The Way of Peace - Worship Resources

Litany for Sept. 11, 2002
by David Radcliff

One and all:

Would that today we knew the things that made for peace, but they are hidden from our eyes.

One:

We have sought peace in the wake of our terrible suffering, hoping to find some release for our anger and some relief from our fears.

All:

Would that today we knew the things that make for peace.

Two:

We have sought peace in the clash of weapons, returning fire for fire in pursuit of our enemies.

All:

Would that today we knew the things that make for peace.

One:

We have sought peace in the clash of words, naming as evil those we despise and intend to destroy.

All:

Would that today we knew the things that make for peace.

Two:

We have sought peace by building higher walls around ourselves and our things of value.

All:

Would that today we knew the things that make for peace.

One:

We have sought peace by preparing for war, certain that once our enemies are vanquished, our future will be secure.

All:

Would that today we knew the things that make for peace.

Two:

Let us seek peace in the manner of Christ Jesus, who taught us to love our enemies . . .

One:

. . . to work for justice . . .

Two:

. . . to build bridges of understanding . . .

One:

. . . to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

All:

Would that today we knew these things that make for peace. Lord, reveal them plainly to us and to those around us, that peace may prevail on earth among your children in every land.

Two:

Let it be so.

All:

Let it be so. Amen.

We light a candle in remembrance for all those who suffered and died on Sept. 11 in New York, Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. We light a candle to remember those who still live and who suffer because of the events of that day.

One:

When we remember the stockbrokers, office workers, maintenance workers, bystanders, window-washers and all the others who worked together so valiantly to help each other, we can say together,

All:

We remember great courage.

One:

When we recall the firefighters who rushed upstairs as most everyone else was racing out, we can say together,

All:

We remember selfless service.

One:

When we recall the police officers who stood to protect and defend the people and performed their duties until the towers came crashing down on top of them, we can say together,

All:

We remember selfless sacrifice for the safety of others.

One:

When we recall the thousands of workers, women and men and, old and young, single and married, American-born and those born in countries around the world who did not escape the buildings, we can say together,

All:

We remember the loss of human life.

One:

When we recall those citizens who rushed to help, did all they could to help, we can say together,

All:

We remember and give thanks for dutiful commitment to those in distress.

One:

When we recall the people who stood in line at the nation's blood banks to make living donations from their very bodies, we can say together,

All:

We give thanks for those who live on to pass on life and love.

One:

When we remember the millions of Americans who gave so generously of their life and labor to endow funds to help the survivors and their families recover from their losses, we can say together,

All:

We are grateful for generosity.
Remembrance begins with deep, personal identification. It begins with remembering the affliction of our brothers and sisters, and marking their pain as our own. Remembrance is a sacred moment when we raise up and hold to the light of the eternal moment, the good who have passed.

We light a candle, in penitence, recognizing that we have not done enough to address the sources of anger, hate, dehumanization, rage, and indignation that lead to acts of violence.

One:

In our sadness, horror and shock we acknowledge that our own fears turned murderous and we have sought revenge, sometimes against even the innocent.

All:

We confess and regret our own anger and recognize its dangers to our spirits, our health, our community, and others.

One:

In the midst of the aftermath of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, we have been tempted to seek only our own good, hear only our own truth, acknowledge only our own suffering,

All:

We know that peace will come to us and to our children only when the concerns of justice anywhere become the subject of political and social will everywhere, and that no justice leads to no peace.

One:

In striving for national security and domestic peace we run the risk of confusing might for right and participating in the very behaviors we condemn.

All:

Guard and guide our country that in our search for security we may not trample the rights of the innocent nor disregard the rule of law. Let us not confuse leadership within the global community as the voice for the whole community.
Repentance means to turn away from wrong deeds. Repentance means choosing instead deeds which require moral restraint, and are more beneficial to all persons who suffer.

We light a candle to light the way to a better world for our children and our children's children, and all the children of God.

One:

We recall with joy the unity we felt in the outpouring of help, kindness, thoughtful words and deeds from at home and around the world.

All:

We must hold firmly to our unity, borne forward now not of tragedy but of loving kindness.

One:

We place fresh confidence in international organizations and conversations that bring the diverse gifts of the world to the problems of poverty, injustice, terror and strife.

All:

We long for wise policies that forego short-term gain for long-term stability, justice, and peace.

One:

In a year filled with tragedy, we dare to hope for an era yet to come in which the slaughter of innocents, greed, the ambitions of power, and cultural, racial, and religious bigotry's are but memories of a dim and unenlightened past.

