Morocco

Invitation

I welcome each one to this time of worship and prayer with God’s spirit of love and peace.

Each day in this Temple dedicated to the pursuit of peace, we pray for peace and uphold one of the nations of the world.

Today we remember the people of Morocco in our prayers.  The Kingdom of Morocco is located in Northern Africa and is known for its Islamic liberalism. Drought, unemployment, a large debt, and dispute over control of phosphate-rich Western Sahara have taxed the country.   In 2004, the government adopted landmark changes to the “Family Law,” aimed at 'lifting the inequity imposed on women, protecting children's rights, and safeguarding men's dignity'. The new legislation grants unprecedented rights and protections for women concerning marriage, divorce and custody of children.
May our hearts and minds be open to God’s present and guiding spirit as we uphold and pursue just and lasting peace for the people of all nations.

Scripture Reading
—Doctrine and Covenants 102:11a-b

Sue for peace…to all people; and lift up an ensign of peace, and make a proclamation for peace unto the ends of the earth.

Prayer for Peace
— Finis Easter, Independence, Missouri, USA

Heavenly Parent,
It is with deep humility we come before you at this hour, praying for peace.

We have come to the realization that by ourselves, we are selfish, prideful, and disrespectful of those who are neither family nor friends, estranged from those not like us, and even fearful of our fellow beings whom we do not understand.  We need the touch of your Holy Spirit to reach beyond ourselves and become a human family that lives together, not only in peace, but in love and mutual empathy, and respect.

There are many people who do not know of your love and your plan for living together, supporting each other in the shadow of your love.  We compete with each other at all levels, personal, as well as national, and in that competition degrade the worth of others and their personhood.  May we who call ourselves your people find ways to reach out and be a blessing to those nations and peoples who are searching for a better way of life.  We share their burden of the sin of ignorance.  The saving grace of your gospel must go into all the world before it will be a safe and peaceful place.  As members of the human race, we are repentant of the centuries we have lived unmindful of the joy of living together in love and peace.

Our earnest prayer in this hour is that you will help us to see the worth of others, and their right to be who they are.  May we have that love which opens our eyes to see as you see, recognizing the worth of persons, and desiring only that they reach the fullness of their potential, whatever that may be.
On this day, we sincerely pray that all nations find ways to justly govern in accordance with your laws of love, recognizing the worth and rights of all humans.  This is our hope, through Christ Jesus, that your Kingdom may soon come to this troubled earth.

We pray in the holy name of the Prince of Peace, Jesus.  Amen.

Hymn
To Live at Peace with Others  - Sing for Peace#17

Prayers of the People
Please join us now, praying the “Prayers of the People. During the moments of quiet, you are invited to pray silently or meditate.

We thank you, God, for all the blessings of life.  We give thanks for your loving presence found throughout all creation and for the blessing of being in sacred community.

The People Pray in Silence

In your compassion, forgive us our sins, we humbly ask.  Guide us as we strive to live in righteous relationship with you, with one another and with all the earth.

The People Pray in Silence

We pray for our communities and all nations.  We uphold for your blessing the people and nation of Morocco.  We know that peace is more than just the absence of conflict, and we seek for all people the peace that only comes through you.

The People Pray in Silence

We pray for all those who are oppressed by poverty, disease, exploitation, prejudice, and for those who are in any way denied their full worth as your children.

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 offer ourselves to be instruments of your peace.  Amen.

Sending Forth

Our service concludes with ministry of music, and you are invited to remain in the quiet of this place and pray or meditate as long as you wish.

May God’s spirit guide our thoughts and words and actions as we go forth to serve, in the name of Christ, for the well-being of all creation.

Ministry of Music