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Call to Worship

"The People living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the shadow of death a light has dawned." - Isaiah 9: 1-2

Hymn: God we've Known Such Grief and Anger"

Scriptures:

Psalm 46: 1, 2a, 8-10

Matthew 5:43-48

1 John 4: 16-19

Table Group Discussion

Focus: to recognize the violence and suffering "world wide" in its myriad forms - include positive thoughts also i.e. working together to overcome violence.

Questions:

1: If God listens to our prayers, what are the results?

i.e., how use others to promote peace (Buddhist way to peace...), interfaith, antiracism dialogue...

2. Where do we go now? What does God require of us?

i.e., listening, Christian/Jewish/Muslim Dialogue, justice...

Note: Planting the Seeds for Peace" Wednesday, September 11, 2002  6:30-*:30 p.m.

Articles in newspapers, etc.

Reflection : (Source from "Peaceful Tomorrow)

They want to honor their lost loved ones and all those who have lost their lives to violence by creating peaceful, respectful and healing events which reflect their hope that the September 11 can end the cycle of violence and the beginning of a peaceful world.

They even visited innocent Afghan families who lost loved ones in the U.S. bombing, who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They talked with widows who were forced to send their children to beg in the streets. They met families who could not afford to rebuild their homes destroyed by U.S. bombs, and children who lost limbs to bombs.

They even ask for others’ help to make the September 11 a time to reflect on peace and healing, and to join other people in commemorating the September 11 as a time to create a peaceful world.

Only through justice we will find peace: peace for those grieving the loss of innocent family members, friends and co-workers by September 11 terrorist attack. And also peace for Afghan families, grieving the loss of loved ones in the U.S. bombing campaign and in the preceding 23 years of war.

“One day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal. We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means.” (Matrin Luther King Jr.)

(Source from "Peaceful Tomorrow", prepared by Chang Lee) 

Litany of Remembrance, Penitence and Hope

1.

We light a candle in remembrance for all those who were killed on September 11th in New York, Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and those who lost their loved ones to the violence and suffer because of the events of that day.

One: When we recall more than 3,000 of workers, women and men and, old and young, American-born and those born in countries around the world who were killed on that day, we can say together,

All:   We remember the loss of human life.

One: When we recall the firefighters who rushed upstairs as most everyone else was racing out, the police officers who stood to protect and defend the people and performed their duties until the towers came crashing down on top of them, we can say together,

 All: We remember selfless service.

One: When we recall those citizens who rushed to help and worked together so valiantly to help each other, and those who stood in line at the nation's blood banks to make living donations from their very bodies, we can say together,

 All: We give thanks for those who live on to pass on life and love.

One: When we remember the millions of Americans who gave so generously of their life and labor to endow funds to help the survivors and their families recover from their losses, we can say together,

All: We are grateful for generosity.

2.

Remembrance begins with deep, personal identification. It begins with remembering the affliction of those killed and suffering, and with marking their pain as our own. Remembrance is a sacred moment when we raise up and hold to the light of the eternal moment, the good who have passed.

We light a candle, in penitence, recognizing that we have not done enough to address the sources of anger, hate, dehumanization, rage and indignation that lead to acts of violence.

One: When we recall more than 3,000 of Afghan civilians who were killed by the bombing and the lives of millions remaining in danger from ongoing hunger and poverty resulting from two decades of war and the recent U.S. military operations, we can say together,

All:  We remember the cycle of violence continues when violence was met with violence.

One: In our sadness, horror and shock we acknowledge that our own fears turned murderous and we have sought revenge, sometimes against even the innocent.

All: We confess and regret our own anger and recognize its dangers to our spirits, our health, our community, and others.

One: In the midst of the aftermath of the events of September 11th, 2001 we have been tempted to seek only our own good, hear only our own truth, acknowledge only our own suffering

All: We know that peace will come to us and to our children only when the concerns of justice anywhere become the subject of political and social will everywhere, and that no justice leads to no peace

3.

Repentance means to turn away from wrong deeds. Repentance means choosing instead deeds which require moral restraint, and are more beneficial to all persons who suffer.

We light a candle to light the way to a better world for all the children in all over the world.

One: We recall with joy the unity we felt in the outpouring of help, kindness, thoughtful words and deeds from at home and around the world.

All:  We must hold firmly to our unity, borne forward now not of tragedy but of loving kindness.

One: We place fresh confidence in international organizations and conversations that bring the diverse gifts of the world to the problems of poverty, injustice, terror and strife.

All: We long for wise policies that forego short term gain for long term stability, justice and peace.

One: In a year filled with tragedy we dare to hope for an era yet to come in which the slaughter of innocents, greed, the ambitions of power, and cultural, racial and religious bigotries are but memories of a dim and unenlightened past.  

Unison Prayer

God of the ages, before your eyes all empires rise and fall yet you are changeless. Be near us in this age of terror and in these moments of remembrance. Uphold those who work and watch and wait and weep and love. By your Spirit give rise in us to broad sympathy for all the peoples of your earth. Strengthen us to comfort those who mourn and work in large ways and small for those things that make for peace. Bless the people and leaders of this nation and all nations so that warfare, like slavery before it, may become only a historic memory.

[We pray in the strong name of the Prince of Peace.]

[We pray in the Name of God Whose Name is Shalom}.

[We pray in the name of God the Compassionate.]

Amen. Ahmeyn. Ahmeen.

© copyright 2002 by Sylvia Powers and Chang Lee.

Please acknowledge the appropriate authors if citing this liturgy.

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