• 7/31 – 1 Maccabees 3 – How can prayer play a more significant role in our living together as a community? Prayer starter: Lord, whatever the crisis facing us, you are our Rock and our stronghold, the One who gives us strength and courage.
• 8/1 – 1 Maccabees 4 – How can our prayer gatherings reflect the joy and gladness of a people grateful to God for his boundless blessings? Prayer starter: Lord, you never fail to give assistance and great deliverance to your people. Blessed are you for all your saving deeds.
• 8/2 – 1 Maccabees 5 – How can we, as Christians, better unite to promote the cause of peace? Prayer starter: Lord, you are a God who speaks peace to your people. Let our hearts be touched by your design of peace for the world.
• 8/3 – 1 Maccabees 6 – When I realize I have harmed someone, do I care enough to make up for it? Prayer starter: Lord, let me rely on your mercy when I commit evil and teach me never to return evil for evil when harmed or hurt by others.
• 8/4 – 1 Maccabees 7 – How can we press our governments and our leaders to take the right steps toward lasting peace? Prayer starter: Lord, we long for peace. Give us the courage and the spirit to build peace around us and never to give up on our hopes for understanding and harmony between people and nations.
• 8/5 – 1 Maccabees 8 – How do I look at the relationship between politics and religion; distrust, indifference, positive yet discerning? Prayer starter: Lord, help us to value the diversity of nations and cultures and to promote friendship and harmony between people while remaining faithful to our values and beliefs.
• 8/6 – 1 Maccabees 9 – What is good governance for me? Financial, military, diplomatic, humanitarian, ethical? Prayer starter: Lord, give our leaders the vision and the compassion to bring people together and to build up lasting peace.