Daily Prayer for Peace--January 23

Country – Israel
Coordinator –Cindy Frerking
Leader – Randall Lawrence, Peggy Johannes
Musician –Jan Van Otterloo


Daily Prayer for Peace
Saturday, January 23, 2010 – 1:00 p.m.
Gathering in Silence
Call to Prayer
Lighting of Candle

Invitation – Please introduce yourself and the musician

We greet you in the name of the Prince of Peace, and thank you for your presence. 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 Israel in our prayers. Located in the Middle East, Jewish leaders proclaimed the State of Israel independent in 1948. Since then, six Arab-Israeli wars have torn at this ancient land, the holy land of several major religions, without ending the deep tensions between the two sides. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs have fled to neighboring states, while Jewish immigrants have settled in Israel. To secure peace, Israel in 1982 ended its 15-year occupation of the Sinai Peninsula, returning it to Egypt. A Palestinian rebellion that began in 1987, took hundreds of lives before peace negotiations resulted in a 1993 accord that granted Palestinian self-rule in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank city of Jericho. The Israeli military withdrew from all West Bank cities by 1997—and also left southern Lebanon in 2000. However, peace talks stalled, a second rebellion started in September 2000, and most of the West Bank was reoccupied by 2002. Peace seems to be a far off dream.

Let us worship together and lift up an ensign of peace, and make a proclamation for peace unto the ends of the earth.

Scripture Reading - Please announce the scripture reference I John 3:14, 16-17 NRSV

We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

Prayer for Peace - Please state by whom the prayer was written by -
Alyce Hougas, St. Joseph, Missouri

God of the Universe and Father of us all, create within us the desire for peace. Give us discernment to find avenues of common ground where adversaries may acknowledge each other as children of God.

Grant us wisdom to distinguish compromise of cherished personal ideas from the compromise of your holy principles.

We acknowledge you to be Perfect Peace. Help us to become more like you and to share your qualities of peace with those about us. May our inner peace be the catalyst that brings us to bold action which will not diminish or cease until your purposes come to fruition.

Our prayer is offered in the name of the Prince of Peace. Amen.

Hymn - Please announce the hymn number - Lord of All Nations
Hymns of the Saints #467

Prayers of the People - Please state, “Please join us now, praying the prayers of the people. During the moments of silence, you are invited to pray silently or meditate.”

O God, you are the way of peace. Come into the brokenness of our lives and our land with your healing love. Help us to be willing to bow before you in true repentance, and to bow to one another in real forgiveness.

The People Pray in Silence (20 seconds of silence)

We pray for all interfaith initiatives, and all occasions which bring together people of different traditions and customs. Help us to see the good in all people, and teach us to be the best Christians that we can be and to cooperate with one another in spite of differences.

The People Pray in Silence (20 seconds of silence)

We especially remember the people of Israel. Bless the peacemakers as they seek to find peaceful ways to resolve the issues in their country.

The People Pray in Silence (20 seconds of silence)

We thank you and praise you for love that sustains us, for wisdom that directs us, and for desire that beckons us toward peace in our world.

The People Pray in Silence (20 seconds of silence)

We hear you calling, O God, to continue to engage in spiritual transformation as we build the peaceable kingdom on earth. We lift up in prayer our church leaders who are preparing for World Conference in April. May we be open to the Holy Spirit as we join our hearts and minds to seek your will and direction.

The People Pray in Silence(20 seconds of silence)

At this time we remember our private concerns. Hear our petitions we humbly ask.

The People Pray in Silence (20 seconds of silence)

Lord, we pray for the joining of the stick of Joseph with the stick of Judah as Ezekiel prophesies. We thank you for this house of prayer, this house of fasting, this house of faith, this house of learning, this house of glory, this house of order, THIS HOUSE OF GOD. In Mozambique, Heidi & Rolland Baker and others minister in the power of the Spirit and in tremendous love with great healings and miracles and with care for the orphans and others. I would lift up Haiti for ministers and missionaries of power, of healings and miracles, and of tremendous and great love for orphans and for all those in need. [part that I added..]

The People Pray in Silence (20 seconds of silence)

We pray these things in the name of the Prince of Peace. Amen.

Sending Forth

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.

Go now and bring peace to those around you.

Ministry of Music