Above:  Flag of Syria

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Recent events in Syria and Egypt have prompted me to ponder how to address them at this blog.  Here is my chosen manner:  sharing two prayers from the Book of Common Worship (1993), of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  They apply to many other circumstances as well.  Perhaps a response which is somewhat timeless is the best one.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

JUNE 27, 2012 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF CORNELIUS HILL, ONEIDA CHIEF AND EPISCOPAL PRIEST

THE FEAST OF SAINT JOHN THE GEORGIAN, ABBOT; AND SAINTS EUTHYMIUS OF ATHOS AND GEORGE OF THE BLACK MOUNTAIN, ABBOTS AND TRANSLATORS

THE FEAST OF PHILIP MELANCHTON, GERMAN LUTHERAN THEOLOGIAN [WITH THE PRESENTATION OF THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION]

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For Governments of the World

 High God, holy God:

you rule the ways of peoples,

and govern every earthly government.

Work with those who work for peace.

Make every person in authority an agent of your reconciliation,

and every diplomat an ambassador of hope.

Bring peace and goodwill among all people,

fulfilling among us the promise made

in Jesus Christ, who was born to save the world.  Amen.

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In a Time of International Crisis

Eternal God, our only hope,

our help in times of trouble:

show nations ways to work out differences.

Do not let threats multiply

or power be used without compassion.

May your will overrule human willfulness,

so that people may agree and settle claims peacefully.

Hold back those who are impulsive,

lest desire for vengeance overwhelm our common welfare.

Bring peace to earth, through Jesus Christ,

the Prince of Peace and Savior of us all.  Amen.

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And I pray especially for all who suffer as the result of conflicts internal to nation-states.  May tyrants cease to oppress, and may more people enjoy the blessings of good government.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

Above:  Diocesan Confirmation, Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, April 29, 2012

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/114749828757741527421/TheEpiscopalDioceseOfAtlantaConfirmationAtTheCathedralOfStPhilip#5736963721629037026)

Words (1846) by the Reverend Samuel Johnson (1822-1882), an abolitionist and a U.S. Unitarian minister

Hymn Source = The Hymnbook (1955), of various U.S. Reformed denominations

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1.  Father, in Thy mysterious presence kneeling,

Fain would our souls feel all Thy kindling love;

For we are weak, and need some deep revealing

Of trust and strength and calmness from above.

2.  Lord, we have wandered forth through doubt and sorrow,

And Thou hast made each step an onward one;

And we will ever trust each other unknown morrow;

Thou wilt sustain us till is work is done.

3.  Now, Father, now in Thy dear presence kneeling,

Our spirits yearn to feel Thy kindling love;

Now make us strong; we need Thy deep revealing

Of trust and strength and calmness from above.

Above:  The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1964

Image Source = Library of Congress

(http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003688129/)

Words by Martin Luther King, Jr. (1939-1968)

Prayer Source = Book of Common Worship (1993), of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

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Yes, Jesus,

I want to be on your right side

or your left side,

not for any selfish reason.

I want to be on your right or your best side,

not in terms of some political kingdom or ambition,

but I just want to be there

in love and in justice and in truth

and in commitment to others,

so we can make of this old world a new world.  Amen.

Above:  Clouds Over Ocean

Image Source = Tiago Fioreze

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Clouds_over_the_Atlantic_Ocean.jpg)

Words by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881)

Prayer Source = Book of Common Worship (1993), of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

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Lord, may we love all your creation,

all the earth and every grain of sand in it.

May we love every leaf, every ray of your light.

===

May we love the animals;

you have given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled.

Let us not trouble it;

let us not harass them,

let us not deprive them of their happiness,

let us not work against your intent.

===

For we acknowledge  unto you that all is like an ocean,

all is flowing and blending,

and that to withhold any measure of love from anything in your universe

is to withhold that same measure from you.  Amen.

Above:  Byzantine Cross

Image Source = Wikipedia

Anonymous texts from various Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches

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Invocation to the Holy Spirit:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/invocation-to-the-holy-spirit/

Fill Our Hearts with Joy and Grace:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/fill-our-hearts-with-joy-and-grace/

Evening Prayer of the Covenant:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/evening-prayer-of-the-covenant/

Prayer for the Sick:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/prayer-for-the-sick/

Remember Your Servants, Lord: 

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2010/11/09/remember-your-servants-lord/

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Above:  The Beginning of the Gospel of John in Latin

Image in the Public Domain

(These texts have English translations, of course.)

