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Prayer
Leader:
Let us pray to the Lord.
People:
God, we come before you to hear your invitation to us to be ministers of
reconciliation to our government.
Leader:
We hear the grief of the people of Iraq.
People:
The Iraqi people have already suffered two decades of war and sanctions.
Leader:
According to MCC partners in Iraq, for most Iraqis, "Every day is an emergency."
A voice:
We hear the plea of an Iraqi teacher to an MCC visitor: "Go. Be our message of peace."
All:
We heed this call.
Leader:
We accept the ministry of reconciliation given to us by God through the life of Jesus.
(2 Cor. 6:16-21)
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)
Leader:
We lift up our national government leaders and the men and women of our armed
services. Grant them wisdom and open, compassionate hearts.
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.
Leader:
Strengthen our voices so they will be clear and strong.
People:
Help us speak to government leaders a clear call for creative
alternatives to war.
Leader:
Give us courage to ask political leaders to consider the devastating cost of
military action.
People:
We will request dignity for the Iraqi people and call for an end to the
sanctions depriving Iraqis of healthy and secure lives.
Leader:
Let respectful dialogue replace threats and propaganda.
People:
May we live peace so our voice has integrity. When we offer alternatives
to war, our voices have the integrity our lives speak.
Leader:
Empower our communities of faith to overcome evil with good and to reconcile enemies.
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.
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.
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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