Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Costa Rica
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Lonely
Planet. |
Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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Good afternoon, and welcome to
this sacred place. Thank you for joining us in prayer for peace. 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 Costa Rica in our prayers. Costa
Rica is located in Central America, between Nicaragua and Panama. Costa
Rica is unique. While sharing with its neighbors the experiences of
colonial exploitation and commodity-export dependency, Costa Rica
managed to rise above all that. Instead of recurring cycles of
dictatorship and poverty, Costa Rica boasts an enduring democracy and
the highest standards of living in Central America. What’s more, Costa
Rica is unique among all nations for its ‘unarmed’ political democracy
and ‘green’ economic revolution.
As we gaze upon our lighted candle, let us think upon other times and
places where God’s truth has burst forth as the way from darkness into
light. |
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| Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:38-48 INT |
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You’ve heard the commandment, ‘An eye for
an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, don’t resist an evil
person. When someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn and offer the
other. If anyone wants to sue you for your shirt, hand over your coat as
well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go two miles.
Give to those who beg from you. And don’t turn your back on those who
want to borrow from you.
You have heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor—but hate your enemy.’ But I
tell you,
love your enemies and pray for your persecutors. This will prove that
you are children of God. For God makes the sun rise on bad and good
alike; God’s rain falls on the just and the unjust. If you love those
who love you, what merit is there in that? Don’t tax collectors do as
much? And if you greet only your sisters and brothers, what is so
praiseworthy about that? Don’t Gentiles do as much? Therefore be
perfect, as Abba God in heaven is perfect. |
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Prayer for Peace by Sheryl Holstein, Roswell,
Georgia |
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Dear God,
We confess to times of insensitivity, ignorance, judgment, indifference,
hatred and greed. Help us tear down the walls that separate us from each
other. Lord, let us see you in the faces of our brothers and sisters.
Let us hear the cries of the frightened.
Living on every continent are those who are oppressed, hungry, and heavy
laden. As we merge in your love, help us unfold the red bud of passion
as we become a people of compassion. Let us keep the Lamp of Life
burning. Free us from our own limitations that we might free others.
Renew in us your Spirit, that we might be faithful to each other in your
love.
Together we can build your community, in our hearts, with our minds,
words, and deeds. May our hands join, our minds unite, and our hearts
beat as one.
This is our prayer of peace. We lay it at your feet that it may be
acceptable and we all might be healed in your love.
In Jesus' name we pray these things, Amen. |
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Hymn - Thy Kingdom Come, O Lord -
Hymns of the Saints #320 |
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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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Great God, we praise you for sending the Prince of Peace
and sending your message of love and peace with him. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We praise you for families and friends, food and shelter, warmth and
joy. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for those who do not have these necessities of life. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We praise you for holy forgiveness and claim its touch for our sins of
commission or our sins of omission. Forgive us we pray. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We praise you for all the peoples of the earth, but especially remember
the people of Costa Rica this day. May they be able to unite their
country and be a land of peace. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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As our church prepares for World Conference
in April, we pray for our church leaders as they seek your guidance. May
each member join their hearts and minds to seek your will and direction. |
| 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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Hear our prayer, O God, as we strive to be instruments of your peace in
our world. 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 and pray or
meditate for as long as you may wish.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let
us go forth now and be peacemakers. Amen. |
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| Ministry of Music |
