Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Paraguay
Would you like to learn
more about Paraguay?
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 Paraguay in our prayers. Located in
South America, Paraguay is a landlocked country where agriculture
dominates the economy. 3 percent of the population who are property
owners control 80 percent of the land. The completion of the Acaray
hydropower project in 1976 brought self-sufficiency in electricity. It
is the world's largest hydroelectric dam, and was completed in
partnership with Brazil in 1991.
Blessed is the name of our God who is mindful of us as we worship in
faith and joy. |
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| Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:4-10 NIV |
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But because of his great love for us, God,
who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead
in our transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised
us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in
Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the
incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in
Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and
this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that
no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
to do the good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. |
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Prayer for Peace by Karen Freberg, Cincinnati,
Ohio |
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God of rainbows
blending colors
defining brilliance
God of earth and sky and sea
birthing each and all
named sacred
God of humans
varieties of skin and voice and
land
calling each precious
God of presence
offering love and word and way
waiting response
God of tears
we grasp in our hands all that
You offer
even as we
strip the land, deny space,
silence the voices,
negate rights, desecrate resources
and treat others as less—much
less
as their tears fall in the rivers
and we say—now—we have peace
and Your tears fall over all
God of mercy
wash out our eyes
redesign our words
refit our vision
realign our understanding
whisper again in our hearts
turn our faces to the east,
west, north, south
God of peace
when love abounds
when each and all are worthy
when each has place and plenty
when justice reigns
when righteousness flourishes
when Jesus is our good news
then peace will be beyond our
knowing.
Amen! |
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Hymn - Lord of All Hopefulness - Hymns of
the Saints #185 |
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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 that is, all that ever was, and all that
shall come to be: We praise you. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We give thanks for this time of remembering your goodness, your loving
care, your guidance and your plan for all your creation to be at peace. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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Forgive us when we have not remembered and have been guilty of actions
and thoughts that did not promote peace. We do desire to be your people
of peace. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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This day, O God, we remember the nation of Paraguay and its people who
struggle daily for peace and acceptance and justice. Be near them to
bless and guide, we pray. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We would also remember the concerns and
petitions of those gathered here this day. Guide us, we pray, that we
will not add to the problems of the world, but will be part of the
solution. |
| 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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With God’s blessing, go in peace and strive always to erase all
injustice. Amen. |
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| Sending Forth |
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We conclude our service 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.
May the God who is peace, the God who is hope, and the God who is
concerned with all creation, guide us and bless us as we go forth to
serve the Divine purpose created in us. Amen. |
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| Ministry of Music |
