Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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El Salvador
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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We greet you today in the name of the Prince of Jesus 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 remember the people of El Salvador in our prayers. El
Salvador is located in Central America. El Salvador achieved
independence from the Central American Federation in 1839. The rich
volcanic soils brought coffee plantations—with a few, rich landowners
and a subjugated peasant population. Economic inequality led to the
1980-1992 civil war; many Salvadorans, rich and poor, fled to the United
States. The civil war, which cost the lives of some 75,000 people, was
brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed
a treaty that provided for military and political reforms. El Salvador's
democratic government shows success in adding manufacturing jobs—but
faces the challenges of poverty, crime, and natural disasters.
We light this candle as a symbol of our commitment to a just and
peaceful world. May the peace of God who has called us here be with us
as we worship together. |
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| Scripture Reading: Isaiah 58:6-12; adapted |
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Is not this what I require of you, to loose the fetters
of injustice, to untie the knots of the yoke, and set free those who
have been crushed? Is it not sharing your food with the hungry, taking
the homeless poor into your house, clothing the naked when you meet them
and never evading a duty to your kinsfolk? If you cease to pervert
justice, to point the accusing finger and lay false charges, if you feed
the hungry from your own plenty and satisfy the needs of the wretched,
then your light will rise like dawn out of darkness and your dusk be
like noonday. The Lord will be your guide continually and will give you
strength of limb. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring
whose waters never fail. You shall be called Rebuilder of broken walls,
Restorer of houses in ruins. |
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Prayer for Peace by Anneke Compier, Bedford,
Texas |
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God, our source of peace,
At this moment we come to you like many people around the world, to pray
for peace. We pray for an inner peace that only you can give: an inner
peace that will help us see others through your eyes. Only then will we
not hate the other anymore. Only then will we treat the other not as an
"it" or as just another thing, but as a "Thou": a person in whom we will
truly see you. We pray that we may be called your sons and daughters and
that we may make a difference in our daily lives which we share with
others.
Help us to find the opportunities to speak out for peace and to work for
peace. We also pray for peace for the countries that are at war right
now.
Dear God, I hope that we can learn from a saying of Erasmus who in the
16th century said: "If the name of the country has such a nature to
create bonds between those who have a common country, why do not people
resolve then that the earth should become the country of all." This is
my prayer in Jesus' name. Amen. |
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Hymn - Let Us Sing a Worldwide Anthem
- Hymns of the Saints #468 |
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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 God, we pray to you for all people in their daily life and
work; for our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are
alone; for this community, the nations, and the world. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for those who work for justice, freedom, and peace. Today we
remember especially your people in El Salvador. May they learn of peace
and share it with others. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for the just and proper use of your creation; for the victims of
hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression; for all who are in danger,
sorrow, or any kind of trouble; for those who minister to the sick, the
friendless, and the needy. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for the peace and unity of all the people of God; for all who
teach peace, and all who seek peace. We confess to you our shortcomings;
in your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things done,
and left undone. |
| 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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Lord, hear our prayers, and send your Holy Spirit to be with us as we
seek to know and do your will. Amen. |
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| Sending Forth |
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We now 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.
As you leave this house, put peace into the hands of all you meet and
the God of Peace will go before you, and walk beside you always. Let us
go forth to build peace. Amen. |
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| Ministry of Music |