Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Chad
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more about Chad?
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Lonely
Planet.
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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We greet you in the name of God
who calls us to worship. Welcome to this sacred place. 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 Chad in our prayers. Located in
central Africa, Chad was part of France's African holdings until 1960.
Since gaining their independence from France in 1960, Chad has suffered
instability stemming mostly from tension between the African-Christian
south and the Arab-Muslim north and east. A border dispute with Libya
over the Aozou Strip went to the United Nation's International Court of
Justice for arbitration; in 1994 the court ruled in favor of Chad. One
of Africa's poorest countries, the start of large-scale oil production
in 2004 helps the economy. With over 100 languages spoken, three major
religions, three climatic zones and an ancient history, the culture of
Chad is rich, diverse and complex.
God of all peoples, all nations, and all religions, we praise you. Open
our hearts and minds to your will at this time of our worship, we pray.
Amen. |
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| Scripture Reading: Psalm 37:37 The
Inclusive Psalms |
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But take note of the blameless—behold the
upright, for there is a future for peacemakers. |
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Prayer for Peace by Marge Nilsen, Portland,
Oregon |
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Gracious God,
We come today to this place at this hour in need of your sustaining love
and gift of understanding. Our hearts are wrenched with sorrow and
remorse for our brothers and sisters throughout the world who live in
constant fear and distress of the spirit.
Our arms and hearts especially yearn to hold and comfort the children.
They are such innocent victims of human inhumanity. We struggle to
understand the fearsome power of greed and hate. We cannot and do not
want to accept its inevitability as long as there are persons and
systems that reject your ways.
We feel so helpless and yet somewhat guilty. We know that the remedy for
these situations is the gospel of Jesus Christ. We know and have
witnessed the power of the message that changes lives. We know
personally the power of relationships in the spirit of Christ that
brings true peace and hope to hearts and souls.
We confess our failure, our inadequacy, to bring the message in
meaningful and affirmative ways. We get sidetracked with issues of our
own comfort and welfare.
Our prayer is twofold. Help us, Lord, to get beyond ourselves and to
respond to your invitation to join you in your desires to bring all
people to you, to acknowledge the gospel of Jesus Christ. Help us also
to have the wisdom and strength of purpose to become involved in our
communities and our world to affect policy and programs in our social,
political, and economical affairs that will reflect your constant love
and care for your creation everywhere.
Lord, please see beyond our mere words to the real desires of our hearts
and add the power of your spirit to their intent. We would be open to
the guidance of your spirit. We would be instruments of peace and
redemption in this wonderful world you have given us.
In Christ's name we pray, Amen. |
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Hymn - O Jesus, Our Lord - Hymns of
the Saints #229 |
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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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Lord of all space, we thank you for knowing us. We thank
you for family, friends, those who will be friends, the earth, and all
its bounty. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We confess that we are less than you created us to be and humbly ask
your forgiveness. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We rejoice when one step is made toward peace between nations, but we
know the journey is long and the steps are many. At this time we ask
your guidance and blessing on the people of Chad that they may be able
to heal the wounds of war that scars their nation. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray that you will heal the pain of those who have suffered the loss
of family or of land, that bitter hurt may be transformed into healing
and love. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for all peoples, that your light may shine upon them, that the
spirit of justice and mutual forbearance may be established, and that
the spirit of love and peace will be felt. |
| 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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O Prince of Peace, stretch forth your wounded hands in blessing over all
people, to heal and to restore, and to draw us to yourself and to one
another in love. 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.
Let us go forth now to be God's people in our world, establishing signal
communities to proclaim peace in our time. Amen. |
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| Ministry of Music |
