Kum Ba Yah Choral Reading for Three Voices
by Melissa Bennett

(congregation sings)
Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah (3x)
Grant us peace, kum ba yah

Someone's crying, Friend, kum ba yah (3x)
Needing peace, kum ba yah

(readers)

1.	Someone's crying Millions, somewhere, everywhere
2.	Weeping tears of suffering, tears of grief
3.	Tears of fear, frustration and anger
2.	Trembling tears
3.	Muffled tears
1.	Sobbing tears
3.	Vulnerable, exhausted, disheartened tears
2.	Tears of revival and tenacity
3.	Tears of defiance
1.	We are crying out, God
2.	A flood of tears flows throughout this world
1.	Too many are crying, God
All:	Grant us peace.

(congregation sings)
Someone's shouting, Strength, kum ba yah (3x)
Wanting peace, kum ba yah

(readers)

1.	Someone's shouting, we're shouting
2.	No more!...death and destruction of the earth and all who inhabit it
3.	No more!...complacency that serves our own power, comfort and desires
2.	No more!...silencing the diversified voices among us, within us and around us, especially those voices we disagree with
1.	So many are shouting out, claiming life in love and anger
3.	Shouting Yes!...to our own magnificent strength
2.	A rallying cry to live in peace and nonviolence
3.	Shouting Yes!... to our unity with people worldwide
2.	An empowered shout that uplifts rather than crucifies each other
3.	Shouting Yes!...to the hope of a better tomorrow
1.	Hear this shouting, God
All:	Grant us peace

(congregation sings)
We are standing, One, kum ba yah (3x)
Leading peace, kum ba yah

(readers)

1.	We stand to be counted, to make our voices heard
2.	We stand in creative and conventional ways
3.	Marching
2.	Gathering
1.	Dancing
2.	Painting
1.	Calling
3.	Writing
2.	We stand crying out, shouting out for peace
3.	Invigorate our imagination, sustain our courage
1.	Strengthen our persistence
2.	Enliven us to endure
1.	We are standing, God
All:	Grant us peace

(congregation sings)
We are praying, Christ, kum ba yah (3x)
Hoping peace, kum ba yah

(readers)

1.	We pray in fear and frustration, sorrow and conviction
3.	Fervent prayers
2.	for national and international leaders
3.	for victims of war and violence, sanctions and oppression
1.	for peacemakers
2.	justice workers
1.	protesters
3.	for women
2.	men
3.	children
1.	for politicians, soldiers
2.	for prisoners of war and peace
1.	We pray with faith in Your kin-dom on earth as it is in heaven
3.	with faith in the good of the human spirit
2.	We pray with commitment to work for the change we want to see
3.	We pray with hope that we will know the things that make for peace
1.	Listen to your children praying, God
All:	Grant us peace

(congregation sings)
Hear our singing, Breath, kum ba yah (3x)
Making peace, kum ba yah

(readers)

1.	Hearing our singing, God
2.	We're singing in hope, singing for peace
3.	We join our voices in unison and harmony
1.	Singing ourselves to life
3.	Ending the death that surrounds us
2.	Sing
1.	Sing
3.	Sing
2 & 3.	Sing
All:	Sing
1.	Hear our singing, God
All:	Grant us peace

(congregation sings)
Come by here, O God, come by here (3x)
Grant us peace, kum ba yah

(congregational response)

Leader 1:	Come by here, O God
People:	We are crying, shouting, standing, praying, singing. Let your peace break into this world.
Women:	Lead us, guide us
Men:	Use us, touch us
Children:	Be with us
People:	Let us be a blessing
Leader 2:	Come, Spirit, come
Leader 3:	Come, be present in this world
People:	Come, grant us peace
Leader 1:	Amen
Leaders 1,2,3:	Amen
People:	Amen

Copyright © 2003 Melissa Bennett. Bennett, of Goshen, Ind., prepared this for a service of lament on March 14 at "Organizing for Peace: Arts, Activism, and Spirituality," in Richmond, Ind.

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Gathering for Peace: A Choral Reading
by Liz Bidgood Enders

1.	We are here for peace.
2.	We are here because we have concerns about the future of our nation and of other nations.
3.	We are here to find some comfort in our faith for the things we are experiencing.
4.	We are here to support one another.
5.	We are here to worship.

1.	All are welcome here, regardless of their views and positions.
3.	Our diversity is represented in our stories
2.	Stories of peace demonstrators
4.	Stories of veterans who have experienced war firsthand
5.	Stories of family members who have been deployed to the Middle East
1.	Stories of humanitarian delegations
4.	Crying,
3.	calling,
2.	hoping,
1.	praying,
5.	joining together in a common yearning for peace

All:

For PEACE

1.	Not simply against the presence of weapons
3.	FOR peace
2.	For justice that goes beyond the absence of war.
4.	To fill the ache in our hearts.
5.	To dry the tears from our eyes
2.	And the tightness in our chests

1.	The violence has to end
3.	In our homes
4.	In our streets
5.	In our communities
2.	In the world

4.	Violence simply doesn't work to solve our problems.
3.	Our hearts cry out for something more.
2.	And so we gather together our common and unique stories
5.	We commit ourselves to prayerful action and unity in the Spirit

