Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Morocco
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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We greet you in the name of the
God who has called us to peace. Each day in this sacred place, 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 Morocco in our prayers. Located in
Northern Africa, Morocco's long struggle for independence from France
ended in 1956. Drought, unemployment, a 20-billion-dollar debt, and
dispute over control of phosphate-rich Western Sahara (formerly Spanish
Sahara) have taxed the country. In 1999, Mohammed VI ascended to the
Moroccan throne just prior to his 35th birthday. The young king
accelerated the more liberal trends that began late in his father's
rule. He has shown himself to be most innovative in the field of social
policy, and more specifically, in women's rights. In 2004, the
government adopted landmark changes to the “Family Law”, aimed at
'lifting the inequity imposed on women, protecting children's rights,
and safeguarding men's dignity'. The new legislation grants
unprecedented rights and protections for women concerning marriage,
divorce and custody of children.
Let us worship together and lift up an ensign of peace, and make a
proclamation for peace unto the ends of the earth. |
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| Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2:22 NASB |
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Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and
peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. |
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Prayer for Peace by Joan Guthrie, Loveland,
Colorado |
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Our God, we thank you for this peaceful hour,
experiencing the warmth and comfort of your Holy Spirit. We want to
continue in this Spirit of peace in our relationships. May we recognize
that loving the person with whom we disagree is more important than
winning the argument. May we not feel it necessary to be recognized or
lifted up as much as to encourage and help another to succeed.
We want to continue in this Spirit of peace in our communities. May we
work hard to see that all have an opportunity to flourish and to enjoy
the blessings we take for granted. May we be generous in giving of our
time, talents, and resources so that our community will quickly move
closer to justice for all. May we overcome the fears and prejudices that
keep us from relationships with those unlike ourselves.
We want to continue in this Spirit of peace in our living with others in
the world. May all people tire of killing and violence as a way to solve
problems. May all have a greater trust and faith in the ways of love as
Jesus has shown to the world. May we walk in the footsteps of the Prince
of Peace until the lion lies down with the lamb and all humankind beat
their swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks. May we not
learn war anymore. Grant us your spirit to help us establish peace from
this moment on.
We ask for these blessings in the name of the One who is our model
peacemaker and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. |
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Hymn - O Day of God, Draw Nigh -
Hymns of the Saints #319 |
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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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Our loving God, you are the way of peace. Come into the
brokenness of our lives and our land with your healing love. Help us to
be willing to bow before you in true repentance, and to bow to one
another in real forgiveness. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for all ecumenical initiatives, and all occasions which bring
together people of different traditions and customs. Help us to see the
good in all people especially as we remember the people of Morocco. May
they be able to find peaceful ways to resolve the issues that divide
them. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We thank you and praise you for love that sustains us, for wisdom that
directs us, and for desire that beckons us toward peace in our world. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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At this time we remember our private concerns. Hear our petitions we
humbly 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 these things in the Spirit of Peace. Amen. |
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| Sending Forth |
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We conclude our service today 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.
Go now and share the peace of God. Amen. |
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| Ministry of Music |
