Interfaith Prayer Service For Peace As people of faith, our action should always flow from prayer and reflection. Prayer reminds us of God’s presence within all of us, helps us focus on what we know to be true - such as the dignity of every human person - gives us hope, and moves us to a concern for peace with justice in our world. Today we gather to remember our common dignity, our unique heritage as children of God, and our interconnectedness as brothers and sisters in the one human family.
An Interfaith Prayer Service for Peace Order of Service (Please be seated) Flute: “Good Morning Heavenly Father”
Jose Valez/Spirit Hawk
Welcome:
Most Rev. Thomas Wenski, Diocese of Orlando
Catholic Tradition:
Most Rev. Thomas Wenski, Diocese of Orlando
Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation whose goodness fills our hearts with joy. Blessed are you who have brought us together this day to work in harmony and peace. Strengthen us with your grace and wisdom for you are God for ever and ever. R: Amen Hindu Tradition:
Rana Tiwari
Aum sarve bhavantu sukhinah. Sarve santu niramayah. Sarve bhadhrani pashyantu. Maa kaschid dukh bhaagbhave. May all beings be happy. May all beings be healthy. May all beings experience prosperity. May none in the world suffer. Ekam sat vipraha bahudha vadanti Truth is one, the wise call it by many names. Buddhist Tradition:
Ricc Bishop ( Resident Teacher of Vajrapani Kadampa Buddhist Center)
To the Buddhas residing in all directions, With my palms pressed together I make this request: Please continue to shine the lamp of Dharma For living beings lost and suffering in the darkness of ignorance. Thus, through the merit I have collected From all virtuous actions, May the suffering of every living being Be brought completely to an end. And until all those who are sick Have been cured of their illness, May I become their medicine, Their doctor, and their nurse.
May a rain of food and drink descend To dispel the miseries of hunger and thirst; And during the great aeon of famine, May I become their food and drink. May I become an inexhaustible treasury For the poor and destitute. May I be everything they might need, Placed freely at their disposal. Therefore, in whatever I do, I will never cause harm to others; And whenever anyone encounters me, May it never be meaningless for them. May I become a protector for the protectorless, A guide for those who travel on the road, And, for those who wish to cross the water, May I become a boat, a ship, or a bridge. Just like the great elements such as earth, And like eternal space, May I become the basis from which everything arises For sustaining the life of countless living beings. And, until they have passed beyond sorrow, May I sustain all forms of life Throughout the realms of living beings That reach to the ends of space. (Shantideva) Jones High School Choir: Islamic Tradition:
“Soon-Ah Will B-Done” Negro Spiritual Arrangement by William Davison
His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Florida
Recitation of the Holy Quran And remember the favor of God on you and His covenant with which He bound you firmly, when you said: We have heard and we obey, and be careful of (your duty to) God, surely God knows what is in your hearts. O you who believe! Be upright for God, bearers of witness with justice, and let not hatred of a people incite you not to act equitably; act equitably, that is nearer to piety, and be careful of (your duty to) God; surely God is Aware of what you do. God has promised to those who believe and do good deeds (that) they shall have forgiveness and a mighty reward. Sura 5:7-5:9 With it God guides him who will follow His pleasure into the ways of safety and brings them out of utter darkness into light by His will and guides them to the right path. Sura 5:16
Nile Foundation:
Tuba Yucel
Be so tolerant that your heart becomes wide like the ocean. Become inspired with faith and love for others. Offer a hand to those in trouble, and be concerned about everyone. Applaud the good for their goodness, appreciate those who have believing hearts, and be kind to believers. Approach unbelievers so gently that their envy and hatred melt away. Like a Messiah, revive people with your breath. (Author: Fethullah Gulen) “Come, come and join us, as we are the people of love devoted to God! Come, come through the door of love and join us and sit with us. Come, let us speak one to another through our hearts. Let us speak secretly, without ears and eyes. Let us laugh together without lips or sound, let us laugh like the roses. Like thought, let us see each other without any words or sound. Since we are all the same, let us call each other from our hearts, we won’t use our lips or tongue. As our hands are clasped together, let us talk about it.” (Author: Mawlana Jalal al-Din al Rumi)
IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE COMPASSIONATE, THE MERCIFUL, look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the controversial teachings of arrogance, divisions and hatreds which have badly infected our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; reunite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish Your purposes on earth; that, in Your good time, all nations and races may jointly serve You in justice, peace and harmony. (Amin) Baha’i Tradition:
