Dominica — map

Gathering in Silence

Call to Prayer

Lighting of Candle

Invitation

In the name of Jesus Christ, welcome to this service of peace where “God is calling for a prophetic community to emerge, drawn from the nations of the world, that is characterized by uncommon devotion to the compassion and peace of God revealed in Jesus Christ.”

—Doctrine and Covenants 163:11a

Today in our prayers we remember the people of Dominica, a nation in the Eastern Caribbean Sea halfway between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Dominica has been nicknamed the Nature Isle of the Caribbean for its unspoiled natural beauty.

Scripture Reading—Ezekiel 37:26-27 NRSV

I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will bless them and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary among them forevermore. My dwelling place shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Prayer for Peace

Jeff Goodwin

God of wonders, hear our prayer. We are unworthy of your love and mercy, yet you do not withhold it from us. We know our place is with you. Forgive us our separations. We know that you embrace us even as we turn away to pursue other goals. Your reach is cast beyond the scope of our sight, and there is no depth from which we cannot be rescued. We are prone to be broken, afraid, and alone. We have driven the wedge of self-indulgence between our hearts and your Spirit. And yet, amidst our lofty stance in our own minds, you seek to draw us near. Your divine presence cannot be denied. You are in the dark beyond the influence of the sun. You are in the silence of the space beyond shape and form. You were there before time began, and you will be there when time loses its meaning. You are.

May we, as individuals, seek your holy presence now. May we pull ourselves closer to the creative force that you are and join with your energy. Allow us to synchronize with the ebb and flow of the universe. May we feel the hum of your creation in all its patterns and waves. Allow us a glimpse of your salvation that will set our hearts to rest. Envelop us in your loving arms and protect us from our own anxieties. Allow us the bigger picture of your vision. May we see the beauty of the whole of creation, and, in so doing, lose sight of ourselves. Let us see the face of your Son in the smiles of those around us. May we seek to minister in love to those we meet in our daily activities. As we do this, we know our service to others will bless us with a sense of peace and purpose. May we treasure the moments in which we can say, “I am at peace with my God.”

May we, as a church community, seek your holy presence now. May we pull ourselves together as members of the body of Christ Jesus who lived, died, and rose again so that we might spend forever in your glory. May we establish missions in our congregations to support the spread of the gospel and uphold the principles of Zion. Allow us to drop our differences and band together as brothers and sisters, united in the most just cause of all: the salvation of the planet. May we remind one another that we do not need to cure all the world’s ills to make a difference. Allow us to share in the celebration of small victories in the war against injustice and oppressive entities. As we engage in these efforts, may they draw us closer to you. May we treasure the moments in which we can say, “We are at peace with our God.” We now rest our thoughts and cares in the foundation of your promises. Amen.

Hymn

Today’s hymn is “Lord, Prepare Me” number 280 in Community of Christ Sings. Sing or silently reflect on the meaning of the text.

Prayers of the People

As we enter a time of guided prayer, meditation, and musical reflection, you are invited to offer silent prayers or meditate during the moments of quiet. The Prayers of the People this day begin with ourselves and then, enlarging life’s circle, move outward to include those we know and love, to strangers and enemies, to the entire world, and to all of creation.

Will you pause for the next few moments in the quiet of this sanctuary, away from the worries of the world, to silently add your own thoughts and prayers to the prayers of the people?

Pause.

God of all time and space, I stand waiting for your peace to enter my broken and chaotic soul, just as you wait for me to pause long enough to breathe and simply be. May your peace fill the space that I now create with my breath and my being. Hear my often-impatient cry, “Be with me, O Prince of Peace, and make me whole.”

Pause.

Source of our being, we stand waiting for your peace to enter our broken and chaotic relationships, just as you wait for us to pause long enough to invite you in. May your reconciling presence bring us to a point of apology and forgiveness, of offering and receiving, and unity. Hear our impatient cry, “Be with us, O Prince of Peace, and make us one.”

Pause.

Lord of all Earth’s people, the world stands waiting for your peace to calm the warring nations, to stem the tide of violence we inflict against one another, just as you wait for us to stop the madness long enough to see one another as family. We remember all nations, including Dominica, the country we pray for today. May your profound compassion for your children flow within us. Enable us to surrender our hatred and fear and be filled instead with your loving kindness and mercy. Hear our often-impatient cry, “Be with our human family, O Prince of Peace, and make us one.”

Pause.

Creator of all, your creation stands waiting for your healing touch to restore all living things to oneness and wholeness, just as you wait for us to revere what you have given us as a sacred gift. May your generous offering of water, earth, air, and all that has life remind us of our physical and spiritual connection with everything that was, is, and will be. Help us honor our call as stewards of the Earth. Hear our impatient cry, “Be with our Earth, O Prince of Peace. Make all things one.”

Pause.

We ask for this blessing of your peace in and through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Musical Reflection

Sending Forth

Make every breath one of thanksgiving;

Make every deed a channel of justice;

Make every thought a peaceful one;

Go in peace.