Daily Prayer for Peace  | |
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Daily Prayer for Peace
Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Japan
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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It is good to join you today
for this time of worship and prayer, and we welcome you in the name of
Jesus, our Savior and Friend. 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 Japan in our prayers. Japan is
located in eastern Asia. While retaining its time-honored culture, Japan
rapidly absorbed Western technology during the late 19th and early 20th
centuries. After its devastating defeat in World War II, Japan recovered
to become the second most powerful economy in the world and a staunch
ally of the United States. While the emperor retains his throne as a
symbol of national unity, actual power rests in networks of powerful
politicians, bureaucrats, and business executives. The economy
experienced a major slowdown in the 1990s following three decades of
unprecedented growth, but Japan still remains a major economic power,
both in Asia and globally. In 2005, Japan began a two-year term as a
non-permanent member of the United
Nations Security Council.
With the psalmist let us say: Come let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before Adonai, our Maker.
For you are our God,
and we are the people you shepherd,
the flock under your care. |
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| Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 29:4-5, 7, 11 NRSV |
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Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of
Israel, Build houses and live in them, seek the welfare of the city
where I have sent you and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its
welfare you will find your welfare. I know the plans I have for you,
says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a
future with hope. |
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Prayer for Peace by Hiroshi Yamada, Kanagawa,
Japan |
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Dear Lord,
Once again we have assembled here to remember you and praise you for the
marvelous things you have done for us and for the world. It is out of
your great love that you made the covenant with Israel of old, delivered
them out of captivities, and continued to lead them out of the paths of
wickedness. It is out of your great grace that you sent your Beloved
Son, Jesus, to the world to show what love is, and to show what peace
is.
We have been told many times that your Son, Jesus, talked to the woman
at the well and healed the wounds of her spirit. The sacred writings
tell us that he comforted the brokenhearted, ministered to the sick,
liberated those who were discriminated against, and brought them back to
wholeness. Much of the world did not comprehend him, even though you, O
Lord, sent him to redeem humankind. His death on the cross was a part of
that redemption.
Today we remember the pain and the sacrifice your Son made for us and
for the world. Because of the everlasting love he freely manifested in
his earthly life, we have hope and peace. We have justice and
reconciliation because of his grace so courageously manifested on the
cross. We are so grateful.
Yes, we have a work to do, a witness to share, a unique calling to
fulfill as the disciples of your Son, Jesus. Help us, O God, to bring
this world to wholeness, to bring forth Zion where peace and justice
will prevail and where love and hope will abound.
In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen. |
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Hymn - Hope of the World - Hymns of the
Saints #208 |
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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, God, for all the blessings of this life.
We thank you for friends, family, and those who give particular meaning
to our lives. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We confess to you our shortcomings. In your compassion forgive our sins,
known and unknown. Let us pray now for the special concerns and needs of
those gathered here this day. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We pray for the nations of the world, and in particular on this day the
nation and the people of Japan. May they be able to find the path of
goodness that you have planned for them and know peace. |
| 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 humanity exercise wise stewardship over everything in their
care. |
| 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. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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Hear our prayer, O Lord, and teach us the words that will give voice to
the hope that is in us. May we become your instruments 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 in the quiet of this place to pray or meditate
for as long as you may wish.
As we leave this worship time, let us remember whom we follow in our
search for lasting peace in our time. Go in peace. |
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| Ministry of Music |
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