Roland Zwicker
“O Thou kind Lord! Thou hast created all humanity from the same stock. Thou hast decreed that all shall belong to the same household. In Thy Holy Presence they are all Thy servants, and all mankind are sheltered beneath Thy Tabernacle; all have gathered together at Thy Table of Bounty; all are illumined through the light of Thy Providence. O God! Thou art kind to all, Thou hast provided for all, dost shelter all, conferrest life upon all. Thou hast endowed each and all with talents and faculties, and all are submerged in the Ocean of Thy Mercy. O Thou kind Lord! Unite all. Let the religions agree and make the nations one, so that they may see each other as one family and the whole earth as one home. May they all live together in perfect harmony. O God! Raise aloft the banner of the oneness of mankind. O God! Establish the Most Great Peace. Cement Thou, O God, the hearts together. O Thou kind Father, God! Gladden our hearts through the fragrance of Thy love. Brighten our eyes through the Light of Thy Guidance. Delight our ears with the melody of Thy Word, and shelter us all in the Stronghold of Thy Providence. Thou art the Mighty and Powerful, Thou art the Forgiving and Thou art the One Who overlooketh the shortcomings of all mankind." - 'Abdu'l-Bahá (Baha'i Prayers) Reflection: “Be the Peace”
Seventh Day Adventist:
David Achata
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy 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; and 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. R: Amen. Prayer of St. Francis Jewish Tradition:
Louise Sheehy Director of Multifaith Education Project
Each Step in Peace We call upon the Source of Life The power that binds us to eternity To guide our every step that our journey be toward peace. May we begin our travels in peace; Peace of mind, peace of heart, peace of body and spirit, And may our fear of the unknown Be transformed through such peace into a curiosity for the new, That each moment of our journey Might become for us an opportunity To learn and to share. May the peace with which we begin sustain us in peace throughout our journeys That we might return to one another in peace always. R: Amen. Revised from the New Traditions Shabbat Prayer Book
(Please Stand) Intercessions:
Rt. Rev. Louis Campese, Bishop Ordinary
Assisi Litany: Modified from the Assisi Pledge for Peace In Assisi, Italy, in February 2002, Pope John Paul II and religious leaders of different faiths developed and sent this pledge to political leaders around the world in the hope to inspire love, fellowship and peace on earth. Our response is Hear Our Prayer We commit ourselves to proclaiming our firm conviction that violence and terrorism are incompatible with the authentic spirit of religion…..We Pray R: Hear Our Prayer We commit ourselves to educating people to mutual respect and esteem, in order to help bring about a peaceful coexistence between people of different ethnic groups, cultures and religions….We Pray R: Hear Our Prayer We commit ourselves to fostering the culture of dialogue, so that there will be an increase of understanding and mutual respect between individuals and people…..We Pray R: Hear Our Prayer We commit ourselves to defending the right of everyone to live a decent life in accordance with their own cultural identity…..We Pray R: Hear Our Prayer We commit ourselves to forgiving one another for past and present errors and prejudices, for without justice there can be no true peace……We Pray R: Hear Our Prayer We commit ourselves to taking up the side of the poor and helpless, to speaking out for those who have no voice, and to working effectively to change these situations….We Pray R: Hear Our Prayer (Please be seated) Jones High School Choir:
Doxology
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
President James Pratt of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
We are grateful for this privilege of uniting our prayers with other people of faith, together invoking our faith in a Heavenly Father of love and kindness, and calling on that Father to bless our world with peace. We know that God hears and answers righteous prayers. We commend those who have organized this effort, and we pray for them--that our Heavenly Father will sustain, guide, and help them to fulfill their purposes. We pray our Heavenly Father will make apparent to all people of all creeds and nations the Father’s desire that we serve, not combat, each other, that we must view and treat each other as brothers and sisters with a common divine heritage, and that each of us is responsible for ensuring the happiness and well-being of all others. We ask God to intervene on behalf of His children, to replace misunderstanding with understanding, to soften the hearts of all people that pride and selfishness will not prevent our realizing peace, that anger and hatred will no longer displace our divine duty to love, and that we will not sacrifice adherence to the two great commandments for lesser concerns. We ask our Heavenly