The way of peace

Resources for the 10th anniversary of September 11

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

Worship resources

Invocation
Litany
Prayers of the People
Litany of mourning and commitment
Collect

Study resources

Session 1: Peace in Scripture	Session 2: Baptism as Alternative Citizenship	Session 3: Contemporary Church of the Brethren Voice	Guide for interfaith dialogue
The three study guides may be used individually or as a series.

Additional resources

Invocation

Remembering and envisioning God, we reflect this day on the past decade of tragedy. We mourn the dead, both on our soil and in lands we have never seen. Some are angry, some are hurt; all are broken. Guide us on the journey of Jesus, reminding us to discern the difference between worldly feelings of retribution and our call to faithful response. Teach us to be a people of peace in a world of violence, responding to injustice with the same spirit and purpose of Jesus. Color our world with the vision of divine mercy that your kingdom of wholeness may be on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

—Christopher Montgomery

Litany

One:  One who remembers, be to us the healer of wounds.

All:  Lord, make us people who heal.

One:  One who renews, be for our enemies the transformation of identity.

All:  Lord, make us people who transform.

One:  One who confronts, be to our perception the reality of grace.

All:  Lord, make us people who forgive.

One:  One who entrusts, be to our mouths the voice of peace.

All:  Lord, make us people who reconcile.

One:  One who nurtures, be in our hearts the wellspring of compassion.

All:  Lord, make us people who love all.

One:  One who envisions, be in our hands the creator of good things.

All:  Lord, make us people who realize your vision of a new earth.

—Christopher Montgomery

Prayers of the People

Leader: God of ages past, you have watched through time as those created in your image seek self destruction. In these days of mourning, heal us of our desire for violent solutions. Transform us into people of your peace, seeking the wholeness and welfare of all people with our actions and speaking your love with our words. For those places in your creation, both near and far, where violent words and deeds define the times:

People: Hear our prayer.

Leader: God of an uncertain present, you watch as we seek security in so many things yet fail to look for you in the changes and people around us. Open our hearts and our minds to the new ways you are at work around us, and quicken our feet to join in your mission. As we seek after your presence, we hold before you a hurting world, struck by natural disasters and those of our own willing. For us as your people and the needs of this world:

People: Hear our prayer.

Leader: God of the coming Kingdom, you draw us into the vision of the lion sleeping next to the lamb. May we, as your Kingdom’s seeds on earth, bear the fruit of that vision. May our words be full of your truth and our deeds bathed in your love, for in our witness the world catches glimpses of you and your Peaceable Kingdom. For those moments today and to come, when we are blessed to embody your vision:

People: Hear our prayer.

All: God of all life, it is in you that we live, move, and have our being. For this gift we give you thanks, knowing that our words and deeds reveal you to the world around us. May we, your people, be witnesses to the humbled and risen Christ now and in the days to come. Amen.

—Josh Brockway

Litany of mourning and commitment

Leader: Lord of hope, as we gather we remember,
People: We remember the fear descending from a blue sky.
L: We remember . . .
P: the selfless acts of all who needlessly perished that September day.
L: We mourn.
P: We mourn those who died then, and those who continue to face violence every day.
L: We mourn . . .
P: the loss of innocence and grace in this fallen world.
L: We confess.
P: We confess that we, as your followers, have too often reacted in fear rather than hope.
L: We confess . . .
P: that we have too often been silent in the face of violence throughout the world.
L: We commit.
P: We commit to living as people of your peace, providing a witness to this world.
L: We commit . . .
P: to speaking truth in love, trusting in the nonviolent witness of the cross.

—Josh Brockway

Collect

God of Abraham: You have created all peoples from dust; even still we seek to violently return your creation to that same dust in your name. Forgive us for the violence we commit in both word and deed. Embolden us as your people, secure in the hope of your kingdom of peace, that we may seek and witness to ways that make for peace and life. In the name of the One who witnessed to your way, even to death, Jesus the risen Christ. Amen.

—Josh Brockway

Additional resources