Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Norway
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more
about Norway?
Visit
Lonely
Planet.
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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Welcome today to this sacred
place. 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 Norway in our prayers. Located in
Northern Europe, Norway is a ruggedly beautiful country of mountains,
fjords and glaciers. Despite its neutrality, Norway was not able to
avoid occupation by Germany in World War II. In 1949, neutrality was
abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas
in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes.
The current focus is on containing spending on the extensive welfare
system and planning for the time when petroleum reserves are depleted.
Airborne pollutants from Britain and elsewhere pollute southern Norway's
inland waters with acid-rain contamination.
Candle of Christ's peace, radiate your light in our hearts and minds so
that we will learn peace and be peacemakers in our daily lives. |
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| Scripture Reading: Psalm 5:1-3, 11-12 The
Inclusive Psalms |
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Take note of my words, Adonai!
Understand my sighs!
Listen to my cry for help, my Ruler, my God—
for it is to you that I pray.
Adonai, every morning you hear my voice,
every morning I put my requests before you, and I wait.
Let all who take refuge in you
be glad and rejoice forever.
Protect them,
so that those who love your Name
will rejoice in you.
As for the just, Adonai,
you surround them with the shield of your will. |
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Prayer for Peace by Ragnhild Carlson,
Independence, Missouri |
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Dear God, we come to you in prayer at this time feeling
grateful for the opportunity to meet with you in this peaceful setting.
We thank you for the many blessings you have bestowed upon us. So many
times we feel so comfortable in our own situation, and we become so
occupied with the daily activities of our own lives, that we have a
tendency to forget the needs of other people around us, and we ask your
forgiveness for this.
There is much need for a special peace, both in our own community and in
the world in general, a peace which can come from living in communion
with you. We realize we cannot solve all the problems, but help us be
more sensitive to the needs around us and what we can do to help. And
hopefully the peace to which we can contribute will spread to other
places beyond our own community. We also realize we are limited in what
we can do to help create peace in far away places, but that people may
be more sensitive to the leadings of your spirit, and especially the
leaders of the various countries, that peace may become a reality among
people and nations, that wars will cease, striving for power will be
replaced by love and understanding for one's neighbor.
May we strive for peace in our own lives and in our families and
communities, and as it starts out like a small trickle, may it increase
to a wide river which spreads far beyond us as you bless our efforts.
May we use every opportunity to build up a feeling of self-worth in
those who feel low, and assure them of your love for them as you have
for each one of us.
Help us in this endeavor, dear God. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. |
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Hymn - O God, Our Help in Ages Past -
Hymns of the Saints #200 |
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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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We give thanks to you, Lord God, and praise your mighty
works of peace. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for all people in their daily life and work: for our families,
friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for this community, the nations, and especially for the people
and the nation of Norway. May we all listen for your guidance in
learning to live in peace. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for all victims of hunger, fear, injustice and oppression. We
pray for all who are in danger, who sorrow, are sick or friendless. Be
near to them we ask, and open our minds to ways we can alleviate such
situations. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for peace and unity among the leaders of religions and nations
and for all who work for justice, freedom, and peace. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for the special needs of those here gathered. Guide us, we
humbly ask. We confess to you our shortcomings. In your compassion
forgive us our sins. |
| 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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We thank you for our many blessings this day, and pray that your Holy
Spirit will be with us as we seek to know and do your will. In the name
of the Prince of Peace, we pray. Amen. |
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| Sending Forth |
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We conclude our service for today with ministry of
music. We invite you to remain in the quiet of this place to pray or
meditate for as long as you may wish.
Peace be with you; my blessings continue with you, for even yet the
kingdom is yours, and shall be forever if you fall not from your
steadfastness. Amen. |
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| Ministry of Music |
