Daily Prayer for Peace  | |
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Daily Prayer for Peace
Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Spain
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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Welcome to this time of prayer
and worship. We greet you in the name of Jesus, our Lord. 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 hold up the people of Spain in our prayers. Located in
Southwestern Europe, Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th
centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. In 1986
Spain joined the European Union. In 1992 Barcelona hosted the Olympic
Games, Seville hosted Expo 92 and Madrid was declared the European
Cultural Capital. Separatist agitation born of historical regional
differences, most pronounced in the Basque country and in Catalonia,
still challenges national unity, but a strong national peace movement
has developed to counteract terrorist activities. Unemployment continues
to be a problem, but recent economic growth makes the country's future
outlook more positive.
Great God, enter into our worship and guide our hearts and minds to
your will. Amen. |
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| Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:9 KJV |
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Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall
be called the children of God. |
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Prayer for Peace by David Brock, Independence,
Missouri |
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God,
the language of Shalom.
We have not yet learned
your ancient, unfamiliar tongue.
Our accent is that of a foreigner.
Our gestures are awkward.
Tongues tangle, throats hurt,
and mouths tire of trying
to shape so many new sounds.
But we are willing to start
at the beginning; Learners
asking for help; practicing again
and again, and once again
until we hear your inflection
in our own voice, catch
your nuance in new words
from patient teachers of peace.
One day, slowly, haltingly
may we hear in our own voice
the faint hint of music,
the rhythmic beauty
of the language of peace.
May our words be accompanied
by gesture of hands
and movement of feet.
Letter by syllable by word
may we speak the vision
of your new world into being.
Help us say, “forgive me, please,”
to our families. Teach us
to pronounce “healing”
in hospital rooms, to plead
“reconcile” in our places of work,
to proclaim “justice” when we call
our government’s representatives.
Then, in the dark of our own
Weary nights, Lord, will you
Please whisper in us, “Shalom?”
God, Eternal Word of peace,
Speak the language of Shalom through us,
Stanza by stanza into the world*, we pray,
In Jesus’ Name. Amen
*Denise Levertov, from “Making Peace,” Breathing the Water,
New Directions, 1987 |
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Hymn - Lord, Speak to Me - Hymns of
the Saints #412 |
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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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God of all the earth and those who dwell thereon, we
thank you for your mercy, your goodness, and your plan for all of
creation to be at peace. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for divine forgiveness when we have not been compassionate or
loving or just. We pray for courage to be your presence in the world. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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Hear our prayer, Merciful God, as we pray for others who are victims of
abuse, neglect, hatred, and illness. We pray for those who suffer the
destruction and desolation of war or human selfishness. This day we hold
to the light of God's love and healing the people of Spain. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for the concerns of those gathered here in this room, and ask
that you might fit a blessing to our needs. |
| 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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We lift our hearts and minds and voices in
honor, praise, and glory to you, God of Peace. Amen. |
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| Sending Forth |
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We conclude our service for 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.
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts
and minds. Go forth and teach peace. Amen. |
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| Ministry of Music |
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