Spiritual Practice: Liturgy with a Focus on Peace

Throughout the history of Christianity, followers of Jesus have used liturgy as a rhythm that leads them in prayer and worship.

Posted on

Liturgy is translated as “the work of the people.” Throughout the history of Christianity, followers of Jesus have used liturgy as a rhythm that leads them in prayer and worship. There is a formative nature to a liturgy that helps us use prayers and readings that are outside of ourselves to allow the Holy Spirit to then do the work inside of ourselves.

Since the brutal deaths at the hands of sinful racism, I felt led to put together this liturgy, for my church, from adaptations of historic liturgy. If you were raised in liturgical circles, there will be moments that are familiar. If you were not raised in liturgical circles, it might be a different experience for you, but I believe that it will be a formative experience.

This liturgical practice of prayer and worship, with a focus on peace, is a formational piece so that our hearts can align and/or realign to our God who offers true peace, through the good news of Jesus.

It is a fifteen-minute-long guided time, with music scored by my worship pastor David Martinez. I encourage you to find a space where you will not be distracted. As you are driving home from work, going on a walk or run, or just sitting in your living room, it can become a sacred space for the presence of the Holy Spirit to do work in your heart that only He can do.

I invite you to press “play” on the video below to participate. If you would like to read a lot, the prayers are typed below.

Video here:

Collect of Peace (Prayer that focuses direction):

Leader:

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the people of this land], that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture:

Leader:

John 14:25-27
“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

(devotional thought can be added)

Prayers of the People:

Leader:

Pray for the peace from above, for the loving-kindness of God.

(take the next 20 seconds and lift up your prayers where you are)

Pray for the peace of the world, for the gospel work of churches worldwide, and for the unity of all peoples (every nation tribe and tongue).

(take the next 20 seconds and lift up your prayers where you are)

Pray for our President, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority.

(take the next 20 seconds and lift up your prayers where you are)

Prayer for the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, and for those whose health has been affected by COVID-19.

(take the next 20 seconds and lift up your prayers where you are)

Pray for the poor and the oppressed, those harmed by racist acts, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, those affected by COVID-19 financially, and for all who remember and care for them.

(take the next 20 seconds and lift up your prayers where you are)

Confession:

Leader:

Take 20 seconds and ask God to search your heart. Ask Him to real even the things that you cannot see or are used to being there (the things that we have done and the things that we have left undone). The things that cause us to fall short of loving God and loving one another.

 -20sec-

 Know that your sin has been dealt with on the cross by Jesus and there is no condemnation.

 Psalm 103:12 
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 We can live in confidence before the throne of God and in the work that He has given to us to be agents of reconciliation.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Leader:

We are continually formed, as we come to Him in prayer. So now we pray the prayer that He taught His disciples to pray.

If you feel comfortable where you are in this moment, you are invited to join out loud:

 All Together:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Your Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Leader:

(Peace Prayer of St. Francis Assisi)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light, Where there is sadness, joy. O, Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and It is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Benediction:

Leader:

As you go, remember that Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers”. May you move by the power of the Holy Spirit to be the carriers of the peace of the God. May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.

 

 

Featured image by Samuel Martins

The views and opinions expressed by Kingdom Winds Collective Members, authors, and contributors are their own and do not represent the views of Kingdom Winds LLC.

About the Author

David Ruybalid is committed to writing in order to both help skeptics consider Christianity in fresh new ways, and to help devoted followers of Jesus grow deeper in the ways of Jesus. He currently resides in Arizona with his family and is studying to become a priest in the Anglican Churches in North America. He has had articles published by Amity Coalition, Altarwork, and currently writes for http://www.IDoubtIt.online. David also runs a podcast with Zach Zienka (www.ZachZienka.com) called “I Doubt It”. He is a member of “The College Theology Society”, whose journal is published by Cambridge University Press twice a year. Find out more at www.DavidRuybalid.com.

  1. […] published on June 25,2020 by Kingdom Winds, as a response to the racial tension in our […]