We lift up those who follow the faiths that arose out of the Middle East: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism, and the Baha'i Faith.

Reader 1: Most especially we thank you for Judaism's belief in One God and the gift of the Torah, the core of which is, according to Micah 6:8, 'to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God,'

Reader 2: for Christianity's emphasis on God as Trinity and Jesus' teachings, the core of which is to love God and to love one's neighbor;

Reader 3: for Islam's belief in submission to Allah (The God) and its emphasis on love, forgiveness, and generosity to others as demonstrated by the prophet Muhammad;

Reader 4: for Zoroastrianism's emphasis on personal responsibility, the worship of Ahura Mazda as the source of all that is good, the renunciation of evil, and for the prophet Zarathustra;

Reader 5: and for the Baha'I Faith's emphasis on the spiritual unity of mankind, peace and universal education, and, especially, its affirmation of the quality of women and men.

Procession with the Parasol of Paradise

A volunteer processes joyfully around the room with the parasol(s) the community made. Worshippers may throw flower petals or confetti at the parasol to signify God's blessings. When the parasol is returned to its stand, the worshippers proclaim:

Glory to you, All-Seeing One.

We lift up those who follow the faiths that grew out of South Asia: Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, and Sikhism.

Reader 1: Most especially we thank you for Buddhism's emphasis on being Awake and The Middle Way between the extremes of asceticism and self-indulgence;

Reader 2: for Jainism's emphasis on liberating the soul and the doctrine of the many-sidedness of reality which allows for religious and political tolerance;

Reader 3: for Hinduism's belief that other religions are alternate paths to the eternal Truth (God):

Reader 4: and for Sikhism's beginning as a religion of reconciliation between Hinduism and Islam, and for its emphasis on worshipping the True Name.

Procession with the Parasol of Paradise.

Glory to you, All-Seeing One.

We lift up those who follow the faiths that developed in East Asia: Taoism, Confucianism, and Shintoism.

Reader 1: Most especially we thank you for Taoism's emphasis on the inner transformation of a person from which a good society and behavior flow;

Reader 2: for Confucianism's emphasis on the virtues of filial piety, kindness, righteousness, propriety, intelligence, and faithfulness;

Reader 3: and for Shintoism's emphasis on gratitude for the blessings of the kami (spirits) and the ancestors.

Procession with the Parasol of Paradise.

Glory to you, All-Seeing One.

We lift up those who follow the faiths based on oral traditions that have been passed down in many places of the Earth.

Reader 1: Most especially we thank you for Native American Traditions and their making us conscious of our intimate relationship to the whole of creation — mineral, plant, animal, and human;

Reader 2: for the Oral Traditions of Africa, Australia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific islands, Siberia, and South America and their emphases on maintaining personal, social, and cosmic harmony;

Reader 3: and for Wicca's emphasis on using power to change existing circumstances through interior transformation, provided no harm is done.

Procession with the Parasol of Paradise

Glory to you, All-Seeing One.

We lift up those in different places of the Earth who have no beliefs in a Higher Power or Divine Being.

Reader 1: Most especially we remember those who have never had a spiritual encounter;

Reader 2: those who have wrestled with questions or doubts, within or outside of their faith tradition;

Reader 3: those who have lost their faith altogether; and those for whom a Divine Being seems unnecessary.

Procession with the Parasol of Paradise

Peace be upon us all.
We praise you that so many religions have some form of the Golden Rule so there are ethical guidelines for relationships.

Gracious God, we thank you.
We praise you for calling up mystics and teachers of wisdom in the various religions to balance legalism when it arises.

Gracious God, we thank you.
We praise you that religions may be like prisms that refract Divine Light into many colors and shapes.

Gracious God, we thank you.
We praise you that most secular humanists and philosophers advocate ethical ways of living.

Gracious God, we thank you.
May these prayers of healing and thanksgiving for the peoples of the world and their many diverse religions, as well as these prayers for those without faith, bring healing and reconciliation where it is needed and build bridges between peoples, regardless of their faith experiences.

For we pray in the name of all that is holy. Amen.

Jane Richardson Jensen, Patricia Harris-Watkins in She Who Prays