"L(s)" refers to leader(s) of worship. These are to be chosen from the churches present at the worship. "C" refers to the cantor, who leads the congregational singing. "A" refers to the assembly gathered for worship.

Prelude

Opening of the Worship: Procession, Hymn and Welcome
Leaders of the churches present for the service and other liturgical ministers form the processional body. A hymn emphasizing peace accompanies the procession. A bible is carried in at the head, or right behind the processional cross. Olive branches, if possible, or flowers of various colors are carried by each of the others in the procession. The Bible is placed on the altar/table in the chancel/sanctuary. The olive branches or flowers are placed with care into a large vase in the chancel/sanctuary. Making reference to the sriptural text and theme of this year's Week of Prayer, the host church's leader welcomes those gathered in the name of the triune God.

Prayer of Praise from the Syriac Liturgy
L: In your light we shall see light, Jesus full of light; you are the true light which illumines the whole creation; enlighten us with your joyous light, splendor of the Father in heaven.
Pure and holy one who dwells in the habitations of light, keep us from evil passions and thoughts of hatred and grant that we may do deeds of justice with purity of heart. On this holy day which has brought us together we implore you to grant unity to your church: keep us in the fullness of your peace.
A: Amen.
L: Let us thank God the Father, Lord of all, let us adore his only Son and glorify his Holy Spirit in giving our life into his keeping and begging for his mercy.
C: Have pity on us, O God, merciful and good.

Opening Prayer
L: God of perfect peace, violence and cruelty can have no part with you. May those who are at peace with one another hold fast to the good will that unites them; may those who are enemies forget their hatred and be healed. This we pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you together with the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.
A: Amen.

Confession of Sin
     A leader of worship invites those gathered to join in the prayer of confession. The prayer is by Reverend Pat Vowles, in Wendy S. Robins, ed., Let All the World..., London: USPG, 1990, p.27.
A: We confess that in our lives we do not always choose the way of peace. We spread gossip which fans the flames of hatred. We are ready to make any sacrifice when the world demands, but few when God invites. We worship the false god of security. We hold out one hand in friendship, but keep a weapon in the other behind our back. We have divided your body of people into those we trust and those we do not. Huge problems challenge us in the world, but our greed, fear and selfishness prevent us from uniting to solve them. Lord, we need your help and forgiveness, your reconciling power. Amen.

Proclamation of the Word of God
Lector: Isaiah 57:19-21, 60:17-22.
PSALM 72: 1-8 (chanted or recited)
C: Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the king's son.
A: May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
C: May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness.
A: May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.
C: May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
A: May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.
C: In his days may righteousness florish and peace abound, until the moon is no more.
A: May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Lector: Choose one of two passages: Romans 15:30-33 to 16:1-16 or Ephesians 2: 13-18.
L: The Gospel is proclaimed: John 14: 23-31

Hymn

Sermon
     The sermon may be preached by a leader of one of the guest churches present.

Offering
    The host leader of worship designates the recipient of the offering and invites all to participate in giving. A hymn or musical presentation may be sung during the collection.

Intercessions from the Syriac Liturgy of Antioch
 L: Let us make our petitions to God Almighty, Father of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ: We pray you Lord, in your graciousness, friend of all, remember your one, holy universal and apostolic church
 A: We pray for the peace of the one, holy, universal and apostolic church.
 L: Bless these creatures spread from one end of the world to the other, all the peoples and flocks. May your peace come down from the heavens into all hearts, bring peace to this generation, and fulfil us with your grace. Give us your peace, for all things come from you. May we belong to you O God our Lord, for we know only you. Your holy Name is that which we proclaim. May our souls live in your Holy Spirit. May the deathly power of sin not prevail upon your servants nor upon any people of the earth.

A: Lord have mercy.

L: Let us pray to God Almighty, Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We beg your graciousness, O friend of all. Remember our gatherings in the name of our holy church, bless them and let them spread throughout all the earth.

A: We pray for this church.

L: You have reconciled the creatures of the earth with those of heaven and you have made them one. You have accomplished your plan in the flesh and as your body rose into heaven you filled the universe with your divinity and you said to your disciples and to the holy apostles: "I leave you peace, I give you my peace". Now O Lord of peace and of security, grant us these blessings, purify us from all sin, from all duplicity, from all hypocrisy, from all evil, from all machinations and the memory of evil shrouded by death. Clothe us with your perpetual peace so that we may keep the trust of the apostolic faith and may live united by the bonds of charity.

A: Lord have mercy.

L: May security and prosperity without end reign upon all the surface of the earth; decree for us your peace, that we may all become, in the unity of the faith, a perfect being measuring up to the plenitude of Christ.

A: Lord have mercy.

L: Bless, O Lord, the peace of your church, all your people and all your creatures. Pacify and reconcile all enemies and warring peoples, that their spears may be transformed into pruning hooks and their lances to plowshares and that they may learn war no more. And keep them all in your name.

A: Lord have mercy.

L: Lord save your people and bless your inheritance, watch over and keep it for ever. Maintain it in the true faith in glory and dignity all its days: establish it in the love and peace which surpasses all things.

A: Lord have mercy.

L: O Holy Spirit, make us worthy of contributing to the sanctification of your heavenly treasures and of offering to you in purity and holiness a true adoration here and in all places, now and all the days of our lives, that your good news may be proclaimed unto the ends of the earth.

 A: Lord have mercy.

Ex tempore petitions may be offered for a brief period.

The Lord’s Prayer

Sign of Peace
     The sign of peace is the central symbolic act of this year's Week of Prayer Celebration of the Word, as it bears witness to the theme. After the prayer, it should be exchanged in sincere love and joy, with exuberant music. Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: I leave you peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom where you live for ever and ever.
A: Amen.
The sign of peace is now exchanged among as many as possible.

Closing Prayer
 L: Lord, as you have taught us, we bow down before you in all humility, gentleness and patience, supporting each other with love and trying to keep the unity of the spirit by the bonds of peace, that we may become ‘one body and one spirit’, according to our common calling and vocation. With one voice, repenting of our divisions, we commit ourselves to working together for reconciliation, peace and justice, and we stand together in imploring you: help us to live as your disciples, overcoming selfishness and arrogance, hatred and violence; give us the strength to forgive. Inspire our witness in the world, that we might foster a culture of dialogue, and be bearers of the hope which your gospel has implanted in us. Make us instruments of your peace, so that our homes and communities, our parishes, churches and nations might resonate more fully with the peace you have long desired to bestow upon us. Amen.

 Dismissal, Recession and Hymn

Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute
PO Box 300, Garrison, New York 10524-0300