Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Cuba
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Would you like to learn more about Cuba?
Visit
Lonely
Planet. |
Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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Welcome, and thank you for joining us in prayer 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 Cuba in our prayers. Cuba is an
island located in the Caribbean, south of Florida. In 1961 Fidel Castro
established the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere. Since
then, more than a million Cubans have moved to the United States. Cuba's
centrally planned economy initially brought dramatic gains in education,
health care, and social welfare. The economy crashed after Cuba was
abandoned by the former U.S.S.R. and Eastern European trading partners
in the early 1990s, with food and energy being tightly rationed.
Investments from Canada, Europe and Latin America are helping to improve
Cuba’s economy, and Cuba’s natural beauty brings in millions of tourists
each year who come to see the thousands of species of plants and animals
that can be found nowhere else on Earth.
We greet you in God's name and call your attention to the lighted peace
candle as a symbol of our expectation of peace. May the light sent from
God shine in the darkness to show us the way to peace. |
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| Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 37:26-27 NIV |
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I will make a covenant of peace with them;
it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase
their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My
dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be
my people. |
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Prayer for Peace by Sara Parkin, Midland,
Michigan |
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Our God and Creator,
We lift up our voices to you today, in thankfulness. You have given us
so much. We have Your love and devotion. The earth, skies and seas are
magnificent. and call out Your name.
We are blessed. We have food and lodging. We have love of family and
friends. We have worth in this world. We have work to do. We have
esteem. We can look in another’s eyes and see that they see us, who we
are. We are somebody. We think we have peace.
There are those out in Your world that do not have or see the blessings
that are there. They may not have the ability to see, touch, hear,
smell, or taste what others take for granted. They may not have a roof
over their heads or a blanket to keep them warm. They may be missing
human contact of a meaningful relationship. They may not be seen by
others. They may be shoved or kicked out of the way as worthless beings.
They are nobodies. They have no peace. They lift up their voices to you
today in despair.
Oh, God, we ask forgiveness today. We have been guilty of passing by; Of
not sharing Your love with all.; Of not using the stewardship principles
to share financially with those who have less. We are guilty of not
hearing the cries of the brokenhearted, hungry and thirsty. We pray that
our vision might clear and we might truly see all Your people as having
worth. Your God-given right to be treated like a human being. Only then
will we ever know Zion and live in Shalom.
We pray this day for us to awaken and go out to give Your peace to all
we meet. In the precious name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. |
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Hymn - Gather Your Children - Sing for Peace #3 |
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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 peoples, nations, and tongues we praise you
for your creation. We thank you for your desire that all persons should
live peaceably, one with another. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We confess our sins and ask forgiveness when we have not been at peace
within ourselves or with one another. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We ask your guidance for the nation, and the people, of Cuba. Help them,
and us, to balance our lives according to your desire that all persons
live at peace and with justice one with another. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray now for the personal concerns of people gathered here, family,
friends, and self. There are also concerns about our city and nation.
Hear our petitions we ask. |
| 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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We pray in the name of Jesus, and offer ourselves as 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.
May the Peace of Christ Jesus go with you as you become peacemakers.
Amen. |
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| Ministry of Music |
