Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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Good afternoon, and welcome 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 hold up the people of Palestine in our prayers. Palestine
is the ancient name of a Middle Eastern country situated on the eastern
coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Its size has varied greatly throughout
its history and its exact borders are even now in dispute. With decades
of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, there are efforts being made
continuously to settle differences on both sides.
As we leave the outside world for a few moments, we will not forget our
duties there.
As we worship together, we will be refreshed to serve anew as
peacemakers for our God. |
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| Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:9 IV |
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Those things, which ye have both learned,
and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall
be with you. |
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Prayer for Peace by David Brock, Independence,
Missouri |
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Teach us, we pray,
Peace-Speaking God,
the language of Shalom.
We have not yet learned
your ancient, unfamiliar tongue.
Our accent is that of the foreigner.
Our gestures are awkward.
Tongues tangle, throats hurt,
and mouths tire of trying
to shape so many new sounds.
But we are willing to start
at the beginning; Learners
asking for help; practicing again
and again, and once again
until we hear your inflection
in our own voice, catch
your nuance in new words
from patient teachers of peace.
One day, slowly, haltingly
may we hear in our own voice
the faint hint of music,
the rhythmic beauty
of the language of peace.
May our words be accompanied
by gesture of hands
and movement of feet.
Letter by syllable by word
may we speak the vision
of your new world into being.
Help us say, “forgive me, please,”
to our families. Teach us
to pronounce “healing”
in hospital rooms, to plead
“reconcile” in our places of work,
to proclaim “justice” when we call
our government’s representatives.
Then, in the dark of our own
weary nights, Lord, will you
please whisper in us, “Shalom”?
God, Eternal Word of peace,
speak the language of Shalom through us,
stanza by stanza into the world*, we pray,
in Jesus Name. AMEN. |
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Hymn - Help Us Accept Each Other -
Hymns of the Saints #171 |
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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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O God of Peace, we praise you and give thanks for your
gentle, guiding calm in our lives. We give thanks for safety, food,
shelter, and a nation where we are free to pursue those things. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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Forgive our sinful ways we humbly ask, and bring to our remembrance
those actions and deeds we should be engaged in to foster peace in the
world. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We especially remember the Palestinian people this day. Help them to
find the peace they need that someday soon they may know that all
peoples are one family in your sight. Work on the hearts of the leaders
of this land as in all nations to seek peace. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We would also remember current needs in our nation as well as our own
personal inadequacies and concerns. |
| 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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Heal us we humbly pray, O God, and may we follow the lead of the Prince
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.
Let us go from this place and follow the direction of that Spirit who
ever leads us. Go in peace and be peacemakers. Amen. |
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| Ministry of Music |