Father to bless political and religious leaders with the determination and wisdom to know how to alleviate suffering and remove the causes for conflict. And we pray the Father will sustain and guide each of us, and He will give us opportunities to resolve conflict, assuage suffering, and bring about peace. We pray that we will join hands with all people to promote peace, respect and unity. That people of faith around the world may work together for a common good. That we may recognize that Thou will strengthen us in our righteous desires. And that we may have the vision and strength to recognize that we can make a difference in this world. Father, this is our prayer. In the Name of Jesus Christ, R: Amen (Please stand) Native American Tradition: (Recited in the Jatibonicu Taino Boricua Native Language)
Jose Valez/Spirit Hawk
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy 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 the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. R: Amen. Sign of Peace Each in our own way let us offer one another a greeting of peace. Dismissal:
Sikh Tradition: Chant Blessing and Sending Forth "Ekamkaar Satnaam: Oh Supreme Being God, creator of the universe, known by many many names, we thy children have assembled here this morning to pray unto thee. Peace is precious to all human beings . It is only through peace and love for fellow beings that we can realize your grace. Oh God, give us the courage to resolve our conflicts through wisdom and reason rather than violence. Bless all mankind with thy benevolence. Nanak naam chardi kala, tere bhane sarbat kaa bhalaa." Chant: WAHEGURU, WAHEGURU EKAMKAAR, SATNAAM, SRI WAHEGURU WAHEGURU, WAHEGURU EKAMKAAR, SATNAAM, SRI WAHEGURU WAHEGURU, WAHEGURU EKAMKAAR, SATNAAM, SRI WAHEGURU WAHEGURU, WAHEGURU Jones High School Choir
The Lord’s Prayer Arranged by: Christopher Sims
You are invited to a Reception in the adjacent room featuring the Seminole High School Choir and Guest Speaker Hedley Abernethy. Participating Faith Traditions Nile Foundation: Nile Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 2003 to promote better understanding and closer relations between Turkish and American communities in Orlando. After establishing, Nile Foundation opened a cultural center to promote the intercultural relations between the all people from different nations and called this cultural center as the Orlando Turkish Cultural Center due to the unique property of Turkey where the two continents, Asia and Europe, meet together. For more information, www.nilefoundation.com The Jatibonicu Taino Boricua Native American Indian people are known as the ‘Great People of the Sacred High Waters’ and live in the Central mountain range of the Puerto Rican Islands. The origin of the Tainos people began in Venezuela and Guiana where they migrated to the Caribbean Islands around 900BC. These indigenous people whose motto is “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” are descendants from the oldest original Native American community in the United States. As a tribe known for their artisans and love of the earth, symbols of their people include the Colibri Hummingbird and Coqui frog of Puerto Rico, they are committed to their independent heritage and their rich tradition. Sikh: Founded by Guru Nanak in India in the 15th century, Sikhism, is one of the youngest of the monotheistic world religions. Predicated on a simple message of “Ek Omkaar”- One and only One Universal Supreme Being – God. Not aligned with Hindu, Islam or any other faith tradition, Sikhs respect all religions and have an acceptance of all humanity and the belief in One Creator. It emphasizes truthful living, and the remembrance and realization of God’s Name in one’s heart. The universal nature of the Sikh path reaches out to people of all faiths and cultural backgrounds, encouraging all people to see beyond our differences and to work together for world peace and harmony. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is organized and patterned after the Savior’s primitive church, in that we are led by a Prophet and 12 Apostles. Through the prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., the Lord restored his Priesthood authority and reorganized his church once again in these, the Latter-days. The translated history
and record is called today, “The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ,” and contains the teachings and prophecies about the coming of the Messiah who would redeem all people from the effects of sin and death Vajrapani Kadampa Buddhist Center is a member of an an association of over 1100 Buddhist Centers and groups that derive their inspiration and guidance from the example of the ancient Kadampa Buddhist Masters and their teachings, as presented by Ven Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. To provide a vehicle for promoting Kadampa Buddhism throughout the world, in 1991 Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso founded the New Kadampa Tradition, the International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU). It is an international association of study and meditation centers that follow