Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Sierra Leone
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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It is a blessing to welcome you
to this sacred place and time of prayer. 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 UN
peacekeepers withdrew in December 2005, leaving full responsibility for
security with domestic forces, but a new civilian UN office remains to
support the government.
Today we remember the United Nations Day of Innocent Children Victims of
Aggression.
Since 1982, the United Nations has noted the aggression against innocent
children who are victims of violence in war around the world on June 4.
Thank you for joining us in this time of prayer. It is good to take the
time from our busy day to remember the needs of the world, and pray for
the peace that will unite all peoples as one. |
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| Scripture Reading: Psalm 98 IP |
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Sing a new song to Our God, who has worked
wonders, whose right hand and holy arm
have brought deliverance!
Our God has made salvation known and shown divine justice to the
nations,
and has remembered in truth and love the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Most High, all the earth, break into joyous songs of
praise!
Sing praise to Our God with the harp, with the harp and melodious
singing!
With trumpets and the blast of the shofar, raise a shout to Our God,
Ruler of All.
Let the sea and all within it thunder; the world and all its peoples.
Let the rivers clap their hands and the hills ring out their joy before
Our God,
who comes to judge the earth, who will rule the world with
justice and its peoples with equity. |
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Prayer for Peace by William Webb,
Independence, Missouri |
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Our Creator and Our God:
We look to you now in awe and praise you for your love and your plan for
us. As persons created in your image we acknowledge our need for your
presence and power in our lives. We look to you now as we ask
forgiveness for sins. Cleanse our hearts, purify our thoughts, clear our
minds to focus on the present task of making peace. We now unite our
thoughts and our faith to seek your presence and to seek peace.
We recognize the dire needs in the world for peace, for understanding,
for compassion and for love. There are many men, women and children
trapped in the depths of poverty with needs so great it is hard for us
to imagine the actual conditions of their lives. We pray now for these
persons in need. Grant your blessings to alleviate their suffering. Help
each of us to do whatever we can to touch their lives and help them find
the things they need.
God of all the earth, we also know that many persons suffer deprivation
and lack of freedom because of child labor, driven by greed and
selfishness. While many times these conditions seem beyond the control
of those who suffer, we pray that you will soften the hearts of those
responsible for these conditions. We pray for justice and compassion for
all such persons. Help us find ways to bring the ministry of you Son to
bear on these problems. Touch with your love and compassion all those
who have authority over the disadvantaged. Help them find ways to fill
the voids of need and correct the abuses of power. We pray for strength
and power to do our part. Let your peace and your love rule in our
hearts. May your will be done.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ your Son. Amen. |
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Hymn - We Would See Jesus - Hymns of the
Saints #218 |
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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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Giver and sustainer of life, we bow in this sacred space
to pray for the people of Sierra Leon. Thank you for their lives and for
our lives that become intertwined in this moment of prayer. Thank you
for the contributions they make to our world, and for the opportunities
that lead them to you and to peace. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for families who strive to create havens of love and nurture,
but are often tormented by strains and pressures from within and
without. Where human frailty or condition shatters family bonds, inspire
us to create families of choice who offer sanctuary to every child of
God. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for all children, especially those whose childhoods are
threatened by servitude and starvation, inadequate schooling and health
care, warfare and want. May we grow in understanding until we recognize
each child as our own child. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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As this community seeks to walk with Jesus, may they hear the call to be
active disciples in community building. Bless their communications with
honesty and bless them as they rejoice together, mourn together, delight
in each other and make each person’s condition their own. |
| 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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God who is called by some Allah, by some the Holy One of Israel, and by
some the parent of Jesus, help your conflicting children sense your
great love for all your creation. Help us depart from this place ready
to do our part to make peace wherever we are. Amen. |
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| Sending Forth |
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We will 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 have considered our place in the building of peace among the
peoples of the world, may we now go forth to be builders of Peace in the
name of the One who sends us, even Jesus the Christ. Amen. |
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| Ministry of Music |