Unison Prayer
God of the ages, before your eyes all empires rise and fall yet you are changeless. Be near us in this age of terror and in these moments of remembrance. Uphold those who work and watch and wait and weep and love. By your Spirit give rise in us to broad sympathy for all the peoples of your earth. Strengthen us to comfort those who mourn and work in large ways and small for those things that make for peace. Bless the people and leaders of this nation and all nations so that warfare, like slavery before it, may become only a historic memory. We pray in the strong name of the Prince of Peace. Amen.

This liturgy is written by the Rev. Eileen W. Lindner and the Rev. Marcel A. Welty, staff members of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA.

All:

Today when our nation remembers veterans of military service, we join together to worship the Prince of Peace who taught the way of nonviolence. Yet we value freedom of conscience and remember the diversity of experiences and convictions among us.
The church has declared in Annual Conference statements that "all war is sin."

Leader:

Therefore some of us have refused to serve in the military and instead served in Civilian Public Service, 1-W service, the Peace Corps, or Brethren Volunteer Service;
some Brethren even refused to register, on grounds of Christian conscience, and spent time in jail;
some of our ancestors were persecuted and harshly treated prior to World War II before the peace churches convinced our government to grant conscientious objector status;
some conscientious objectors have felt alone and unsupported when their congregations wavered in their commitment to peace in times of war.

All:

The church practices "no force in religion" and honors freedom of conscience.

Leader:

Therefore, some of us have fought in wars and returned home with painful memories;
some of us have family members who have fought in wars and were wounded or killed in battle;
some persons choosing military service have felt alone and unsupported when surrounded by a traditional peace church.
Each knew sacrifice and cost. Each suffered in his or her own way.

All:

We all lament the smell and sound of death that war brings, close at hand and a world away. We grieve the poverty, oppression, homelessness, and starvation that result from the violence of war.

Leader:

Loving God, in Christ you wept over Jerusalem as you entered the city, saying, "Would that you knew the things that make for peace!" In this day and in our time, we long to build a world of peace through the means of peace.

All:

We are united in our common longing for peace. We are united in our desire to follow faithfully after you, O Christ.

Leader:

Some of us are anxious for friends and relatives who may be called to serve in the present war. Some of us are yearning for support as we courageously lift up a minority voice that calls for nonviolence and a commitment to "another way of living—peacefully, simply, together."

All:

Hear our silent prayers for peace as we sing and pray and open ourselves to the healing light of your presence. We rededicate our lives, our wills, our hearts, and our actions to following the Prince of Peace, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

[Moments of silent prayer for peace, followed by the singing of "Let there be peace on earth"]


By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1: 78-79

One and all:	Would that today we knew the things that made for peace, but they are hidden from our eyes.
One:	We have sought peace in the wake of our terrible suffering, hoping to find some release for our anger and some relief from our fears.
All:	Would that today we knew the things that make for peace.
Two:	We have sought peace in the clash of weapons, returning fire for fire in pursuit of our enemies.
All:	Would that today we knew the things that make for peace.
One:	We have sought peace in the clash of words, naming as evil those we despise and intend to destroy.
All:	Would that today we knew the things that make for peace.
Two:	We have sought peace by building higher walls around ourselves and our things of value.
All:	Would that today we knew the things that make for peace.
One:	We have sought peace by preparing for war, certain that once our enemies are vanquished, our future will be secure.
All:	Would that today we knew the things that make for peace.
Two:	Let us seek peace in the manner of Christ Jesus, who taught us to love our enemies . . .
One:	. . . to work for justice . . .
Two:	. . . to build bridges of understanding . . .
One:	. . . to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
All:	Would that today we knew these things that make for peace. Lord, reveal them plainly to us and to those around us, that peace may prevail on earth among your children in every land.
Two:	Let it be so.
All:	Let it be so. Amen.

