Daily Prayer for Peace  | |
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Daily Prayer for Peace
Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Austria
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Lonely
Planet.
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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Welcome, and thank you for
joining us today in 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 remember the people of Austria in our prayers. Located in
Central Europe, Austria was once the center of power for the large
Austro-Hungarian Empire but it was reduced to a small republic after its
defeat in World War I. Neutrality, once ingrained as part of the
Austrian cultural identity, has been called into question since the
Soviet collapse of 1991, and Austria's increasingly prominent role in
European affairs. A prosperous country, Austria joined the European
Union in 1995 and the euro monetary system in 1999. Manufacturing,
powered by hydroelectricity, drives the nation's export trade; Austria
also profits from iron ore, oil, and timber. Forests have been damaged
by air pollution, despite environmental regulations. Farms, many located
along the Danube River, provide 80 percent of food needs. Vienna is a
world center of the arts. It is also the headquarters for many
international organizations.
May the Spirit of God create in you an awareness of God's presence in
your life--your longings, your sorrows, your hopes, and your dreams. |
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| Scripture Reading: Romans 14:17-18 INT |
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For the kingdom of God is a matter not of
eating and drinking, but of justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
If we all serve Christ this way, we will be pleasing to God and
respected by our sisters and brothers. |
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Prayer for Peace by Donald G. Brown, Pueblo,
Colorado |
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Almighty God, all around us, every day, the world cries
out in pain; confusion, hopelessness, cynicism abound, broken people
weep in anguish, filled with hurt and despair. The needs are great.
Lord, we wonder if we can make a difference.
All around us, every day, a moment arises, to have a good laugh, to
share dreams and hopes, to simply hold someone in your arms and let them
cry, to speak words of strength and comfort, to simply allow someone to
voice their pain. The burdens are still there, but the chances to bring
ministry are there, too, if we can learn to see them. Perhaps we can
make a difference for you, Lord.
All around us, every day, your healing Spirit moves among us, as an
impulsion, a longing, a vague desire within us to do something more.
Help us to see the little ways, and not-so-little ways, too, that we can
instill your love, your warmth, your will, into scenes and situations of
pain and sorrow. A hug, a visit, a smile, help us to tell others they do
not walk through this life alone. Show us how we can make a difference
for you, Lord.
O God, may we always be assured that you are there before us, to support
us, to strengthen us, and to love us, and that when we serve in your
stead, we do make a difference indeed, in all that we do in your name,
and for your cause, and that you, God, are the one who makes the
difference, and through whom all things are possible.
May your Kingdom come is our prayer, in the name of your Son, Jesus the
Christ, we pray. Amen. |
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Hymn - Bear Each Other’s Burdens -
Hymns of the Saints #369 |
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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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Great God, we praise you for sending the Prince of Peace
and your plan for salvation. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We praise you for families and friends, food and shelter, warmth and
joy. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We praise you for holy forgiveness and claim its touch for our sins of
commission and our sins of omission. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We praise you for all the peoples of the earth but especially remember
the people of Austria this day. May they know your 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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Hear our prayer, O God, as we strive to be instruments of your peace in
our world. 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.
O God, as you recreate us, fill the depths with your newness. As old
attitudes and ideas crumble, brush them away with the breath of your new
life. As scabs of memory tear and hurt, cover the wounds with the
healing balm of your understanding, forgiving and accepting love. And as
our hearts question which way to go, by the shining of your spirit, show
us the path.
Go in peace. |
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| Ministry of Music |
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