Archive for January, 2020

Building Peace

January 25, 2020

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9

Lord, please cure our warring madness, bend our lives to your control.*

Help us to witness to the dignity of others and to your faith and justice and mercy.

Give us the compassion and knowledge to share our blessings and alleviate the sufferings of others.

Help us to avoid the lies that you hate, and pursue the truth and love that lead to peace. (Zechariah 8:16-17)

Give us the courage to see our world as it is and to challenge its systems and shortcomings.

Show us your ways, teach us your paths. (Ps. 25:4-5)

For you are a God of love and not disorder, of peace and not of chaos. (1 Corinthians 14:33)

We need your help O Lord.

Amen

*Chalice Hymnal, Chalice Press, 1998, # 464 God of Grace and God of Glory, v.3, Harry Emerson Fosdick.

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Practicing Peace

January 19, 2020

“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:19-21

Guide us O Lord into the paths of your peace. (Lk 1:79; Eph. 6:15)

Help us to pursue peace in our thoughts and in all of our interactions with others. (Ps. 34:14)

Help us to resist the dangerous sport of dismissing, denying, deflecting, or deriding those with whose views we disagree.

Help us to be quick to listen and slow to become angry. (James 1:19-20)

Fill us O Lord with the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control that unite and heal. (Galatians 5: 22-26)

Help us O Lord, to love and care for one another that we might live in peace.

Amen

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Pursuing Peace

January 12, 2020

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18

“Whoever would love life, . . . he must seek peace and pursue it.” 1 Peter 3:10-11

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you. . . ” Romans 15:7

“Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:18

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. . . ” Colossians 3:15

Help us O Lord to value your peace and to pursue it, in our hearts and in our world. Guide us O Lord.

Amen

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Seeking Peace

January 4, 2020

They will neither harm or destroy on all my holy mountain for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord . . . Isaiah 11:9

Keep before us a vision of your peace O Lord.

Save us from violence, discord, and confusion;

from fear, intolerance, and terror;

from factions, tribalism, and hyper-partisanship;

from lies, deceit, and mendacity;

from pride and arrogance and every evil way.

Help us pursue your peace O Lord.

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