Worship on the Eve of War

Because the church should be praying for peace and for the world every time we gather, the challenge for worship planners is not how to introduce a new worship element during a time of threatened war but rather how to intensify what is already present in worship.

Looking at the choices we make every week, worship leaders need to focus during such a time on giving greater visibility to God's call to peace in each element of worship - whether that is singing, praying, hearing scripture, preaching, or giving our offerings.

During these next weeks, worship planners may want to:

1. Incorporate a prayer for peace in the call to worship. Each Sunday, worship can begin with the lighting of a peace candle or peace lamp. Individual worshipers selected in advance might be invited to offer simple, one-sentence prayers for peace from where they are sitting (be sure to include children and young people as well as older folk). Or the worship leader might offer a prayer that is tied to the text for the day. For example, on the second Sunday of Lent (March 16, 2003), the leader might pray:

   Faithful God,
      though you have promised never to destroy the world again,
      our armies of destruction stand poised to destroy your people and your creation.
   Renew in us today our commitment to life and peace.
      In the name of Jesus, Prince of Peace, we pray. AMEN

2. Carefully consider song texts, emphasizing those that highlight God's desire for justice and reconciliation. Or choose a theme song of peace to include every week at the end of worship (for example, John Bell's "If the War Goes On," or one of the short Taize prayer-songs for peace, or a contemporary chorus on a peace theme).

3. As the weekly prayers of petition or intercession are offered, include the congregation as active participants. For example, Prayer #697 (Hymnal: A Worship Book) invites worshipers to respond to prayers for peace. Or choose a sung response such as "Lord, listen to your children praying" (353, Hymnal: A Worship Book) as a response to prayers for the world.

4. Encourage preachers to make appropriate connections between the sermon focus and biblical peace theology. For example, on the fifth Sunday of Lent (April 6, 2003), the image of God writing a new covenant on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34) can open up an exploration of what is in God's heart and how our hearts can be transformed by God's pursuing love and desire for peace.

5. And don't forget the offering! Giving our time and talents each week is an active way to invest our energy in peacemaking. In the prayer of thanksgiving for the offering, ask God's blessing upon peacemaking efforts that will be strengthened by our support. Name specific peacemakers and peace initiatives.