Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Mexico
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more about Mexico?
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Lonely
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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We greet you in the name of the God who has called us to
peace, and thank you for joining us for prayer. 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 remember the people of Mexico in our prayers. Located in
Central America, Mexico was the site of advanced Amerindian
civilizations. Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real
wages, underemployment for a large segment of the population,
inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities for
the largely Amerindian population in the impoverished southern states.
With more than 18 million people, many living in barrio slums, Greater
Mexico City is one of the world's largest metropolitan areas. Tough
environmental restrictions have been enacted to cope with increasingly
dangerous levels of air and water pollution. Tax reform, privatization
of state-run industries, and more open trade policies have improved
competitiveness and boosted exports.
As we gather for worship, lift up an ensign of peace, and make a
proclamation for peace unto the ends of the earth. |
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| Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:22-23 NCV |
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But the Spirit produces the fruit of love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong. |
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Prayer for Peace by Joan Guthrie, Loveland,
Colorado |
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Our God, we thank you for this peaceful hour,
experiencing the warmth and comfort of your Holy Spirit. We want to
continue in this Spirit of peace in our relationships. May we recognize
that loving the person with whom we disagree is more important than
winning the argument. May we not feel it necessary to be recognized or
lifted up as much as to encourage and help another to succeed.
We want to continue in this Spirit of peace in our communities. May we
work hard to see that all have an opportunity to flourish and to enjoy
the blessings we take for granted. May we be generous in giving of our
time, talents, and resources so that our community will quickly move
closer to justice for all. May we overcome the fears and prejudices that
keep us from relationships with those unlike ourselves.
We want to continue in this Spirit of peace in our living with others in
the world. May all people tire of killing and violence as a way to solve
problems. May all have a greater trust and faith in the ways of love as
Jesus has shown to the world. May we walk in the footsteps of the Prince
of Peace until the lion lies down with the lamb and all humankind beat
their swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks. May we not
learn war anymore. Grant us your spirit to help us establish peace from
this moment on.
We ask for these blessings in the name of the One who is our model
peacemaker and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. |
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Hymn - Lord of All Nations - Hymns
of the Saints #467 |
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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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O God, come into the brokenness of our lives and our
land with your healing love. Help us to be willing to bow before you in
true repentance, and to bow to one another in real forgiveness. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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By the fire of your Holy Spirit melt our hard hearts, and consume the
pride and prejudice which separate us. Fill us, O Lord, with your
perfect love which casts out fear, and bind us together in Divine unity. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for all interfaith initiatives, and all occasions which bring
together people of different traditions and customs. May we teach each
other of the peace we find as we journey. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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God, who walks with us always, we remember the people of Mexico in our
hearts as they struggle to find peace in their land and their
communities. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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As our church prepares for World Conference in April, we pray for our
church leaders as they seek your guidance. May each member join in heart
and mind to seek your will and direction. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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At this time we remember our private concerns. Hear our petitions we
humbly ask. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We hear you calling, O God, to continue to
engage in spiritual transformation as we build the peaceable kingdom on
earth. We lift up in prayer our church leaders who are preparing for
World Conference in April. May we be open to the Holy Spirit as we join
our hearts and minds to seek your will and direction. |
| 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 pray these things in the Spirit of Peace. 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 now and share the peace of Christ. |
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| Ministry of Music |
