Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Colombia
Would you like to learn more about Colombia?
Visit Lonely
Planet.
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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Welcome today to this sacred
place, and we are happy to have you join us in 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 remember the people of Columbia in our prayers. Located in
South America, Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from
the collapse of Gran Colombia
in 1830. A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the Colombian
Government escalated during the 1990s, supported in part by funds from
the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and large swaths of the
countryside are under guerrilla influence, the movement lacks the
military strength or popular support necessary to overthrow the
government. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to reassert
government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in
every one of its municipalities. However, neighboring countries worry
about the violence spilling over their borders.
It is written that God's grace is sufficient that it is enough. We meet
today to learn this lesson as we engage in worship. May our encounter
with God's grace result in the deepening of faith and enlarging of hope. |
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| Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:14-16 INT |
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Christ is our peace…who broke down the
barrier of hostility that kept us apart. In his own flesh, Christ
abolished the Law, with its commands and ordinances, thus establishing
peace and reconciling us all to God in one body through the cross, which
put to death the enmity between us. |
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Prayer for Peace by Katherine Shields,
Independence, Missouri |
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O Creator of light and darkness, we ask that you will
bless our assembly with a newly awakened sense of your will; that our
actions will truly represent the convictions of our hearts.
Bless us with new sight to see the poverty of things and spirit that
surrounds us and allow your spirit to minister to others through our
actions.
Soften our hearts, we pray, and allow us to be the difference in this
world of pain. We ask these things in the name of our Savior and hope.
Amen. |
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Hymn - O Christ, My Lord, Create in Me
- Hymns of the Saints #174 |
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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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Let us be still in the courts of glory that God's grace
may bathe our souls in peace. We give praise and honor to our attentive
God who has visited our souls with such grace. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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In the light of such grace and glory, we become keenly aware of the
stain sin has left on our souls. We seek for further cleansing. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We lift up the people of Columbia to you, God. Our hearts fill with
sorrow as we remember how so many parts of our world are held in the
grip of intolerance and terror and civil war. May cool heads with
listening hearts prevail. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We speak our gratitude for the enormous blessings that our family and
other loved ones are experiencing. |
| 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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Beloved Creator, you have watched generations come and go throughout the
stretches of time. We are reaping the harvest they planted. And we plant
for those who follow after us. Grace our harvesting and our planting. We
want to do our part in the creation of a universe at peace with itself.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. |
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| Sending Forth |
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We conclude our service with Ministry of Music. You are
invited to remain to pray or meditate in the quiet of this place for as
long as you may wish.
Eternal God who broods over the world's billions, we leave this place of
quiet beauty aware that our place to serve is out in our world. May our
labors bring honor to you. |
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| Ministry of Music |
