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Prayer
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Leader: | Let us pray to the Lord. |
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People: | God, we come before you to hear your invitation to us to be ministers of
reconciliation to our government. |
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Leader: | We hear the grief of the people of Iraq. |
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People: | The Iraqi people have already suffered two decades of war and sanctions. |
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Leader: | According to MCC partners in Iraq, for most Iraqis, "Every day is an emergency." |
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A voice: | We hear the plea of an Iraqi teacher to an MCC visitor: "Go. Be our message of peace." |
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All: | We heed this call. |
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Leader: | We accept the ministry of reconciliation given to us by God through the life of Jesus.
(2 Cor. 6:16-21) |
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People: | "We will witness to the nations by being that `city on a hill' which
demonstrates the way of Christ." (The Confession of Faith in a Mennonite
Perspective and Matthew 5:14) |
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Leader: | We lift up our national government leaders and the men and women of our armed
services. Grant them wisdom and open, compassionate hearts. |
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People: | May they hear your voice amidst the fear and insecurity that drive nations
to seek violent solutions to problems caused by violence.
May they do no harm. |
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Leader: | Strengthen our voices so they will be clear and strong. |
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People: | Help us speak to government leaders a clear call for creative
alternatives to war. |
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Leader: | Give us courage to ask political leaders to consider the devastating cost of
military action. |
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People: | We will request dignity for the Iraqi people and call for an end to the
sanctions depriving Iraqis of healthy and secure lives. |
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Leader: | Let respectful dialogue replace threats and propaganda. |
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People: | May we live peace so our voice has integrity. When we offer alternatives
to war, our voices have the integrity our lives speak. |
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Leader: | Empower our communities of faith to overcome evil with good and to reconcile enemies. |
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People: | May we strengthen our voice for peace, decrease our dependence on oil,
develop healthy responses to conflict, and find alternatives to paying war
taxes. |
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All: | Gracious God, give us courage to speak, act, and even suffer for peace in the
days ahead. |
Credits:
MCC Peace Office Newsletter, July-September 2002, Volume 21, Number 3, authors Elsie Wiebe, Esther Epp-Tiessen
MCC Washington Memo, September-October 2002, Volume 34, Number 5, authors J. Daryl Byler, Lois Y. Barrett
Action
 | Until September 29, your congregation may still sign the Iraq letter by Jim Schrag,
Mennonite Church USA Executive Director, to President Bush. For information, go to:
http://peace.Mennolink.org
| | | You may fax President Bush at: 202-456-2461.
| | | You may find fax information for your Senators at: www.senate.gov and for your
Respresentative at: www.house.gov.
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Susan Mark Landis, peace advocate, and Dick Davis, Cynthia Friesen, and
Cathleen Hockman-Wert, PJSN volunteers. For more information, see the
Peace and Justice Support Network web site, http://peace.Mennolink.org
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