Memorial Service for Victims of Terror Attacks

For Victims of Terrorist Attacks
Renewal of Commitment to Peace

A Call to Worship

C: We gather in stunned disbelief

P: Give us courage to face the horror

C: We gather sensing the loss of our security

P: Remind us our security is in you

C: We gather in fear for the future

P: Give us strength to rebuild our hope

C: We gather to mourn for those who have been victimized

P: Surround them with your peace and with the

comfort of others

C: We gather in prayer for those tending to

the survivors

P: Provide us ways to support their efforts

C: We gather to pray for wisdom for our

leaders

P: That they may seek justice and not

retaliation

 

Scripture Verses

You will call to mind what once you feared

Isaiah 33: 18

 

Then in a moment how dreadful their end

Cut off root and branch by death with all its terrors,

Like a dream when a man rouses himself, O Lord,

Like images in sleep, which are dismissed on waking.

Psalm 73:19-20

 

The sword will make orphans in the street

And widows in their own homes’

It will take toll of young men and maidens

Of babes in arms and old men.

Deuteronomy 32:25

 

My heart is torn with anguish

The terrors of death come upon me

Fear and trembling overwhelm me

And I shudder from head to foot.

Psalm 55: 4

 

Help, Lord, for loyalty is no more

Good faith between man and man is over

One man lies to another

They talk with smooth lips and double heart

Psalm 12

 

Hear, Lord my pleas for justice,

Give my cry a hearing

Listen to my prayer for it is innocent of all deceit.

Psalm 17

 

God has told us what is good

And what it is that the Lords asks of us?

Only to act justly, to love loyalty

And walk wisely before your God.

Micah 6:8

 

Psalm 23

C: The Lord is my Shepherd

P: I shall not want

C: He makes me lie down in green pastures

P: and leads me beside the still waters

C: He restores my soul.

P: and guides me in the paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake

C: Even though I walk through the valley of the

shadow of death

P: I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.

C: Thy rod and thy staff

P: They comfort me.

C: Thou preparest a table before me

P: In the presence of mine enemies

C: Thou anointest my head with oil.

P: And my cup overflows

C: Surely goodness and mercy will follow me

P: All the days of my life

C: And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

P: for ever.

 

God comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble,

with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. II Corinthians 1: 5

 

Hymn: "Hear My Cry, O Lord," "God of the Sparrow, God of the Whale," etc.

 

Prayers for our Country

Almighty God, bless our nation and make it true to the ideas of freedom and justice and brotherhood for all who make it great. Guard us from war, from fire and wind, from comprise, fear and confusion.

Be close to our president and our statesmen, give them vision and courage, as they ponder decisions effecting peace and the future of our world. Make me more deeply aware of my heritage realizing not only my rights but also my duties and responsibilities as a citizen.

Make this great land and all its people know clearly your will, that they may fulfill the destiny ordained for us.

 

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord make me an instrument of thy peace

Where there is hatred, let me sow love

Where there is injury, pardon

Where there is doubt, faith

Where there is despair, hope

Where there is darkness, light

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,

To be understood, as to understand’

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Benediction

May God bless you and keep you

May God’s face shine upon your

May God’s countenance be upon you

And give you God’s peace. Amen