Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Guinea - Bissau
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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It is good to be with you, and
welcome to this time of worship. 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 Guinea-Bissau in our prayers.
Located in western Africa, Guinea-Bissau’s first multiparty elections
were held in 1994. An army uprising four years later led to a bloody
civil war, which caused severe damage to the nation's infrastructure.
Political instability continued with a military coup in 2003.
Guinea-Bissau's transition back to democracy will be complicated with
its economy devastated in the civil war. In August 2005, former
President Vieira was re-elected president and has pledged to pursue
economic development and national reconciliation. Guinea-Bissau is among
the world's least developed countries, with most people engaged in
subsistence agriculture and fishing—cashew nuts are the main export
crop.
We also commemorate an historic event for humankind, the proclamation of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, whose preamble consecrates
legitimate and fundamental
rights inherent to all of us as human beings “as a common standard to be
achieved for all peoples and all nations”. 56 years ago, when
proclaiming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the General
Assembly highlighted in particular the fundamental role of education in
the achievement of human rights. Consistently to this call, United
Nations activities have been more and more devoted to promoting respect
of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
As we worship together, let us unite as one and pray for peace with
justice in our world. The author of peace, even our God of wisdom and
light, will guide us. |
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| Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 37:26-27 NIV |
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I will make a covenant of peace with them;
it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase
their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My
dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be
my people. |
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Prayer for Peace by Steven L. Shields, Seoul,
Korea |
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Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth,
How often do we forget the unity of Your creation? The world seems as
though it is coming apart at its seams, and we feel so helpless that we
fail to respond in any way except with utter despair. We become
complacent when our own needs have been fulfilled. We experience
compassion overload, and so tune out those very people, those very
places, and those very problems that we may well be able to alleviate.
We feel somehow detached from those "others" as long as they are far
enough off so as not to confront us with their needs in a direct manner.
Yet, you created humans as one species. Our destinies individually are
inextricably connected with our destiny collectively. May we always
remember this essential truth about ourselves.
We acknowledge, O God, those of our sisters and brothers who are
suffering this day from strife and tyranny--we have soft hearts and
willing hands to do what we can do to help them. We think of our
children and families, and long to be with them. Our love for those we
know is great, magnify our love so that it can extend to even those we
do not know. We pray for our world that peace may prevail.
In the name of the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Divine Presence. Amen. |
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Hymn - I Heard the Bells on Christmas
Day - Hymn of the Saints #250 |
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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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We thank you and praise you, God, for all the blessings
of this life. We thank you for your guidance and presence within us. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We confess to you our shortcomings. In your compassion forgive our sins,
known and unknown, things done or left undone. We now hold up before you
our personal concerns and needs. Hear our petitions, we humbly ask. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for peace among the nations of the world, and in particular we
ask your blessing on the people of Guinea Bissau this day. They
struggle, as we all do, to become a nation of peace. Be with them and
guide them, we pray. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for the just and equitable use of the resources of your earth.
May all peoples be wise partakers of your bounty. We pray for persons in
pursuit of their daily livelihood. May they know peace and be able to
joyfully celebrate the present day. |
| 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. Today we offer ourselves as instruments of your
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.
May the God of Abraham and Sarah, the God of Lehi and Nephi, the God of
Jesus the Christ, guard you and guide you, as we strive to be
peacemakers and peacekeepers in this world. Amen. |
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| Ministry of Music |
