the Soviets in 1940 and the Germans
again in 1941. During this occupation, the Jewish population was
virtually wiped out. There are still a number of unresolved issues,
including tensions between Latvia and Russia regarding their mutual
border, but today, Latvia has moved to embrace the free market, and the
general mood of the country is optimistic.
Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for God is
gracious, and a song of praise is seemly. |
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| Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 |
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All of this is from God, who ransomed us
through Christ—and made us ministers of that reconciliation. This means
that through Christ, the world was fully reconciled again to God, who
didn’t hold our transgressions against us, but instead entrusted us with
this message of reconciliation. |
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Prayer for Peace by Bruce Lindgren,
Independence, Missouri |
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Our Loving God,
We come before you, in the quiet of this place, to offer a prayer for
peace in our world.
We are aware that there are many forces in our world that attempt to
lead us into unnecessary and destructive conflict. We are aware that,
even now, uncounted numbers of our fellow human beings are experiencing
the horrors of war and oppression. Nations and peoples have chosen to
fight with each other rather than to resolve their differences in a
peaceful and mutually beneficial fashion, and we do not understand why.
At the same time, we recognize in ourselves the passions and temptations
that could lead us into such conflict. In our weaker moments we have
chosen to neglect the welfare of others, we have become too easily
offended, and we have sat idly by on occasions when we could have been
peace makers. We desire peace, but we recognize that we are all too
often a part of the problem rather than a part of the solution.
And yet, we recognize that you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, into our
world for just such a reason. He was himself a victim of violence and
prejudice and misunderstanding. He was a victim, and yet he was the
Prince of Peace who brought hope and the possibly of reconciliation into
our world.
May your spirit teach us, O God, to become more like the Christ. May we
learn to have insight to see how we might become workers for peace in
your world. May we learn to have the courage required to be your
ambassadors of peace in every occasion of conflict and hatred. May we
learn to have hope in the ultimate victory you have promised through
your risen Son.
Be with us and bless us, O God, that we might be disciples of Jesus
Christ and ambassadors of peace in your world. In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen. |
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Hymn - World Around Us, Sky Above Us -
Hymns of the Saints #135 |
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Prayers of the People
Please join us now, praying the Prayers of the People. During the
moments of silence, you are invited to pray silently or meditate. |
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Life is never so full and free as when we engage in the
full and free experience of praising God. We thank God for the
intervening power at work in our world. Grant that our eyes may be
opened and our ears, that the sights and sounds of God's mighty works
may call forth greater work by us. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for peace in Latvia. May the peacemakers there feel your
presence as they work towards your peace. One by one we name our
extended family as we marvel at the ministry of God's Holy Spirit in
their lives. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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Personal deficiencies and lack of resources hinder our involvement in
the cause of peace. We seek personal forgiveness and a keener sense of
what is important and urgent in our living. Give us courage to rise to
give the gift of helpfulness on the part of each. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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Please use this space to pray for any
current concern or event in our community, city, state, nation or world
that you feel needs to be held up to God for prayerful consideration.
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| The People Pray in Silence |
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Mighty God of the galaxies, we sense excitement in our souls as we
anticipate our future. Help us to rejoice, and help us live our lives in
this joy of investment in your cause. Amen. |
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| Sending Forth |
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We conclude our service today with Ministry of Music.
You are invited to remain to pray or meditate in the quiet of this place
for as long as you may wish.
Go in peaceful assurance of God's love for you and the world into which
you are sent. Amen. |
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| Ministry of Music |
