for Mennonite groups traveling to the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, March 16, in Washington, DC

Pre-witness worship
prepared by Patty Peebles for Mennonite groups traveling to the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, March 16, in Washington, DC, Worship service

Note: this suggested order of worship is filled with many songs to be used, substituted, or adapted according to each group’s resources. Our congregation sings a lot, so this is true to that tradition-please feel free to use it as is, or change it as your faith community would benefit. Blessings on your preparation for this witness to God’s kingdom come.

Order for Worship

Holy Spirit, come with power Hymn #26 (MH)

Opening Scripture John 1:1-5

God of Grace and God of Glory Hymn #366 (MH)

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2: 5-11

Lead on, O cloud of Presence Hymn #419 (MH)

Responsive Prayer

Unison: Jesus, you know what it is like to be utterly emptied. Teach us the value of emptiness. Comfort us like a mother comforts her child. Strengthen us with your meekness. Tame us with your peace. Capture us with your hope. Let us recognize your steadfast presence with us, and may that calm our fears when we are empty and afraid. May we be open to the work of the Holy Spirit, able to listen, cooperate, and grow into your likeness.

Lord Jesus Christ, we pray to you because you were tempted like us, in all things, yet did not submit.

Group 1: You have promised to come to the help of those who, in every age, are put to the test;

Group 2: Because we are not exempt from the subtle attraction of what is wrong and what is evil, we pray to you.

Silence, then sing the chorus of Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison (or substitute simple chorus or response)

1: We call you to where, in our lives, we exploit our abilities purely for personal gain, and let the human gifts, which were meant to illuminate the world, light up no more than our own vanity.

2: Because we are not exempt from the desire to be superior, we pray to you.
Silence, then chorus.

1: We call you to where, in our lives, we have made a show of our religion and made faith a means of attracting people to us, at the cost of distracting from you.

2: Because we are not exempt from judgmental living, and timidity at embracing your call, we pray to you.

Silence, then chorus.

1: We call you to where, in our lives, another god, more to our liking, is the object of our fawning, the recipient of our time, our attention, our worship.

2: Because we are not exempt from putting the life in the Body of Christ last on our list of priorities, we pray to you.

Silence, then chorus.

Unison: For it is in these places in our lives that we threaten to desert you, terrified of what your emptiness calls us to face.
You are the one who has chosen us and who,
in the wilderness,
at the Temple,
on the mountaintop,
on the Cross,
showed us and the powers and principalities that there is a third way.
Lord, redeem us from mistaking desolation for consolation.
From these we look away, and turn our backs. We turn our faces towards you, Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN


If the war should go on Supplemental hymnal

Scripture Reading Lamentations 3:19-26

Forgive our sins as we forgive Hymn #137 (MH)

Prayer: Corporate Confession

Reader: Let us come before God with humble hearts and confess our sins: God in heaven;
For turning from the kingdom of God to this world for “reality”-
Forgive us Lord.
For turning from the suffering of service to aggression for “protection”-
Forgive us Lord.
For turning from the peace of forgiveness to violence for “justice”-
Forgive us Lord.
For turning from the hope of resurrection to fear for “security”-
Forgive us Lord.
For turing from the assurance to providence to war for “effectiveness”-
Forgive us Lord.
For turning from the comfort of simplicity to money for “well-being”-
Forgive us Lord.
For turning from the Lordship of Christ to government for “leadership”-
Forgive us Lord.

Silent Reflection and Meditation

Reader: Let us continue our confession together:
From the “necessity” of war and retaliation,
Deliver us, O God.
From the idols of money and nation,
Save us, O God.
From the “impossibility” of peace and forgiveness,
Redeem us, O God

Silent Reflection and Meditation

Please adapt the following to the manners and traditions of your faith community as you prepare for this Peace witness. We know that across the miles, we pray in unity as the Body of Jesus Christ. May God make us one in our faith, love, and witness to the Kingdom of our Lord.

Corporate prayer for those oppressed by war in Iraq, for Iraqi and American soldiers whose lives are being destroyed, for those who are illegally imprisoned and tortured, for world leaders making decisions on these issues.

Followed by prayer for this peace witness, for those planning, those traveling, those demonstrating, those remaining at home, and those observing, counter-resisting, arresting or reporting.

Here in this place Hymn #6 (MH)

Affirmation of Commitment

Reader: Let us pray.

Unison: Almighty and loving God, we give our loyalty to you and no other. As your church we will peacefully resist the violent world as it is, wisely discern your peaceful Kingdom within it, and eagerly act toward its fulfillment in the new heaven and earth that is to come.

Reader: let us affirm together:
We are the people of God, our Father.
With the compassion of God
we will hear the cries of our neighborhood and world.
With the patience of God
we will not rush to war and violence.
With the justice of God
we will bless the just and the unjust.

Silence

Reader: let us continue our affirmations.
We are the body of Christ, our Lord.
With the love of Christ
we will heal the broken and deliver the captive.
With the peace of Christ
we will love our enemies and turn the other cheek.
With the faithfulness of Christ
we will count the cost and take up our cross.

Silence

Leader: let us finish our affirmations.
We are the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, our comforter.
With the presence of the Spirit
we will stand in solidarity with all who suffer.
With the purpose of the Spirit
we will proclaim the gospel to all nations.
With the power of the Spirit
we will live as first-fruits of God’s Kingdom come in Christ.

Silence

Reader: let us pray.
Creating and redeeming God, we are your people, your body, and your fellowship on earth. By your presence and power may we be faithful to our calling to the kingdom, hopeful in our vision of its fulfillment, and loving in our action toward that end. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God and one Lord, now and forever. Amen.

We are people of God’s peace Hymn #407 (MH)

Benediction