Daily Prayer for Peace
1:00 p.m.
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Vietnam
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Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of CandleInvitation |
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Good afternoon, and welcome to this sacred
place as we share in worship and 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 remember the people of Vietnam in our prayers. Vietnam is
located in Asia along the South China Sea. Vietnam’s culture dates back
to the 3rd century BC, shaped by the philosophies and religions of
Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Christianity. Over the years,
Vietnam found itself in frequent conflict with its neighbor China. In
1954 the country was divided into north and south due to political and
ideological issues which created many conflicts for Vietnam. The Vietnam
war was waged along with the United States, but when the States withdrew
their troops in 1973 from South Vietnam, the civil war resumed. In 1976
the two Vietnams united as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The
country now cooperates with other nations to build the economy and focus
on trade.
Let us worship together and lift up an ensign of peace, and make a
proclamation for peace unto the ends of the earth. |
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| Scripture Reading: Zechariah 8:16 NRSV |
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These are the things that you shall do:
Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are
true and make for peace. |
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Prayer for Peace by Anne Smith, Independence,
Missouri |
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Our Gracious Lord,
We come before you now with bowed heads and uplifted hearts seeking a
path to peace for the inhabitants of this earth. We know that such a
loving God must feel anguish over the massive violence and suffering
that exists in the world today. Each individual is precious to you so we
ask for insight and courage as we labor for peace, justice, mercy, and
harmony in the lands across this planet.
We pray for the victims of oppression and the hearts of the oppressor,
the hungry as well as those who would exploit them, the ill and all who
are faced with hopelessness.
Sometimes the task of building peace is so overwhelming that we just
want to give up. Help us to realize that we can't do everything, but
each person can do something. We have been told in the scriptures,
(Galatians 6:9) "So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we
will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up." It is our prayer that
we heed this admonition for we know that true peace can be achieved only
by trusting, loving, and helping each other.
Give us the strength, wisdom, and vision to undertake those tasks which
will further the cause of peace. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. |
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Hymn - Let Us Pray for One Another -
Hymns of the Saints #312 |
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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 pray that the light of our peace candle will radiate
your light in our hearts, O God, and in all hearts throughout the world.
We praise you, the maker of peace. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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We praise you, God, for expanding our knowledge of you through Jesus’
teachings: Blest are the sorrowful; they shall find consolation. And
blest are those of a gentle spirit; they shall have the earth for their
possession. How blest are those who hunger and thirst to see right
prevail for they shall be satisfied. Help us to have this hunger, O God. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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Blest are those who show mercy; mercy shall be shown to them. How blest
are those whose hearts are pure; they shall see God. How blest are the
peacemakers; God shall call them his children. Help us to be merciful
and be peacemakers, we pray. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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At this time we pray especially for the people of Vietnam. Be near them
we pray, that they may also desire to be a people a peace. |
| The People Pray in Silence |
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O God, we give you thanks for our bounteous blessings and ask your
forgiveness when we have wasted your goodness to us. We would remember
the needs of the world and the needs of those gathered here this 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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May your Spirit continue to guide us to that “perfect peace”, we pray in
the name 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. We
invite you to remain in the quiet of this place to pray or meditate for
as long as you may wish.
May the God of peace, of glory, and righteousness, keep us to fulfill
our desires to be peacemakers in the world. Amen. |
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| Ministry of Music |
