Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Iraq
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more about Iraq?
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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 hold up the people of Iraq in our prayers. Located in the
Middle East, Iraq occupies the ancient region of Mesopotamia, "land
amidst the rivers," a fertile lowland created by the Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers. Today these rivers sustain large areas of irrigated
farmland and one of the highest populations in the Middle East. Beneath
the land, Iraq is second only to Saudi Arabia in rich oil reserves. The
country's future remains very tenuous with a new government and with the
United Nation’s help is seeking to stabilize.
Let us lift up an ensign of peace, and make a proclamation for peace
unto the ends of the earth as we worship our God. |
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| Reading: Zechariah 7:9-10 NRSV |
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This is what the Lord Almighty says:
‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do
no oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your
hearts do not think evil of each other.’ |
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Prayer for Peace by Douglas Porter, Park Holme,
South Australia, Australia |
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Lord of Creation, all praise and glory unto you who
created humankind in your image and gave unto us stewardship over the
earth. Forgive us for our failure to adequately keep that
responsibility. Lord, we have failed in so many ways. We have failed to
come fully into your image, to accept the challenge to follow your ways
and to obey your commandments. We have failed to respond to that call to
change our ways given to us through the centuries through your chosen
prophets. And because of this, we have failed to live in harmony with
each other, in our families, our society, our culture, and between
cultures, and even with our environment.
And now, O God, the world bleeds because of our neglect so that the
peoples of the world cry out to you in their suffering and pain. Hear
their cries, O Lord, we pray, and comfort them in their time of need.
Soften the attitudes in hearts and minds of the leaders of the world
that peace and harmony might indeed come to all people. Show us Lord how
to help heal the pain and to ease the suffering in our midst, and to
fulfill your will for us in the days of our probation.
The earth also cries out in pain as humankind plunders it motivated by
selfishness and greed. All creation calls and condemns us for our
failure to be good stewards over all that has been placed in our care.
Lord, you have challenged all of us to become your instruments of peace.
May we respond to that challenge and accept the responsibility that is
laid upon us all, also remembering that our failure to respond causes
you to suffer even more. Strengthen us for the task, O God, we pray in
the name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Amen. |
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Hymn - Christ Has Called Us to New Visions
- Sing for Peace #38 |
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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, our creator, you are the way of peace. Come into
the brokenness of our lives and our land with your healing love. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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Help us to be willing to bow before you in true repentance, and to bow
to one another in real forgiveness. By the fire of your Holy Spirit,
melt our hard hearts and consume the pride and prejudice which separate
us. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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Fill us, O Jesus, with your perfect love which casts out fear, and bind
us together in that unity which you share with your Parent and the Holy
Spirit. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for all occasions which bring together people of different
traditions. We remember the people of Iraq today. Hear their cries for
peace. Move on the hearts of world leaders that they may also hear the
people’s cries and create peace. |
| 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 and praise you for love that sustains us, for wisdom that
directs us, and for the desire that beckons us toward peace in our
world. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. |
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| Sending Forth |
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We will 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.
Let us go from this place and be the people of peace we are called to
be. Amen. |
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| Postlude |
