Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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South Africa
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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It is good to welcome you today
to this sacred place, and share this time of 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 hold up the people of South Africa in our prayers. Diamond
and gold strikes in the late 19th century began transforming this land
of African tribespeople, Boer farmers, and British traders into an
industrial colossus. From 1948 to 1991 South Africa's political system
was dominated by apartheid, a policy of segregation that isolated blacks
in so-called homelands and overcrowded townships. In 1989 a
reform-minded government, spurred by international economic sanctions as
well as domestic protests, began the process of dismantling apartheid.
The first multiracial parliament was elected in 1994. In the 21st
century, South Africa is a democratic country representing all of its
diverse people—often called the rainbow nation. The government
recognizes 11 official languages (including English). South Africa is
making up for decades of social disruption and lost education, but high
unemployment and the AIDS epidemic threaten economic progress. Without
effective prevention and treatment, AIDS deaths could total 5 to 7
million by 2010.
Let us worship together and lift up an ensign of peace, and make a
proclamation for peace unto the ends of the earth. |
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| Scripture Reading: Psalm 33:1-5 |
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Sing out your joy to Our God, you who love
justice—
praise is fitting for loyal hearts.
Praise Our God with the harp,
and play music with a ten-stringed lyre!
Sing God a new song,
play with all your skill, and with shouts of joy!
For the word of Our God is true
and everything God does can be trusted.
Our God loves justice and right
and fills the earth with love. |
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Prayer for Peace by Dianne Marszalek,
Cheyenne, Wyoming |
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Dear Heavenly Father,
We come today, thankful for the privilege of living on this beautiful
planet. We pray for peace that we all might enjoy the beauties and
bounties of this earth.
We pray for peace between religions—for open minds and loving hearts
that no more evil would be done to others in the name of religion.
We pray for peace among different races. Let us look upon each other and
see others the way in which you see us— with love and understanding.
We ask for peace among nations and countries—for leaders who can guide
us toward tolerance and acceptance.
And please help us to find peace within our families, for families are
the foundation of our world.
Lastly, allow us to find peace in ourselves. Help us to love and accept
ourselves, as you love and accept us. We ask all these things, if it be
thy will, in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen. |
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Hymn - Let Us Pray for One Another - Hymns
of the Saints #312 |
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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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We pray that the light of our peace candle will radiate
your light in our hearts and in all hearts throughout the world. We
praise you, Father, the maker of peace. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We praise you, God, for expanding our knowledge of you through Jesus’
teachings: Blest are the sorrowful; they shall find consolation. And
blest are those of a gentle spirit; they shall have the earth for their
possession. How blest are those who hunger and thirst to see right
prevail for they shall be satisfied. Help us to have this hunger, O God. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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Blest are those who show mercy; mercy shall be shown to them. How blest
are those whose hearts are pure; they shall see God. How blest are the
peacemakers; God shall call them his children. Help us to be merciful
and be peacemakers, we pray. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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Blest are those who have suffered persecution for the cause of the
right. At this time we pray especially for the people of South Africa,
for workers who toil for the profit of others, for children who hunger
because the rich of other nations take their bread, for women who are
old before their time because of daily worry to find enough for their
families to eat. Be near them we pray. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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O God, we give you thanks for our bounteous blessings and ask your
forgiveness when we have wasted your goodness to us. We would remember
the needs of the world and the needs of those here gathered this day. |
| 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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To you be the praise and the glory forever, as we celebrate the gift of
the Prince of Peace, in whose name we pray. 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 of peace, of glory, and righteousness, keep us to fulfill
our desires to be peacemakers in the world. Amen. |
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| Ministry of Music |
