Pre-witness worship

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

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