Spain — 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 Spain, a nation on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Spain is one of three countries to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines.

Scripture Reading— Psalm 33:1-5 NRSV

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous.

Praise befits the upright.

Praise the Lord with the lyre;

make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.

Sing to him a new song;

play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

For the word of the Lord is upright,

and all his work is done in faithfulness.

He loves righteousness and justice;

the Earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

Prayer for Peace

Anonymous

Gracious and loving God who knows us each by name,

We pause in this moment to lift our collective voices and hearts in a daily prayer for peace.

God, we live in a world that often lacks peace…

We live in a world where people fight with one another, oppress each other, and struggle for earthly power and control.

We live in a world where people destroy the Earth out of ignorance and laziness and without fully understanding the impacts of their actions.

We live in a world where people die of disease, hunger, natural disasters, and random unfortunate accidents.

Amid this turmoil, O God, it is often difficult to imagine your peace.

We pray for inspiration that we might be able to capture a glimpse of your vision of shalom.

We pray for transformation that we might better know how to shape our words and deeds to be peacemakers where we live and serve.

We pray for wisdom that we might more deeply understand the complexities of peace and justice and how to create new systems that uphold the worth of all people and the beauty of all creation.

We pray for courage that we might be willing to be your instruments of peace as we come face-to-face with injustice.

But mostly, God of Peace, we pray for love. For we realize that it is your generous sharing of love through the gift of your son, Jesus Christ, that peace is possible.

Shape and form us as generous disciples as we receive your love today and always. Let us multiply your love through our words and actions.

God who knows and loves us all by name, send us into the world as your hands and feet and bless us to act in peace with your love. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

Hymn

Today’s hymn is 242 in Community of Christ Sings, “When We Are Living.” Sing or silently reflect on the meaning of the text as it is sung. Hymn number 242.

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 Spain, 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.