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Christ, Above All Glory Seated:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2017/07/21/christ-above-all-glory-seated/

Dost Thou Truly Seek Renown:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2016/09/22/dost-thou-truly-seek-renown/

Alleluia! Song of Gladness (Cooke-Denton):

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/10/15/alleluia-song-of-gladness-2/

O Food of Men Wayfaring:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/02/11/o-food-of-men-wayfaring/

O Bread to Pilgrims Given:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/09/20/o-bread-to-pilgrims-given/

Come, Holy Ghost, in Love:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/09/20/come-holy-ghost-in-love/

Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/jesus-thou-joy-of-loving-hearts/

Father Most Holy, Merciful, and Tender:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2013/10/30/father-most-holy-merciful-and-tender/

Come, Thou Holy Spirit Bright:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2012/05/30/come-thou-holy-spirit-bright/

Only Begotten Word of God Eternal:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/only-begotten-word-of-god-eternal/

Christ is Made the Sure Foundation:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/06/26/christ-is-made-the-sure-foundation/

On This Day the First of Days:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/06/26/on-this-day-the-first-of-days/

Holy Spirit, Font of Light:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/holy-spirit-font-of-light/

O Light, O Trinity Most Blest:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/04/30/o-light-o-trinity-most-blest/

The Strife is O’er, the Battle Done:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/04/23/the-strife-is-oer-the-battle-done/

That Easter Day With Joy Was Bright:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/04/23/that-easter-day-with-joy-was-bright/

At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/04/23/at-the-lambs-high-feast-we-sing/

O Sacred Head Now Wounded:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/o-sacred-head-now-wounded/

Stabat Mater:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/stabat-mater/

Spring Has Now Unwrapped the Flowers:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/spring-has-now-unwrapped-the-flowers/

The Glory of These Forty Days:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/the-glory-of-these-forty-days/

Alleluia, Song of Gladness (Neale):

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/03/05/alleluia-song-of-gladness/

O Wondrous Type!  O Vision Fair:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/03/05/o-wondrous-type-o-vision-fair/

Te Deum Laudamus:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/te-deum-laudamus/

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/04/27/te-deum-laudamus-ii/

O Lux Beatissima:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2010/11/01/o-lux-beatissima/

Requiem Mass:  Introit:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2010/10/07/requiem-mass-introit/

Agnus Dei:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2010/10/07/agnus-dei/

The Hail Mary:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2010/07/25/the-hail-mary/

Christ the Lord is Ris’n Today; Alleluia!

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/10/03/christ-the-lord-is-risen-today-alleluia/

Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/11/17/hark-a-thrilling-voice-is-sounding/

Lord God, Our Father:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/04/27/lord-god-our-father/

Kyrie, God Father in Heaven Above:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/05/22/kyrie-god-father-in-heaven-above/

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Above:  A Globe

Image Source = Christian Fischer

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GEO_Globe.jpg)

Prayers from In Spirit and In Truth:  A Worship Book (1991), for the Seventh Assembly of the World Council of Churches

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Invocation to the Holy Spirit:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/invocation-to-the-holy-spirit/

Fill Our Hearts with Joy and Grace:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/fill-our-hearts-with-joy-and-grace/

Evening Prayer of the Covenant:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/evening-prayer-of-the-covenant/

Prayer for the Sick:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/prayer-for-the-sick/

O God Our Creator…We Give Into Your Hands:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/o-god-our-creator-we-give-into-your-hands/

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Above:  Byzantine Cross

Image Source = Wikipedia

The Orthodox Study Bible

Prepared under the auspices of the Academic Community of St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology, Elk Grove, California

Fr. Jack Norman Sparks, Ph.D., Dean

Published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee, 2008

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Prayer for the End of the Day:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2012/06/20/prayer-for-the-end-of-the-day/

Evening Prayer for Forgiveness:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2012/06/20/evening-prayer-for-forgiveness/

Evening Prayer of Thanksgiving:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2012/06/20/evening-prayer-of-thanksgiving/

Prayer for the Beginning of the Day:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2012/06/20/prayer-for-the-beginning-of-the-day/

Morning Prayer to the Holy Trinity:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2012/06/20/morning-prayer-to-the-holy-trinity/

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Above:  Twilight

Image Source = Jessie Eastland a.k.a. Robert DeMeo

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hell_on_Earth.jpg)

After The Orthodox Study Bible (2008), page 1795

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O Christ our God, who at all times and in every hour,

in heaven and on earth, are worshiped and glorified;

who are long-suffering, merciful, and compassionate;

who love the just and show mercy upon the sinner;

who call all to salvation through the promise of blessing to come;

O Lord, in this hour receive our supplications and direct our lives

according to Your commandments.

Sanctify our souls,

hallow our bodies,

correct our thoughts,

cleanse our minds;

deliver us from all tribulation, evil, and distress.

Encompass us with your wisdom that, guided by it,

we may attain to the unity of the faith

and to the knowledge of Your unapproachable glory,

for You are blessed unto ages of ages.  Amen.

Above:  Sunset

(Image Installed on My Computer)

After The Orthodox Study Bible (2008), page 1794

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O Lord our God, for when, during this day, I have sinned,

whether in word or deed or thought,

forgive me all, for You are good and love mankind.

Grant me peaceful and undisturbed sleep,

and deliver me from all influence of evil.

Raise me up again in proper time that I may glorify You;

for You are blessed with Your Only-begotten Son and Your All-Holy Spirit,

now and ever, and unto ages of ages.  Amen.