Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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Welcome today 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 Palestine in our prayers. Palestine
is the ancient name of a Middle Eastern country situated on the eastern
coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Its size has varied greatly throughout
its history and its exact borders are even now in dispute. With decades
of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, there are efforts being made
continuously to settle differences on both sides.
As we leave the outside world for a few moments we will not forget our
duties there. As we worship together, we will be refreshed to serve anew
as peacemakers for our God. |
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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 Douglas Porter, Park Holme,
South Australia, Australia |
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Lord of Creation, all praise and glory unto you who
created humankind in your image and gave unto us stewardship over the
earth. Forgive us for our failure to adequately keep that
responsibility. Lord, we have failed in so many ways. We have failed to
come fully into your image, to accept the challenge to follow your ways
and to obey your commandments. We have failed to respond to that call to
change our ways given to us through the centuries through your chosen
prophets. And because of this, we have failed to live in harmony with
each other, in our families, our society, our culture, and between
cultures, and even with our environment.
And now, O God, the world bleeds because of our neglect so that the
peoples of the world cry out to you in their suffering and pain. Hear
their cries, O Lord, we pray, and comfort them in their time of need.
Soften the attitudes in hearts and minds of the leaders of the world
that peace and harmony might indeed come to all people. Show us Lord how
to help heal the pain and to ease the suffering in our midst, and to
fulfill your will for us in the days of our probation.
The earth also cries out in pain as humankind plunders it motivated by
selfishness and greed. All creation calls and condemns us for our
failure to be good stewards over all that has been placed in our care.
Lord, you have challenged all of us to become your instruments of peace.
May we respond to that challenge and accept the responsibility that is
laid upon us all, also remembering that our failure to respond causes
you to suffer even more. Strengthen us for the task, O God, we pray in
the name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Amen. |
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Hymn - Help Us Accept Each Other -
Hymns of the Saints #171 |
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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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O God of Peace, we praise you and give thanks for your
gentle, guiding calm in our lives. We give thanks for safety, food,
shelter, and a nation where we are free to pursue those things. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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Forgive our sinful ways we humbly ask, and bring to our remembrance
those actions and deeds we should be engaged in to foster peace in the
world. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We especially remember the Palestinian people this day. Help them to
find the peace they need that someday soon they may know that all
peoples are one family in your sight. Work on the hearts of the leaders
of this land – both Palestinian and Israeli – that they may seek peace. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We would also remember current needs in our nation as well as our
personal inadequacies and concerns. |
| 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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Heal us we humbly pray, O God. May we follow the lead of the Prince of
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.
Let us go from this place and follow the direction of that Spirit who
ever leads us. Go in peace and be peacemakers. Amen. |
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| Ministry of Music |
