UNITY CHURCH UNIVERSAL

913 Tracy Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64106
Office: 816-421-6446 · Prayer: 816-221-6995

Consecration Service for Peace

In 1917, Silent Unity began the custom of observing a silence for peace at 11:00 each morning and continued through World War II. Public address speakers were turned on for a brief message. Every worker stood with eyes closed, consecrated to the prayer: "Liberty, justice, righteousness, and peace are now established throughout the world, in the name of Jesus Christ."

During the fall of 1939, Silent Unity workers began to meet an extra half hour before working hours each morning to participate in a "Consecration Service for Peace." This service was presented to Unity Center leaders from all parts of the world in June, 1940. It was so appreciated that Silent Unity decided to share the service with Daily Word readers in November, 1940, that they, too, might participate daily in a prayer for peace. The following service is adapted from the 1940 Daily Word printing.

As you read the messages and repeat the affirmative prayers, remember that the words you send out are mighty to produce what you decree. The promise is, "I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him that is far off and to him that is near, saith Jehovah . . . ." Join with other Truth students around the world and with us here in Kansas City by speaking these words of peace each day at 11:00 AM Central Time.

Beloved in Truth, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! From Unity Church Universal, greetings!

We are gathered here today in the cause of the Prince of Peace, to whose service we consecrate ourselves. The peace for which we pray is more than just a temporary suspension of hostilities between nations. We pray for the end of war and of the war spirit, for the end of selfishness, injustice, and oppression. We pray for the universal peace of God, a just and lasting peace founded on Truth principles. This peace begins in the heart of every person. It ends in the establishment of the kingdom of Christ in the earth. Between the beginning and the end there are many steps. It is the purpose of this service to help us take these steps:

1. The Vision
2. The Consecration
3. The Light
4. The Deliverance
5. The Spirit of Unity
6. The Victory
7. The Consummation

This is our faith, Lord: We have faith in Thy Spirit in human beings.

The way may seem dark and hard, but the Spirit that has driven humankind onward and upward across the incredible centuries will bear us up now. It has given us the love of liberty that is stronger than oppression and the courage that is mightier than death. It has given us the knowledge of Thee, O Lord, to whom the ultimate victory belongs.

For the battle is not of person against person, but of persons against the darkness. Lo, the day is at hand when the light will shine again.

It will be war, not civilization, that is destroyed. It will be ignorance, not humanity, that dies. There will arise a commonwealth of nations where men and women will live together under Truth, in fellowship and understanding, working for the common good.

We keep the faith with Thee, O Lord, to whom the ultimate victory belongs. Amen.

We send out the call for prayer, and the people of the world respond as we distribute copies of this prayer for peace. As we speak it together let us realize that we are not alone. From all over the world, from cities, villages, homes, churches, and even from the field of battle, an unseen host of men and women united in Truth are speaking the word of peace with us. We join with these invisible legions as we declare:

We pray for more than a military victory which could result in a continuation of the hatred, selfishness, and fears of the last forty years. We pray for the end of physical force, for the victory of Truth. Our birthright is a better world than what we have known before, a free, just, orderly world where all people live together in peace and plenty. It is for us who know the Truth to make this world real. This our prayers can accomplish. Let us affirm once more:

"Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

A world of liberty, justice, righteousness, and peace will be established when men and women realize that they are children of God, members of a divine and universal family, one in interest and in purpose. That humankind may achieve this understanding is our daily prayer. Let us declare for a third time:

Before we can radiate a consciousness of peace to the world we must make ourselves peaceful. The edifice of universal peace is erected on a foundation of individual peace. We must give up every feeling of prejudice and antagonism, and give ourselves to the loving service of the Prince of Peace. Let us declare together:

Stand with Christ. Can you imagine Him who is called the Prince of Peace inciting anyone to hatred or ill will? Jesus realized that it is love, not strife, that alone can dissolve want and injustice, chauvinism, prejudice, and foolish pride and establish in their place cooperation and understanding. Let us consecrate ourselves by saying.

