Sacred Journey 11-1-2023

Prayer Service for Peace

We know about unrest and fighting and although it is far way, it affects all of us. In a perfect world all the fighting would stop, and everyone, everywhere would be living in peace and safety. During this time, silently

pray for those who are in charge of our world, whose job it is to make decisions about war and peace. Pray that God will give them the courage and wisdom to make good decisions; to consciously work for peace, and to encourage everyone to find alternative ways to deal with disagreements.

Welcome please stand Introduction AM: When it is hard for us to find peace in our hearts, peace with our neighbor or peace in the world, we turn to Jesus, Prince of Peace to show us the way. Let us take the next few minutes to reflect on Jesus’ message of peace. Let us think about how Jesus calls us to live this message: by praying for peace, by working for peace and becoming makers of peace.

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At this time, we will light the Christ candle. This Christ candle reminds us that Jesus is our Light who guides our feet in the way of peace. Jesus guides us to peace through his word and through those he calls to lead us in our walk of faith.

Christ be our Light. Amen.

We light the Christ candle & observe a moment of Silence

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Opening Prayer God of peace, you sent your Son Jesus into the world to show us the way to a true and lasting peace.

Help those who are at war to long for peace. Open their minds and hearts as well as our own so that all people might hear your message of peace and allow it to take root in our lives.

Amen.

Lord Jesus, you said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” You know how much our world needs your gift of peace. In so many places there is war and conflict. Help us to shine the light of your peace in our world.

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Loving God, people’s expression and resort, to settles

war destroys lives. It is an of vengeance despair, a last violence never differences or disagreements.

all are invited to from the

light a candle Christ candle

please be seated Reading: Isaiah 2: 2 – 5 AM: A reading from Isaiah 2: In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord! …This is the word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God. ~~A period of Silence is observed~~ P:

You have called us to live in harmony, and yet we are divided. O Lord, break down the walls that separate us; free us from pride and self-seeking, overcome our prejudices and fears, give us courage 2

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to open others, by your one.

Amen.

ourselves to the power of Spirit make us

~from the World Churches

Council of

please stand Gospel P: A reading Gospel of Chapter 5 C: Glory to P: Jesus are the for they sons of …This is the Lord C: Glory to please be

Matthew 5:9 from the Matthew you, O Lord. said, “Blessed peacemakers, will be called God. the Gospel of you, O Christ! seated

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~~A period of Silence is observed~~ AM: Redeeming God, bless your children. Bless your peacemakers. It is not easy work. To be a peacemaker means we are in touch with the pain of others. It is heavy to watch those we love hurting. It is often overwhelming and consuming to be creative and act peacefully. And we often forget that being a presence of peace does not always mean fixing the problem. Lord, lighten the loads of your peacemakers. Be their light to brighten the darkness. Offer them glimpses of hope.

Show them the way of peace when it is hard to identify. Grant them peace within themselves. May their work and their spirit be contagious.

C: Lord, give them power, wisdom, and courage!

P: Peacemakers are the sons of God. Their work is holy. Help us to be instruments of peace, O Lord.

C: Amen. ~adapted from Rev Joanie Williams We pause to discuss our role as peacemakers… we stand to sing

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Prayer at the Preparation of the Table Look upon us in mercy not in judgement; draw us from hatred to love; make the frailty of our praise a dwelling place for your glory.

May we beat our swords into plowshares.

We give you thanks, Father, because you have anointed your Son as the Messiah, the light of the nations, and revealed him as the hope of all who thirst for righteousness and peace.

Help us turn our spears into pruning hooks.

Living God, Father of light, hope of nations, friend of sinners, builder of the city that is to come: your love is made visible in Jesus Christ, you bring home the lost, restore the sinner and give dignity to the despised.

In the face of Jesus Christ your light shines out, flooding lives with goodness and truth.

On the night he was handed over, Jesus had a meal with his friends. He took bread and gave thanks to God, he broke it and gave it to his disciples. He said, “Take, eat; this is my body given for you.”

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After supper Jesus took a cup of wine; and gave thanks for it. He gave it to his followers and said, “Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sins."

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We have come to the Lord’s table. May God make us peacemakers. Come Lord Jesus!

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distribution

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Post Communion Prayer God our Father, your Son is our peace and his cross the sign of reconciliation: help us, who share the broken bread, to bring together what is scattered and to bind up what is wounded, that Christ may bring in the everlasting kingdom of his peace; who is alive and reigns, now and for ever.

Amen.

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Go in peace.

Thanks be to God.

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