One:	When we remember the stockbrokers, office workers, maintenance workers, bystanders, window-washers and all the others who worked together so valiantly to help each other, we can say together,
All:	We remember great courage.
One:	When we recall the firefighters who rushed upstairs as most everyone else was racing out, we can say together,
All:	We remember selfless service.
One:	When we recall the police officers who stood to protect and defend the people and performed their duties until the towers came crashing down on top of them, we can say together,
All:	We remember selfless sacrifice for the safety of others.
One:	When we recall the thousands of workers, women and men and, old and young, single and married, American-born and those born in countries around the world who did not escape the buildings, we can say together,
All:	We remember the loss of human life.
One:	When we recall those citizens who rushed to help, did all they could to help, we can say together,
All:	We remember and give thanks for dutiful commitment to those in distress.
One:	When we recall the people who stood in line at the nation's blood banks to make living donations from their very bodies, we can say together,
All:	We give thanks for those who live on to pass on life and love.
One:	When we remember the millions of Americans who gave so generously of their life and labor to endow funds to help the survivors and their families recover from their losses, we can say together,
All:	We are grateful for generosity. Remembrance begins with deep, personal identification. It begins with remembering the affliction of our brothers and sisters, and marking their pain as our own. Remembrance is a sacred moment when we raise up and hold to the light of the eternal moment, the good who have passed. We light a candle, in penitence, recognizing that we have not done enough to address the sources of anger, hate, dehumanization, rage, and indignation that lead to acts of violence.
One:	In our sadness, horror and shock we acknowledge that our own fears turned murderous and we have sought revenge, sometimes against even the innocent.
All:	We confess and regret our own anger and recognize its dangers to our spirits, our health, our community, and others.
One:	In the midst of the aftermath of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, we have been tempted to seek only our own good, hear only our own truth, acknowledge only our own suffering,
All:	We know that peace will come to us and to our children only when the concerns of justice anywhere become the subject of political and social will everywhere, and that no justice leads to no peace.
One:	In striving for national security and domestic peace we run the risk of confusing might for right and participating in the very behaviors we condemn.
All:	Guard and guide our country that in our search for security we may not trample the rights of the innocent nor disregard the rule of law. Let us not confuse leadership within the global community as the voice for the whole community. Repentance means to turn away from wrong deeds. Repentance means choosing instead deeds which require moral restraint, and are more beneficial to all persons who suffer. We light a candle to light the way to a better world for our children and our children's children, and all the children of God.
One:	We recall with joy the unity we felt in the outpouring of help, kindness, thoughtful words and deeds from at home and around the world.
All:	We must hold firmly to our unity, borne forward now not of tragedy but of loving kindness.
One:	We place fresh confidence in international organizations and conversations that bring the diverse gifts of the world to the problems of poverty, injustice, terror and strife.
All:	We long for wise policies that forego short-term gain for long-term stability, justice, and peace.
One:	In a year filled with tragedy, we dare to hope for an era yet to come in which the slaughter of innocents, greed, the ambitions of power, and cultural, racial, and religious bigotry's are but memories of a dim and unenlightened past.

All:	Today when our nation remembers veterans of military service, we join together to worship the Prince of Peace who taught the way of nonviolence. Yet we value freedom of conscience and remember the diversity of experiences and convictions among us. The church has declared in Annual Conference statements that "all war is sin."
Leader:	Therefore some of us have refused to serve in the military and instead served in Civilian Public Service, 1-W service, the Peace Corps, or Brethren Volunteer Service; some Brethren even refused to register, on grounds of Christian conscience, and spent time in jail; some of our ancestors were persecuted and harshly treated prior to World War II before the peace churches convinced our government to grant conscientious objector status; some conscientious objectors have felt alone and unsupported when their congregations wavered in their commitment to peace in times of war.
All:	The church practices "no force in religion" and honors freedom of conscience.
Leader:	Therefore, some of us have fought in wars and returned home with painful memories; some of us have family members who have fought in wars and were wounded or killed in battle; some persons choosing military service have felt alone and unsupported when surrounded by a traditional peace church. Each knew sacrifice and cost. Each suffered in his or her own way.
All:	We all lament the smell and sound of death that war brings, close at hand and a world away. We grieve the poverty, oppression, homelessness, and starvation that result from the violence of war.
Leader:	Loving God, in Christ you wept over Jerusalem as you entered the city, saying, "Would that you knew the things that make for peace!" In this day and in our time, we long to build a world of peace through the means of peace.
All:	We are united in our common longing for peace. We are united in our desire to follow faithfully after you, O Christ.
Leader:	Some of us are anxious for friends and relatives who may be called to serve in the present war. Some of us are yearning for support as we courageously lift up a minority voice that calls for nonviolence and a commitment to "another way of living—peacefully, simply, together."
All:	Hear our silent prayers for peace as we sing and pray and open ourselves to the healing light of your presence. We rededicate our lives, our wills, our hearts, and our actions to following the Prince of Peace, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
	[Moments of silent prayer for peace, followed by the singing of "Let there be peace on earth"]