Canada

We greet you in the name of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  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 remember the people of Canada in our prayers.  Located in North America, Canada is a land of vast distances and rich natural resources.  Canada's paramount political problem is meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care and education services after a decade of budget cuts.  Among the foundations of Canada's cultural identity are the traditions of its native peoples.  Arguably the country's most distinctive art is that of the Inuit of the north, particularly their stone and bone sculptures and carvings. Community of Christ has been established in Canada since 1833.

On this day of Easter, we come from the darkness of our sorrow into the joyful light of Christ’s presence.  Let us join the women at the tomb in proclaiming that “Our Savior lives!”

Scripture Reading
— Psalm 98 IP

Sing a new song to Our God,
who has worked wonders,
whose right hand and holy arm
have brought deliverance!
Our God has made salvation known
and shown divine justice to the nations,
and has remembered in truth and love
the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Most High, all the earth,
break into joyous songs of praise!
Sing praise to Our God with the harp,
with the harp and melodious singing!
With trumpets and the blast of the shofar,
raise a shout to Our God, Ruler of All.
Let the sea and all within it thunder;
the world and all its peoples.
Let the rivers clap their hands
and the hills ring out their joy
before Our God, who comes to judge the earth,
who will rule the world with justice
and its peoples with equity.

Prayer for Peace
— Bruce Lindgren, Independence, Missouri

Our Gracious God,
We pause at this moment to offer a prayer that peace may reign within your creation.  As we contemplate the world you have made, we stand in wonder of its beauty and its starkness; of its power and its tranquility; of its mighty rushing winds and its moments and places of quietness.

We recognize that we, the people you have created to live here, have expressed both the best and the worst of the potential you have placed in us.  We have attempted to dominate others for our own ends, and we have made great sacrifices on behalf of other people; we have taken far more than our fair share of the earth's resources, and we have striven to live simply; we have stood by and allowed others to suffer, and we have given our own lives on behalf of those we have not even known.

Give us eyes, O God, to see ourselves in the light of your vision--eyes to see ourselves as we truly are and also as we may become.  Give us ears to hear--ears to hear ourselves as we sound to others and ears to hear the deep expressions of another's heart.  Give us minds to understand--minds that perceive things as they are and minds that perceive things that are possible.  Give us hearts with which to love--hearts that forgive offenses against ourselves and hearts that inspire us to reach out to others.

Give us peace, O God, and make us agents of your peace.  Let us act with love, justice, and true insight.  In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Hymn
Let Us Sing of Easter Gladness - Hymns of the Saints #279

Prayers of the People
Please join us now, praying the “Prayers of the People. During the moments of quiet, you are invited to pray silently or meditate.

Great God of all nations, races, and creeds, we praise you.  You are our refuge in times of trial and our joy in times of celebration.  We thank you and praise you.  You are the fount of intelligence by which we earn our bread and seek to serve you.  We praise you.

The People Pray in Silence

We acknowledge those times when we have been less than you created us to be. Heal our brokenness, and lead us into paths of peace as we praise you.

The People Pray in Silence

This day we especially pray for your blessings on the people and the nation of Canada.  May all people know the healing peace that comes from you.

The People Pray in Silence

We would also remember those who hunger and thirst for food, knowledge, friends, shelter, or clothing. Open our hearts so we will be part of the solution, not the cause of hurt in our world, and bring justice to all.

The People Pray in Silence

May our desires be a reflection of your plan for all creation as we ask your blessing on our needs and concerns this day.
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.

The People Pray in Silence

O God of Peace, may your truth radiate from this place as we seek to be your people of peace in the world.  Amen.

Sending Forth

We 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 wish.

Let us go from this place to serve our risen Lord.  Let us be the hands and feet and peaceful presence of the living God in all the world.

Ministry of Music