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HOUR ONE: For governments, leaders and
legislatures
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The Bidding
We
place before God’s mercy the governments of the world:
for
all who are leaders, legislators and judges,
for
all involved in public life,
and
for all citizens.
The Invocation
Leader Eternal God, flow
through our being and open our lips.
People that our mouths
may proclaim your praise.
Leader Let us worship
the God of Love.
People Alleluia,
alleluia!
Psalm 24
Leader The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in
it, *
the world and all who dwell therein.
People For it is he who founded it upon the seas *
and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep.
Leader "Who can ascend the hill of the Lord? *
and who can stand in his holy place?"
People "Those who have clean hands and a pure
heart, *
who have not pledged themselves to falsehood,
nor sworn by what is a fraud.
Leader They shall receive a blessing from the Lord
*
and a just reward from the God of their
salvation."
People Such is the generation of those who seek
him, *
of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
Leader Lift up your heads, O gates;
lift them high, O everlasting doors; *
and the King of glory shall come in.
People "Who is this King of glory?" *
"The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle."
Leader Lift up your heads, O gates;
lift them high, O everlasting doors;
and the King of glory shall come in.
People "Who is he, this King of glory?"
*
"The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory."
Psalm 46:1,
7-12
The Leader
and People pray the following psalm together.
God is our refuge and strength, *
a very present help in trouble.
The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are
shaken; *
God has spoken, and the earth shall melt away.
The Lord of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Come now and look upon the works of the Lord, *
what awesome things he has done on earth.
It is he who makes war to cease in all the world;
*
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
and burns the shields with fire.
"Be still, then, and know that I am God; *
I will be exalted among the nations;
I will be exalted in the earth."
The Lord of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be
for ever. Amen.
Scripture
Reading Jeremiah 17:5-10
5Thus says the Lord: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals
and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord. 6They shall be like a shrub
in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the
parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. 7Blessed are those who
trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8They shall be like a tree
planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when
heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not
anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit. 9The heart is devious above
all else; it is perverse— who can understand it? 10I the Lord test the mind
and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the
fruit of their doings.
Reader The
Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
A
short period of silence follows the Scripture reading.
The Prayers
Leader As we continue in prayer for all
governments, leaders and legislatures, we are called to offer our own prayers
and petitions, silently or aloud.
Take all hate from our hearts, O God, and teach us
how to take it from the hearts of others. Open our eyes and show us
what things make it easy for hatred to flourish and hard for us to conquer
it. Then help us to change these things. Amen.
(Source: Alan Paton)
God of eternal
strength, you have revealed to us the true nature of your authority in the
humble service and sacrifice of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ: Transform our
willful and worldly understanding of power, that we, being freed for the work
of your Kingdom, may worthily serve as His disciples; who, with you and the
Holy Spirit, lives and loves for ever and ever. Amen.
Leader and People
Our Father in
heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth
as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive
those who sins against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from
evil.
The Closing Petition
Leader Be present,
Spirit of God, within us, made in your image, that this world may be one where
all darkness is penetrated by your light, all troubles calmed by your peace,
all evil redeemed by your love, all pain transformed by your compassion, and
all dying embraced by your abundant Life.
People Amen.
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HOUR TWO: For all people of faith, their
communities and leaders
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The Bidding
We
place before God’s presence the lives of all faithful people,
who
seek out the life of God in paths the Spirit has prepared;
and
we ask the beauty of God to rest upon communities of faith,
their
work and service in the world,
and
upon all who lead and nurture them.
The Invocation
Leader Eternal God, flow
through our being and open our lips.
People that our mouths
may proclaim your praise.
Leader Let us worship
the God of Love.
People Alleluia,
alleluia!
Psalm 19
Men The
heavens declare the glory of God, *
and the firmament shows his handiwork.
Women One day
tells its tale to another, *
and one night imparts knowledge to another.
Men Although
they have no words or language, *
and their voices are not heard,
Women Their
sound has gone out into all lands, *
and their message to the ends of the world.
Men The
law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul; *
the testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom
to the innocent.
