Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Sierra Leone
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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It is a blessing to welcome you
to this sacred place and time of prayer. 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 Sierra Leone in our prayers. Sierra
Leone is located in Western Africa. The government is slowly
reestablishing its authority after the 1991 to 2002 civil war that
resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more
than 2 million people (about one-third of the population). The last UN
peacekeepers withdrew in December 2005, leaving full responsibility for
security with domestic forces, but a new civilian UN office remains to
support the government.
Thank you for joining us in this time of prayer. It is good to take the
time from our busy day to remember the needs of the world, and pray for
the peace that will unite all peoples as one. |
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| Scripture Reading: Job 22:21 KJV |
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Acquaint now thyself with [God], and be at
peace; thereby good shall come unto thee. |
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Prayer for Peace by Ken Simpson, Lee's Summit,
Missouri |
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God of love and peace,
Hear us once again as we pray for conditions for which we long, and yet
of which we understand so little. As we attempt to focus on that which
we have come to understand as your divine call to us, there wells up
within us a desire to more unreservedly join you in the quest for
realization of these gifts in our world. We stand in awe as we
contemplate your many acts of love and forgiveness that somehow enable
us to seek your presence. In this moment we come to sense even more
fully our need to be forgiven, and to commit ourselves more completely
to your call.
God of love and peace, we have experienced the presence of your peace as
your love and forgiveness have permeated our persons and our gatherings.
We have known little true peace, yet enough to cause us to hunger and
thirst for its fuller realization in our lives, our families, our
nations, our world. You have enabled us to understand that the absence
of peace does not mean you are unwilling to have peace reign over all
your creation, but rather that we have proven unwilling and unworthy to
have your peace abide in our presence.
God of love and peace, cleanse us that we may receive your peace and go
forth as your ambassadors of love, emissaries of peace. Through Christ
Jesus, our Lord, we pray. Amen. |
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Hymn - We Would See Jesus - Hymns of
the Saints #218 |
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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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Our Creator, in this Advent season we praise you for
sending the Prince of Peace, your son, Jesus. Guide us to become more
like him. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray particularly for the nation and people of Sierra Leone this day.
May they know that you are the God of all nations and the Parent of all
peoples. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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Great God, we would also ask for your guidance as we try to live by your
standards of peace in our daily living. Forgive our sins of selfishness
and pride, we humbly ask. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for the concerns of those gathered here today, and seek your
peace to be with us. |
| 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 thank you for all signs of growing trust between nations, leaders of
nations, and leaders of religions. May we all learn peace. In the name
of the Prince of Peace we pray. 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.
As we have considered our place in the building of peace among the
peoples of the world, may we now go forth to be builders of Peace in the
name of the One who sends us, even Jesus the Christ. Amen. |
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| Ministry of Music |
