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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We greet you in the name of the Prince of Peace, and
thank you for your presence. 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 Israel in our prayers. Located in
the Middle East, Jewish leaders proclaimed the State of Israel
independent in 1948. Since then, six Arab-Israeli wars have torn at this
ancient land, the holy land of several major religions, without ending
the deep tensions between the two sides. Hundreds of thousands of
Palestinian Arabs have fled to neighboring states, while Jewish
immigrants have settled in Israel. To secure peace, Israel in 1982 ended
its 15-year occupation of the Sinai Peninsula, returning it to Egypt. A
Palestinian rebellion that began in 1987, took hundreds of lives before
peace negotiations resulted in a 1993 accord that granted Palestinian
self-rule in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank city of Jericho. The
Israeli military withdrew from all West Bank cities by 1997—and also
left southern Lebanon in 2000. However, peace talks stalled, a second
rebellion started in September 2000, and most of the West Bank was
reoccupied by 2002. Peace seems to be a far off dream.
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: I John 3:14, 16-17 NRSV |
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We know that we have passed from death to
life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death.
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to
lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone
who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet
refuses help? |
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Prayer for Peace by Alyce Hougas, St. Joseph,
Missouri |
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God of the Universe and Father of us all, create within
us the desire for peace. Give us discernment to find avenues of common
ground where adversaries may acknowledge each other as children of God.
Grant us wisdom to distinguish compromise of cherished personal ideas
from the compromise of your holy principles.
We acknowledge you to be Perfect Peace. Help us to become more like you
and to share your qualities of peace with those about us. May our inner
peace be the catalyst that brings us to bold action which will not
diminish or cease until your purposes come to fruition.
Our prayer is offered in the name of the Prince of Peace. Amen. |
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Hymn - Lord of All Nations - Hymns
of the Saints #467 |
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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, 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 interfaith initiatives, and all occasions which bring
together people of different traditions and customs. Help us to see the
good in all people, and teach us to be the best Christians that we can
be and to cooperate with one another in spite of differences. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We especially remember the people of Israel. Bless the peacemakers as
they seek to find peaceful ways to resolve the issues in their country. |
| 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. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray these things in the name 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.
Go now and bring peace to those around you. |
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| Ministry of Music |
