Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
|
 |
Portugal
Would you like to learn
more about Portugal?
Visit
Lonely
Planet.
|
Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
| |
It is good to come and worship with you,
and welcome you 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 remember the people of Portugal in our prayers. Located in
Southwestern Europe, Portugal’s 1910 revolution deposed the ruling
monarchy; for most of the next six decades repressive governments ran
the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad
democratic reforms. The following year Portugal granted independence to
all of its African colonies. Portugal entered the European Union in
1986. European Union loans funded infrastructure improvements but added
to the burden of debt.
Come, let us enter this worship with joy as we remember God’s great
gift, so freely given, that we might have abundant life. |
| |
| Scripture Reading: Psalm 146:6-9 IP |
| |
Adonai, you keep faith forever:
you secure justice for the oppressed,
you give food to the hungry,
you set captives free,
you give sight to the blind,
you raise up those who were bowed down,
you love those who do justice,
you protect strangers,
you sustain orphans and the bereaved—
but you thwart the way of the corrupt.
Our God will reign forever—your God, Zion!—
through all generations. Alleluia! |
| |
|
Prayer for Peace by Cathi Cackler-Veazey,
Independence, Missouri |
| |
Our Creator, Sustainer, and Inner-most Friend,
We come to you today in the spirit of humility to acknowledge your great
power in each individual life, in the communities and corporations of
human design, in the governments of the nations, and in all things on
this terrestrial ball. We seek harmony in a world of chaos.
We seek peace where separation reigns. For we know that when people live
in an awareness of the connectedness of all things through your spirit,
peace is the natural result.
This prayer is for peace. Not the peace that is only resident in
signatures on pieces of paper. We know that there have been tens of
thousands of such treaties between nations through time. This is a
prayer for the peace that resides in the hearts of people, because we
know it to be a deeper, more lasting commitment. Such love transcends
differences. It brings those from many cultures and religions together.
The language of the world religions speaks of that unity. It is a
oneness that binds us in the mutual desire for peace. As the Christian
would say, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the
children of God.” As the Buddhist would say, “When righteousness is
practiced to win peace, he who so walks shall gain the victory and all
fetters utterly destroy.” As the Jew would say, “How beautiful upon the
mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes
peace.” As the Hindu would say, “The noble minded dedicate themselves to
the promotion of peace and the happiness of others—even those who injure
them.”
God of all nations, though we look at you through separate eyes, let us
see the truth you share with each of us. Call us to accountability as
peacemakers. Strengthen us for the journey toward harmony. Bless us with
the vision of possibility. Amen. |
| |
|
Hymn - Help Us Accept Each Other -
Hymns of the Saints #171 |
| |
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. |
| |
O Lover 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 |
| |
By the fire of your Holy Spirit melt our hard hearts, and consume the
pride and prejudice which separate us. Fill us, O Lord, with your
perfect love which casts out fear, and bind us together in that unity
which you share with the Divine Creator and the Holy Spirit. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
| |
We pray for all attempts to bring together people of different
traditions and customs. Help us to see the good in all people especially
as we remember the people of Portugal. We pray that you will look into
the hearts of the people there and fit a blessing to their needs. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
| |
At this time we remember our private concerns. Hear our petitions we
humbly ask. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
| |
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.
|
| The People Pray in Silence |
| |
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. In
the name of Jesus the Christ we pray, Amen. |
| |
| Sending Forth |
| |
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.
As we go from this house, let us remember our good resolves to be
peacemakers in our world. The Prince of Peace will be with us to guide
our every intent if we but listen to that still, small voice of reason.
Go, therefore, and teach peace. Amen. |
| |
| Ministry of Music |
