Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Croatia
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more about Croatia?
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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 Croatia in our prayers. Located in
southeastern Europe, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom in
1918. It was known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Although Croatia declared
its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of
sporadic, and often bitter, fighting before occupying Serb armies were
mostly cleared from Croatian lands. Under United Nations supervision,
the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slovonia was returned to Croatia
in 1998. War halted the tourist trade and drastically cut industrial
output, including a lucrative ship-building business. Since the war,
Croatia has progressed politically and economically; it applied for
European Union membership in 2003.
As we light our candle, may its flame cause us to open our minds, and
challenge us to new avenues of peace as we worship together. |
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| Reading: II Corinthians 13:11 |
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Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in
peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. |
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Prayer for Peace by Miriam Mann, Council
Bluffs, Iowa |
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Eternal—Ever Loving One, we acknowledge our slowness to
seek and trust your grace. You love us as we are, and have sanctified
human life through touching it with your glory. You empathize with us
each day. Lord of life, for such great mercy and patience we give you
thanks!
Let your word dwell in us richly, for we need your defense against all
darkness. Remake our hearts through faith that we may wait upon you,
listen to you, and walk in your ways to bless all people.
We are grateful for our daily bread, for your forgiveness, and your help
in testing times. Have compassion upon all those touched with sorrow,
whose spirits are troubled or cast down within them. Many people in our
world have needs that are not being met. Send your enabling spirit as we
reach out to them. Your grace is greater than the grief of life. Father,
we claim the power you offer us, in Jesus name. Amen. |
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Hymn - We’re Singing a Peace Song - Sing
for Peace #19 |
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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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God of all nations and all peoples, by whatever name you
are known, we come before you in praise and thanksgiving. Guide us into
the joy of being, and the desire for joyful peace for all peoples. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray particularly for the nation and people of
Croatia this day. They are working so hard to become a country where
peace is known, be with them and give them strength that they may not
tire of the work. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for the concerns of those gathered here
today. Great God, we would also ask for your guidance as we try to live
by your standards of peace. Forgive our sins of selfishness and pride,
we humbly ask. |
| 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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Hear our collective prayers, O God of Peace, that
your peace may become the peace of this world. Amen. |
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| Sending Forth |
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We conclude our service today with a postlude. You are
invited to remain to pray or meditate in the quiet of this place for as
long as you may wish.
May the God of peace be with us as we go forth to be peacemakers in our
world. Amen. |
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| Postlude |