We who are gathered here are indeed in the service of the Christ, and by precept and example we must lead the way toward peace. We must make ourselves peaceful. We a re peaceful when we feel peace deep down in the depths of our own being, when we maintain a poised spirit, when we express kindness and love in our actions, when we declare the world of peace for every situation, when we help those around us to keep faith and courage. As we speak our word of consecration let us know that we are at peace. We affirm together:

A change of mind is the very first requisite of the new life in Christ. The natural self must be delivered up so that the spiritual self may find expression. When the light of the Christ mind comes to a person it does not confine its rays to his or her own consciousness, but those who sit in darkness and negation see and feel its power. Let us pray now for the light to be expressed in us, saying:

Not in physical force or in human personality but in the Christ mind lies the salvation of every country. We pray for this mind to be in the men and women at the head of this government. When the Christ mind is in them, they are lifted above weakness, selfishness, or malice. Firm of purpose, inspired in thinking, considering only the common good, they lead the people safely through difficulties into fuller prosperity and joy. Let us now bless the heads of this government, saying:

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the governments shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end."

That the Christ may rule throughout the world, let us declare for the leaders of every country:

Our thought is a protecting host of angels at the right hand, at the left hand, before and behind, above and beneath. Our thought has power to protect and save. Today there are many who are far from home defending ideals of living which make life human and lift it above the animal. Many people have fled their homes seeking safety in refugee camps. And many more are in their homes seeking what shelter and safety they can find. We can help to establish peace of mind and spiritual strength as we send our word forth. For all men and women involved in the Middle East we now speak the word:

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in whom I trust.
For he will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
And from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover thee with his pinions,
And under his wings shalt thou take refuge:
His truth is a shield and a buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night,
Nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
For the pestilence that walketh in darkness,
Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side,
And ten thousand at thy right hand;
But it shall not come nigh thee."

"For thou, O Jehovah, art my refuge!
Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation;
There shall no evil befall thee,
Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent.
For he will give his angels charge over thee,
To keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands,
Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."

"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:
I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble:
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him,
And show him my salvation."

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity."

A spirit of unity is a spirit of oneness, oneness with our neighbor, oneness with humankind, oneness with all nations, oneness with Jesus Christ, oneness with God.

"There is one God, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all. But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ . . . . When he ascended on high, he . . . gave gifts unto men."

"And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets, and some, evangelists, and some, pastors and teachers; . . . unto the building up of the body of Christ: till we all attain unto the unity of the faith."

"Walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love; giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

As students of Truth we express the spirit of Unity. We express the feeling of oneness with God and with humanity, irrespective of creed, color, or nationality. We have a great work to perform, and we are doing that work lovingly, faithfully, and efficiently. Knowing our mission, let us declare together:

"Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel . . . Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit: and when Jehovah shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall stumble, and he that is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together."

"Let us therefore join ourselves to the innocent and righteous; for such are the elect of God."

Let us affirm our faith in God saying:

Despite appearances, despite opposition, there is a Spirit at work in the world today, even in the countries that have been given over to war. Silently, steadily, surely this Spirit grows in might and moves across the world, linking heart with heart, aspiration with aspiration, moving the peoples of the world together toward one common end, one fellowship of love, one universal humanity. Hate may obscure, gunpowder blacken, but this Spirit endures. It will always endure. It is all that will endure. For it is the Divine Spirit.

We join ourselves with this force by affirming:

Not depression or fear, but a clear mind, steadfast courage, and faith in the outworking of the good will bring about that peace of God, that free, just, orderly world which humanity desires, which humanity demands.

Prayer does transform the world. God is mightier than the forces of destruction. Out of the old emerges the new. Out of the darkness shines the light. Out of the seeming inharmonies of the world rises the promise of a new kingdom and a new life. Not physical force but God is the victor. Valiant in the Truth, we press toward the peace triumphant. Once more let us affirm our faith in the victory of God, saying:

"And ye shall compass the city, all the men of war, going about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And it shall be, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall go up every man straight before him."

The story of Jericho symbolizes the power of the spoken word of God. In this service we have taken six steps toward the overcoming. We have made six affirmations. We have compassed the walls of negation six times. Now we are prepared for the taking of the seventh step, that of the Consummation. With the speaking of this word, we shall see the walls that today seem impregnable, the walls of war and hatred, crumble and fall.

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away . . . And I . . . saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven . . . And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away . . . Behold, I make all things new."

"The throne of God . . . shall be in it . . . And there shall be no night there . . . for the Lord God . . . shall reign for ever and ever."

This is a seven-fold affirmation. Let us now repeat it seven times together. And when for the seventh time we have repeated it, let there be joy in every heart, for the walls of negation shall fall and the truth be established, and the kingdom brought forth.

"And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him." Amen.

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Last modified: February 19, 2004