Daily Prayer for Peace  | |
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Daily Prayer for Peace
Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Bulgaria
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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Welcome, and thank you for
coming to share in this special time of prayer for peace. 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 Bulgaria in our prayers. Bulgaria is
located in Southeast Europe with rich farmland in the Danube Valley,
sandy beaches on the Black Sea, and mountainous terrain give character
to one of Eastern Europe's least densely populated nations. Bulgaria
earned its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878, but having
fought on the losing side in both World Wars, it fell within the Soviet
sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist
domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty
election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving
toward political democracy and a market economy while combating
inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Today, reforms and
democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward eventual integration into
the European Union. The country joined NATO in 2004.
Christ, whose presence is like daybreak and shines in the darkness of
all our pain and fear, calls us to worship. May the light of Christ fill
our hearts this day and lead us to peace. |
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| Scripture Reading: Mosiah 2:24, adapted, Book of
Mormon |
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And you will not have a mind to injure one
another, but to live peaceably, and to render to every person according
to that which is their due. |
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Prayer for Peace by James Dougherty,
Decatur, Illinois |
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Heavenly Father, we come this day to recognize the
awesome power that you are in the lives of those you have created, and
in creation itself. You are an awesome God, ready to share with us the
fruits of your blessings. You are a faithful God, faithful to the
promises you have given through scripture, for we have seen those
promises made real in our lives, and through the testimonies of the
Saints who testify of your presence in their lives. You are a loving
God, for we have experienced your love in your presence around us, and
through the caring of the Saints, one for another. You are indeed God of
All.
Yet we know in this universe, there are places and peoples who have yet
to sense your comforting presence, to hear the majesty of your name, to
experience your awesome power, and to know the depth of your love. There
are places and peoples hurting because of anger, war, violence, and
hatred. Families, neighborhoods, and communities are torn asunder by
mistrust, envy and greed. There are places and people who have yet to
allow a full measure of your Spirit and love to enter their hearts.
There are places that yearn for the liberating truths of your gospel.
Yes, there are the places into which we are sent.
Father, may your Spirit go before us into such places and to such
people. May our presence be your presence, as we who are your ministers
carry your message of peace, reconciliation, and compassion to those
places where the bruised and broken-hearted live and work. Such places
may be our own homes, our neighborhoods, our communities, and maybe even
places we ourselves may never visit or see.
But we know that you are a God of peace, of love, and of healing, for we
are aware of your Spirit's presence and work in the world today. We know
your desire for us to be reconciled in fullness to you and to each
other. We thank you for the power to minister in ways that build the
Kingdom. We thank you for your promises to us, especially for the
promise of a world that will one day know the fullness of your love, as
we continue to share your message of peace and hope to a world in need.
We pray for a world at peace. For all you have given us, we praise you
and thank you. In the name of Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and was
resurrected that we might know that peace, Amen. |
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Hymn - Peace among Earth’s Peoples - Sing
for Peace #26 |
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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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Lord of all nations, we thank you for knowing us. We
thank you for family, friends, those who will be friends, the earth and
all its bounty. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We rejoice when one step is made toward peace between nations but know
the journey is long and the steps are many. On this day, please hear our
prayers concerning the nation of Bulgaria, its leaders and its people.
May they know the peace that only you may bring to their lives. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We lament the causes of injustice and seek enlightenment that we may
understand better our part in peace for the world. Teach us to respond
as the Prince of Peace, and to be more like Jesus, the Christ, to create
peace for everyone. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We would not forget the need for peace in ourselves, our families, our
nation, and our church. We confess that we are less than you created us
to be and humbly ask forgiveness. |
| 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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This day, in response to your call, we offer ourselves as instruments of
peace in our world. Amen. |
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| Sending Forth |
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We conclude our service today with Ministry of Music.
You are invited to leave quietly or remain to pray or meditate in the
quiet of this place for as long as you may wish.
Let us go from this house and be the peacemakers and peacekeepers we are
called to be. Go in peace. Amen. |
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| Ministry of Music |
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