Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Gambia
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Would you like to learn
more about Gambia?
Visit
Lonely
Planet. |
Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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Good afternoon, and welcome today to this sacred place.
It is good to share in prayer and worship with you. 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 Gambia in our prayers. Located in
Western Africa, Gambia gained its independence from the United Kingdom
in 1965. After nearly 30 years of democratic rule, Gambia's president
was ousted by a military coup in 1994, although constitutional rule was
reestablished in January of 1997. Most people are subsistence farmers
and the main export is groundnuts (peanuts). Music is Gambia's richest
artistic tradition.
May God guide our worship as we seek the divine mind for us at this time
and for this day. |
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| Scripture Reading: Isaiah 11:4-5 adapted |
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He will not judge by what he sees with his
eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness
he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions of the poor
of the earth. |
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Prayer for Peace by Wallace B. Smith,
Independence, Missouri |
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God of earth and sea and sky, God of us all, we come to
you at this moment with heads bowed in acknowledgement of your presence
in our midst. As we raise our voices to you in prayer and song may the
unspoken meditations of our hearts also lift in the warmth of your
Spirit until they have penetrated the very vault of heaven and returned
to us blessed by your love and grace.
Even in this quiet moment in this peaceful place, we are reminded anew
of the many places in your world where strife and enmity, sorrow and
pain are being experienced by your sons and daughters. Lord, we have
such a desire to be the instruments through which release and relief can
come to those who are suffering the effects of persecution and
oppression. But we sense just how flawed even our best intentions are
and how blemished with pride are even our most humble efforts to be your
servants. Touch our impulses with your grace, O Lord, that they may be
cleansed and rendered acceptable for your purposes.
May all those in distress feel the peace of your comforting presence
this very hour as our petitions ascend to you. For we offer our prayer
in the blessed name of your Son, Jesus the Christ, Amen. |
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Hymn - I Wonder as I Wander -
Hymns of the Saints #251 |
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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. We give thanks for this time of
remembering your goodness, your loving care, your guidance and your plan
for salvation. |
| 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. Teach us of your ways, we ask. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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This day, O God, we remember the nation of Gambia and their people who
struggle daily for peace, acceptance, and justice. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We would also remember the concerns of this gathered people as we bring
before you our personal cares and hopes. |
| 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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O Living God of grace and glory and peace, guide us to new paths of
peace, for all our sakes. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. |
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| Sending Forth |
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We conclude our service for 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.
Go now in the full knowledge of the gift of the Son of God, and become
the peacemakers you are called to be. |
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| Ministry of Music |