Women The fear
of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; *
the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous
altogether.
Men The
statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart; *
the commandment of the Lord is clear and gives
light to the eyes.
Women The fear
of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; *
the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous
altogether.
Men More
to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, *
sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.
Women By them
also is your servant enlightened, *
and in keeping them there is great reward.
Men Who
can tell how often he offends? *
cleanse me from my secret faults.
Women Above
all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;
let them not get dominion over me; *
then shall I be whole and sound,
and innocent of a great offense.
All Let
the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight, *
O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be
for ever. Amen.
Scripture
Reading Isaiah 2:1-4
2The word that Isaiah son
of Amoz saw concerning Judah
and Jerusalem: 2In 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. 3Many 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.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word
of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4He 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.
Reader The
Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
A
short period of silence follows the Scripture reading.
The Prayers
Leader As we continue in prayer for all people of
faith, their communities and leaders, we are called to offer our own prayers
and petitions, silently or aloud.
God
of everlasting compassion, we turn to you when many burdens bear upon us,
knowing that your loving-kindness is beyond all earthly price: Keep us
grateful, we pray, for this gift of mercy, that its richness in our lives may
overflow to our neighbors, and that its true glory be known in the loving of
our enemies; this we pray in unity with your Son, Jesus Christ, who with you
and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
By your grace,
O God, may we know of your love for us: Not as we would imagine, when we are
proud, perfect, and powerful; but rather, as we might accept, for you are
patient and enduring with us, revealing in our brokenness the hope you have for
all Creation; through Jesus the Christ, who with you and your life-giving
Spirit, lives and loves for ever and ever. Amen.
Leader and People
Our Father in
heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth
as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive
those who sins against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from
evil.
The Closing Petition
Leader Be present,
Spirit of God, within us, made in your image, that this world may be one where
all darkness is penetrated by your light, all troubles calmed by your peace,
all evil redeemed by your love, all pain transformed by your compassion, and
all dying embraced by your abundant Life.
People Amen.
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HOUR THREE: For the military and those
engaged in and affected by combat
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The Bidding
We
ask God’s peace to rest upon all who engage in combat;
for
all who lead in military conflict;
for
all who prepare for and propagate war;
and
for families and communities wracked by violence.
The Invocation
Leader Eternal God, flow
through our being and open our lips.
People that our mouths
may proclaim your praise.
Leader Let us worship
the God of Love.
People Alleluia,
alleluia!
Psalm
33:12-22
Leader Happy is the
nation whose God is the Lord! *
happy the people he has chosen to be his own!
People The
Lord looks down from heaven, *
and beholds all the people in the world.
Leader From where
he sits enthroned he turns his gaze *
on all who dwell on the earth.
People He
fashions all the hearts of them *
and understands all their works.
Leader There is no
king that can be saved by a mighty army; *
a strong man is not delivered by his great
strength.
People The
horse is a vain hope for deliverance; *
for all its strength it cannot save.
Leader Behold, the
eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him, *
on those who wait upon his love,
People To
pluck their lives from death, *
and to feed them in time of famine.
Leader Our soul
waits for the Lord; *
he is our help and our shield.
People Indeed,
our heart rejoices in him, *
for in his holy Name we put our trust.
Let your loving-kindness, O Lord,
be upon us, *
as we have put our trust in you.
Psalm 130
The Leader
and People pray the following psalm together.
Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord;
Lord, hear my voice; *
let your ears consider well the voice of my
supplication.
If you, Lord, were to note what is done amiss, *
O Lord, who could stand?
For there is forgiveness with you; *
therefore you shall be feared.
I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; *
in his word is my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord,
more than watchmen for the morning, *
more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, wait for the Lord, *
for with the Lord there is mercy;
With him there is plenteous redemption, *
and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be
for ever. Amen.
Scripture
Reading Genesis
4:1-16
4Now the man knew his wife
Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the
help of the Lord.” 2Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was
a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground.
3In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of
the fruit of the ground, 4and Abel for his part brought of the
firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel
and his offering, 5but for Cain and his offering he had no
regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6The Lord said to Cain,
“Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? 7If you do well, will you
not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its
desire is for you, but you must master it.”
8Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And
when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed
him.
9Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He
said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 10And the Lord said, “What
have you done? Listen; your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the
ground! 11And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its
mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12When you till the ground,
it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a
wanderer on the earth.” 13Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is
greater than I can bear! 14Today you have driven me away from the soil,
and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on
the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me.” 15Then the Lord said to him,
“Not so! Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.” And the Lord
put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him. 16Then Cain went away from
the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod,
east of Eden.
Reader The
Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
A
short period of silence follows the Scripture reading.
The Prayers
Leader As we continue in prayer for all military
forces, for all engaged in combat, and those close to them, we are called to
offer our own prayers and petitions, silently or aloud.
O Lord Jesus Christ, whose perfect love met death
by violence and was not extinguished; so enter the hearts and minds of those
affected by violence that frailty may give way to your strength, loss to gain,
bitterness to your total and victorious love. Amen. (Source: Susan
Williams)
God of eternal
reconciliation, we bring before you our lives and dreams and fears, and turn to
you for the restoration of our fallen world: Grant us grace, we pray, to set
aside all conflict, and to release all desire for glory, that our hearts may
know you and claim you as the only author of peace and concord; through your
Child of peace, Jesus the Christ, who with your vigilant Spirit, lives and
loves for ever and ever. Amen.
Leader and People
Our Father in
heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth
as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive
those who sins against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from
evil.
The Closing Petition
Leader Be present,
Spirit of God, within us, made in your image, that this world may be one where
all darkness is penetrated by your light, all troubles calmed by your peace,
all evil redeemed by your love, all pain transformed by your compassion, and
all dying embraced by your abundant Life.
People Amen.
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HOUR FOUR: For the media and all who form
public opinion
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The Bidding
We
ask the wisdom of God to fill the hearts of all who work for the world’s media;
for
those who influence public opinion;
for
those who seek to tell the story
of
our struggle for peace and our lust for war;
and
for us all,
who
have the power to communicate across our communities and across the world.
The Invocation
Leader Eternal God, flow
through our being and open our lips.
People that our mouths
may proclaim your praise.
Leader Let us worship
the God of Love.
People Alleluia,
alleluia!
Psalm 62
The Leader
and People pray the following psalms together.
For God alone my soul in silence waits; *
from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
my stronghold, so that I shall not be greatly
shaken.
How long will you assail me to crush me,
all of you together, *
as if you were a leaning fence, a toppling wall?
They seek only to bring me down from my place of
honor; *
lies are their chief delight.
They bless with their lips, *
but in their hearts they curse.
For God alone my soul in silence waits; *
truly, my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.
In God is my safety and my honor; *
God is my strong rock and my refuge.
Put your trust in him always, O people, *
pour out your hearts before him, for God is our
refuge.
Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath, *
even those of low estate cannot be trusted.
On the scales they are lighter than a breath, *
all of them together.
Put no trust in extortion;
in robbery take no empty pride; *
though wealth increase, set not your heart upon
it.
God has spoken once, twice have I heard it, *
that power belongs to God.
Steadfast love is yours, O Lord, *
for you repay everyone according to his deeds.
Psalm 120
When I was in trouble, I called to the Lord; *
I called to the Lord, and he answered me.
Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips *
and from the deceitful tongue.
What shall be done to you, and what more besides,
*
O you deceitful tongue?
The sharpened arrows of a warrior, *
along with hot glowing coals.
How hateful it is that I must lodge in Meshech *
and dwell among the tents of Kedar!
Too long have I had to live *
among the enemies of peace.
I am on the side of peace, *
but when I speak of it, they are for war.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be
for ever. Amen.
Scripture
Reading
Proverbs 17:4-5,
7, 9, 12-15
4An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.
5Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
7Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;
still less is false speech to a ruler.
9One who forgives an affront fosters
friendship,
but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.
12Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs
than to confront a fool immersed in folly.
13Evil will not depart from the house
of one who returns evil for good.
The beginning of strife is like letting out water;
