Silent Unity provides personal prayer

As a woman watched the World Trade Center collapse from the nearby Federal Building on Sept. 11, she remembered a prayer called the "Prayer for Protection."

She recited it as she hurried down 38 flights of stairs and climbed aboard a subway train with others trying to get away from ground zero.

"It was my strength and comfort," she said.

The simple and eloquent prayer was written by a Silent Unity worker to give hope and encouragement during the darkest days of World War II.

The poem reads:

The light of God surrounds me;

The love of God enfolds me;

The power of God protects me;

The presence of God watches over me.

Wherever I am, God is!

Silent Unity answers more than two million letters and telephone calls for prayer support each year.

During these uncertain times, many of these requests are for world peace and healing for those affected by the Sept. 11 events, according to Silent Unity.

In response to world events, Unity began an outreach called Rebuilding on Faith. It is Unity's ongoing spiritual support for all who seek healing, comfort, and peace following Sept. 11.

This outreach offers personal prayer, uplifting materials and other resources to help meet the emotional and spiritual needs of people everywhere.

Because Silent Unity believes there is great power in united prayer, one of the first actions undertaken has been to urge people everywhere to hold a thought for peace for our world at 11 a.m. and again at 9 p.m., central time.

Every day at those times -- through Sept. 11, 2002 -- Silent Unity is affirming the following prayer: "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with God's love in my heart."

Silent Unity believes now more than ever the world needs prayers. You can join thousands of people in every corner of the globe as they pause for peace each day.

Silent Unity is part of Unity School of Christianity, which was founded in 1889 and is located near Kansas City, Mo. Its headquarters is the home of a worldwide ministry of prayer, publishing and education.

In addition to Silent Unity, the organization is best known as the publisher of Daily Word, a monthly magazine of daily inspirational messages.

Unity is on the Internet at www.unityworldhq.org.

If you would like more information about Unity's Rebuilding on Faith program, its Silent Unity prayer ministry, or Daily Word magazine, call Unity's customer service representatives at (800) 669-0282, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., central time.

This article was provided by the National American Press Syndicate.