Prayer For Veterans

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On this Veterans Day -

We ask for blessings on all those who have served their country in the armed forces.

We ask for healing for the veterans who have been wounded, in body and soul, in conflicts around the globe.

We pray especially for the young men and women, in the thousands, who are coming home from Iraq with injured bodies and traumatized spirits. Bring solace to them, O Lord; may we pray for them when they cannot pray. We ask for an end to wars and the dawning of a new era of peace, as a way to honor all the veterans of past wars.

Have mercy on all our veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, bring peace to their hearts and peace to the regions they fought in. Bless all the soldiers who served in non-combative posts; may their calling to service continue in their lives in many positive ways.

Give us all the creative vision to see a world which, grown weary with fighting, moves to affirming the life of every human being and so moves beyond war.

Hear our prayer, O Prince of Peace, hear our prayer.

- From Education for Justice

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Today

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Today I purpose to live

My life will shine
As the morning sings I walk in liberty
Bound in true dreams
Manifested promises
Chase my forward motion
A covered path before me
The fruits of my hoping
The fruits of my living

Today I purpose to love

My love will speak
With the sound of grace
Merciful within mercy
The works of my faith
Smiles of overflowing
Inspire my giving
Abundance of joy as rain
The fruits of my living

- michael john faciane

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Invitation

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Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space at the same time.

Invite one to stay.

- Maya Angelou

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Autumn

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From all that dwell below the skies
let songs of hope and faith arise;
let peace, goodwill on earth be sung
through every land, by every tongue




- an adaptation by Curtis W. Reese

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A Visit To The Apple Orchard

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Oh, the Lord is good to me
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need
The sun and the rain and the apple tree
The Lord is good to me!

Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of your eye

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The Blessing of the Animals

But ask the animals and they will teach you;

the birds of the air, and they will tell you;

ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you;

and the fish of the sea will declare to you.

Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?

In God’s hand is the life of every living thing

and the breath of every human being.

What Would You Do?

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What would you do, if you knew you could not fail?

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