Peace & Justice
MLK 2017: Resources
Below are some resources written for Martin Luther King Sunday, 2017. For your service, you may want to consider interspersing readings from the writings of MLK throughout your service and/or adding a video projection of an excerpt of MLK speaking/preaching. Call to Worship One: It is good that there are fire extinguishers in this place. MANY: Worship. One: It is good that there is water close by. MANY: Worship. One: It is good that God’s Word burns, God’s Spirit blows, and God’s prophets speak. MANY: Worship. Prayer of Confession (unison)...
read moreAlphabet of Ideas
In the wake of the 2016 US presidential election, Rev. Martha Peck wrote a newsletter article for her church and an accompanying “Alphabet of Ideas for Anxious Times.” This list could be used: by a mission committee, seeking to expand its reach by a prayer group as a prompt for intercessory prayer. as an art activity—inviting people to illustrate the actions with stick figures or other drawings by individuals/families during the season of Advent The presidential election of 2016 revealed a deep divide between Americans,...
read more9/11: from Grief to Action
The lectionary readings for 9/11/2016 (Year C, Revised Common Lectionary) offer good fodder for connections with 9/11/2001 and reflections on where we go from here–living with the reality of sin in ourselves and our world, and moving from grief to faithful action. Readings: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 Psalm 14 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-10 CALL TO WORSHIP (based on I Timothy 1:12-14 ) Leader: This is our faith: People: Gratefulness, because Jesus gives us strength. Leader: Mercy, overflowing to restore us to our best selves. People:...
read moreGod’s Heart Like a Beating Drum
The week of July 3, 2016 was another week of racism and violence in the U.S. Two black men, Philando Castille and Alton Sterling were shot to death by police officers. In retaliation, Micah Johnson shot 12 police officers in Dallas, 5 of whom died. Though weeks like this are becoming common, these events in particular filled our small rural community with feelings of anger, sorrow, even despair. Come Sunday there was a definite need in our morning worship service to lament and resist the racism and violence while at the same time being...
read morePraying in Response to Violence
On Sunday, 6/12, 49 people were shot to death, and many more were injured in an Orlando nightlcub. It was a horrifying tragedy on its own, but I think it was also the 133rd mass shooting (more than 3 shot) in the US in 2016. We have a major problem in this country with violence in general and gun violence in particular. Sadly, it is a problem that will not go away soon. The church has always prayed in response to violence. Often that praying has taken place during public gatherings like worship services, vigils, bible studies, etc. More...
read moreBe the Church
In 2016, The United Church of Christ has a lively new call to action, listing nine ways we are called to “BE THE CHURCH.” You can get banners and other materials to promote this vision of faith made visible in the world at www.uccresources.com. I explored the theme in a five part worship series, and these are the materials I wrote for the series. I have included the scriptures used, some of which are referenced in the worship materials. Martha Peck #1 – Be the Church: Care for the Poor (John 21:1-19, Acts 9:1-9) (NOTE: For this first...
read moreEverything on the Table: A Script for the Transformation of Gun Violence
This script was used a part of a closing devotional to end a three week ecumenical study about violence in general and gun violence in particular during Lent 2016. (NOTES: 1) The scripture reference below is Micah 4:1-4; 2) For this study we used a resource created by the United Methodist Church, titled “Kingdom Dreams, Violent Realities,” which accounts for some of the language you will see below. For this resource, click here.) The text below can be adapted for use in small groups, at a vigil, for a Sunday morning worship...
read moreLove-Goating
In late 2015, there is a growing propensity in the United States for scapegoating Muslims. The reasons for this are complicated but my sense is that the growth has been fueled most recently by terrorist acts by Muslims with extreme ideologies in places like San Bernardino and Paris. Oh yeah, and the rise and persistence of ISIS has not helped either. Right now, it seems acceptable to many to blame all Muslims for all problems in the US. The message sounds to my ears to be this: if we can just get rid of the Muslims, then all will be well....
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