4.	Jesus taught us another way of living
1.	A way of peace
2.	A radical love that breaks down barriers
4.	A hope for an end to this madness

5.	"If you only knew the things for peace"
4.	"My peace I give to you"
3.	"Blessed are the peacemakers"
1.	"So far as it depends on you...
All:	On you
2.	...Live peaceably with all"

5.	We raise these prayers to God
3.	Merciful father
1.	Strong mother
4.	Source of being
2.	Divine comforter
5.	Name above all names

All:	We are God's children
3.	Daughters and sons
4.	Sisters and brothers
5.	Fathers and Mothers
1.	The old and young
2.	The wise and foolish
3.	Dreamers and visionaries
4.	Realists and pragmatists

5.	The light we bring is our hope
1.	and our commitment to stand with one another
3.	to be a beacon of promise in a time of despair
2.	to offer ourselves as witnesses to Christ's redeeming love
4.	to find common ground.

All:	Our lights are reminders of our lives, and they must not be snuffed out
1.	Not by war
2.	Not by street violence
3.	Not by powers and principalities
4.	Our lights shine in the darkness
5.	And the darkness will not overcome it.

All:	Come, let us gather in this hour, and in our worship, let us pray for peace.

Copyright © 2003 Liz Bidgood Enders. Bidgood Enders is co-pastor at Mack Memorial Church of the Brethren, Dayton, Ohio. This choral reading was prepared for a community worship service at the Trotwood Church of the Brethren, March 17, 2003.

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A Litany of Light For Peace
National Council of Churches
(Also can be found on the NCC site at www.ncccusa.org/iraq/litanyoflightforpeace.html)

The following litany was prepared by the National Council of Churches as part of its ongoing witness on behalf of Peace and in faithful opposition to a war in Iraq. It is prepared for use in churches and other settings during the Christian observance of Lent 2003.

It may be used in community interfaith settings and peace vigils. It is suggested that a family or other small group bring an offering of a pillar candle to the front of the sanctuary or the center of the worship space. Arrangements should be made in advance for the candle, once lit, to be placed on the communion table, altar or another small table as appropriate within the specific context or tradition. The candle should be a white pillar candle (2-3 inches in diameter and 6-10 inches in height). A second family member ought to be designated ahead of time to light the candle when indicated in the litany.

At the conclusion of the litany members of the congregation may be invited to display a single candle in their homes as a means of witnessing for peace. Small electrical, battery operated candles may be safely used to display a witness for peace in home windows.

PRAYING FOR PEACE

LEADER: May the Peace which passes all understanding be with you!

PEOPLE: And also with you!

FIRST READER: Light is an image from scripture associated with peace, harmony and oneness with God. When all was in the darkness God created light and called it good.

PEOPLE: Light is a symbol of God's goodness and of all that is created. Let us celebrate the light of the world.

SECOND READER: In the great story of the Exodus from Egypt the people were afraid and fearful for their lives. God gave them a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night that they might find their way to freedom and peace.

PEOPLE: We too are afraid that the nations will lose their way. O, God, give us light that we might find our way to peace.

LEADER: Let us place among us this candle. Let us light it and let it stand as a beacon calling us from darkness and warfare to light and peace.

(Here, a member of the family or group lights the candle and it is momentarily lifted up above the bearer's head and placed on the table or altar.)

LEADER: Let us pray to the God of life for Peace:

ALL: God who created light that your children might walk in light and live an abundant life, we come before you in faith and in hope that even now the nations might choose to walk in light and put aside warfare and killing. Drawn to the light of this candle we make bold to pray that you will touch the hearts and minds of world leaders afresh. May the councils of the powerful yield to your everlasting wisdom. Wherever wars and rumors of war abound may your Peace and understanding quiet all fears and animosities. May you give new and powerful gifts of courage and leadership to those who speak and work for Peace. Help us to confess that war in this time is a mark of our failing one another and contrary to your will. In these days of anxiety and preparation for war stand by us and make us strong that we might not be paralyzed by fear but rather empowered to speak on behalf of Peace, work for Peace, pray for Peace, and live in Peace each with one another. Amen

LEADER: Then let us dedicate ourselves to the ministry of Peacemaking in the name of the God who brings true Peace.

PEOPLE: Lord, make me an instrument of your Peace!

LEADER: Let us declare ourselves again in opposition to war and killing, in the name of the Lord of life.

PEOPLE: Lord, make me an instrument of your peace!

LEADER: Let us again denounce war as a final rupture of the human family and violation of God's will for our lives.

PEOPLE: Lord, make me an instrument of your peace!

LEADER: Let us seek the ways of security that hold promise for life and lasting peace rather than an expeditious exercise of military domination

PEOPLE: Lord, make me an instrument of your peace!

LEADER: Then let us go from this place when worship is concluded to bring light in darkness, hope in despair, and to sow true and lasting peace by word and deed

PEOPLE: Lord, make me an instrument of your peace!

LEADER: Peace be with you!

PEOPLE: And also with you!

ALL: Amen

SUNG RESPONSE (Tune: Cwm Rhonda)
(Used with permission)

Cure thy children's warring madness,
Bend our pride to thy control
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss thy kingdom's goal,
Lest we miss thy kingdom's goal.

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