Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
|
 |
Sierra Leone
Would you like to learn
more about Sierra Leone?
Visit
Lonely
Planet.
|
Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
| |
Welcome today to this sacred
place, and we greet you in the name of Jesus our Redeemer and friend.
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 Sierra Leone in our prayers. Sierra
Leone is located in Western Africa. The government is slowly
reestablishing its authority after the 1991 to 2002 civil war that
resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more
than 2 million people (about one-third of the population). The last
United Nations’ peacekeepers withdrew in December 2005, leaving full
responsibility for security with domestic forces, but a new civilian UN
office remains to support the government.
Let us worship with new awareness concerning the need for peace in our
time. We greet you and call your attention to the lighted peace candle
as a symbol of expectation. May the light sent from God shine in the
darkness to show us the way to peace. We say with the prophets, “Come, O
come, Emmanuel! May your peace fill our world.” |
| |
| Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 37:26-27 NIV |
| |
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. |
| |
|
Prayer for Peace by Bruce Lindgren, Blue
Springs, Missouri |
| |
Our loving God, we pause at this quiet time to offer a
prayer for peace. During this advent season, we are particularly
grateful for the gift of your son, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. He
came into a world of conflict, hatred, and distrust to sow seeds of
peace and justice. Through him, your gospel of peace and redemption
became flesh, lived out in the life of one who was like us, yet also
divine.
We are aware of injustice and oppression in our world, leading to a lack
of peace, a hungering and thirsting for peace. We ask for your loving
presence to redeem moments of violence, oppression, and injustice. May
we find the seeds of peace that you have placed into our most difficult
moments and situations.
We are also aware that we are often not at peace within ourselves. May
our lives be directed more fully toward you. May we be guided by your
Spirit, and may we be at peace as we move through a world that seems to
be in so much need.
We ask your blessing on all the peoples of the earth today. May we all
be agents and recipients of your peace. This is our prayer, O God, in
Jesus' name we pray. Amen. |
| |
|
Hymn - We Would See Jesus - Hymns of
the Saints #218 |
| |
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. |
| |
Great God, especially in this advent season, we praise
you for sending the Prince of Peace. We thank you for sending us your
son to teach us of peace and of your love for us. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
| |
We praise you for families and friends, food and shelter, warmth and
joy. We would ask you to be with us, and help us to learn to share with
others the necessities of life. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
| |
We praise you for holy forgiveness and claim its touch for our sins, and
pray that you will guide us and direct us as we seek to learn of your
ways. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
| |
We praise you for all people of the earth, but ask your special
remembrance for the people of Sierra Leone this day. May they know your
peace. |
| 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 |
| |
Hear our prayer, O God, as we strive to be instruments of your peace in
our world. Amen. |
| |
| Sending Forth |
| |
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.
As we leave this house, let us resolve to be the peacemakers and
peacekeepers we have been called to be. God will guide us as we build
peace in our world. |
| |
| Ministry of Music |