the pure tradition of Mahayana Buddhism derived from the Buddhist meditators and scholars Atisha and Je Tsongkhapa and introduced into the West by the Buddhist Teacher Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Seventh Day Adventist: The Seventh-day Adventist Church was born out of the Millerite movement of the 1840s when thousands of Christians searched for greater understanding of biblical prophecy. Among these believers was a small group in New England that rediscovered the seventh-day Sabbath. Their name reflects the two distinctive beliefs of the church: "Seventhday" refers to the biblical Sabbath, Saturday. "Adventist" refers to the second coming of Jesus. Today there are more than 13 million members in more than 200 countries around the world. The church operates the largest Protestant hospital and educational systems in the world, and has publishing houses and humanitarian ventures as well. Hinduism: Hinduism is the world’s oldest living religion. It is a rich collection of hundreds of spiritual and philosophical traditions followed throughout Asia for more than 5000 years. By accepting the divinity in all beings, Hinduism views the universe as a family or, in Sanskrit, vasudhaiva kutumbakam. All beings, from the smallest organism to man, are considered manifestations of God. Mankind carries a special responsibility, as it is believed to be the most spiritually evolved with the capacity to not only tolerate, but honor the underlying equality and unity of all beings.
Catholic Church: ‘Catholic’ comes from the Greek meaning ‘universal’ in the sense that whereever Christ is present, the Church in its totality is present and visible in the world. It is the world’s largest single religious body and comprises 23 Rites who hold the Eucharist (remembrance of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ in true presence) and doctrine of the Trinity as central to belief. The Roman Rite of Catholic Christians recognize and are governed by the authority of the Bishop of Rome beginning with St. Peter and carried on by his successor today, Pope Benedict XVI. For more information, visit www.orlandodiocese.org. His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Florida: belong to the Shia branch of Islam. As Muslims, the Ismailis affirm the fundamental Islamic testimony of truth, the Shahada, that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His Messenger. His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslim Community. In recent times, the Ismaili Community’s endeavors have been directed particularly towards working to improve the quality of life in developing countries and in this way, to bridging the gulf between the developed and developing worlds. These efforts, which build upon a history of organized community service, have been guided by the Community’s commitment, reflective of the ethic, which the faith inspires, of service to humanity. Ismailis living in the USA have been involved in various volunteer endeavors including working with the American Red Cross Blood Services, Project Open Hand, Meals on Wheels, Sickle Cell Foundation of GA, Med Share International, Park Pride, Literacy Volunteers of America, and One Box at a Time. For more information, visit www.akdn.org. Baha’i: The Faith's Founder was Bahá'u'lláh, a Persian nobleman from Teheran who, in the mid-nineteenth century, gave up a princely existence of comfort and security for a life of persecution and deprivation. Bahá'u'lláh claimed to be nothing less than a new and independent Messenger from God. The essential message of Bahá'u'lláh is that of unity. He taught that there is only one God, that there is only one human race, and that all the world's religions have been stages in the revelation of God's will and purpose for humanity. As foretold in all of the world's scriptures, the time has arrived for the uniting of all peoples into a peaceful and integrated global society.
Anglican Church: The Cathedral of the Incarnation is a member of the American province of the world-wide Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC), the Anglican Church in America (ACA). We submit to the doctrine, discipline and worship of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church and are called by baptism to live and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ by: worshipping God in prayer and sacrament, teaching and preaching the Word of God, loving and serving our neighbor. This classical Anglo-Catholic orthodoxy finds liturgical expression in the Book of Common Prayer (1928). With over seventy-seven million members, the Anglican Communion is the third largest communion in the world, after the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. Multifaith Education Project: The Multifaith Education Project is a nonpolitical, nonprofit program that promotes peace by bringing Jewish, Christian and Muslim children together to learn about each other’s religions and cultures. Currently, the Multifaith Education Project involves middle-school youth who attend Muslim, Jewish and Christian schools in Central Florida. It is the hope of project founders that the idea will spread to other communities.
