Peace with Justice
Our Lament and Hope for Peace
By Peace with Justice Cooridnators: Kathy Campbell-Barton and Adrienne Fong

OUR LAMENT & HOPE FOR PEACE
5th Commemoration of the War in Iraq
March 19, 2008

Gospel Lesson:
John 13:21-35. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Responsive Litany:

Leader: Loving God: Open our eyes to envision 4,000 pairs of empty soldier’s boots next to 600,000 pairs of empty shoes worn by civilians as we ask in shame, how many more will die and leave their boots or shoes empty?

All: Walk with us throughout this Holy Week.

Leader: Help us as we mourn the loss of your children. We wonder what their lives would have been like. We wonder about their families – mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters.

All: Walk with us throughout this Holy Week.

Leader: We confess we have harmed our brothers and sisters in Iraq with weapons of war and vindictive actions. Forgive us for dehumanizing persons in places we do not wish to recognize. Help us to seek your understanding.

All: Walk with us throughout this Holy Week.

Leader: Give us courage to be peacemakers by ending our silence. Give us strength to lift up our voices to proclaim “No More War.”

All: Walk with us throughout this Holy Week. We ask you to walk with us in the name of Christ who commands us to love one another.

Unison Prayer
God of Hope, five years of living with war has caused hatred and terrorism to rule the earth. The refugees, the broken, and the voiceless cry out to you.
God of Mercy, forgive us for waging war in Iraq. Forgive us for our silence and for not taking a stand as witnesses for peace.
God of Love, take hold of our hearts. Fill us with your grace so that we may know a love that is greater than our brokenness and more healing than our woundedness. We pray in the name of your son, Jesus who gave us the new commandment to love one another. Amen.


CALL TO ACTION


Suggestions:
• Participate in activities and nonviolent actions with other faith and peace groups in your community from March 7-21, 2008

• Support the November 2007, United Methodist Bishops’ Resolution on Iraq at: www.umc-gbcs.org/iraqOutNow

• Open your local church to your communities on March 19, 2008 for a time of reflection and action, or co-coordinate with other churches in your area


On this day Remember:
• All those who have died in this war and their families - the Iraqis, U.S. soldiers and civilians, including troops and non-combatants from other nations

• All those who are still serving in Iraq, and their families
• All those who have been wounded
• The people of Iraq

Contact your Senators and Representatives:
Capitol Switchboard Toll Free: 1-800-828-0498
www.umc-gbcs.org/officials (to look up your elected officials)
• Ask to end all funding for the war in Iraq; bring our troops home;
and that they not support another “Surge” of troops to Iraq

• Ask for funds to be allocated for health and psychological support services for all U.S. soldiers that have been wounded – physically and emotionally

• Ask for humanitarian aid for Iraq

Resources:
• Website for United Methodist Alerts www.umpower.org
• Website of faith-based activities www.christianpeacewitness.org
• Website for listings of other activities www.unitedforpeace.org
• Website of US casualties www.antiwar.com/casualties/list.php
• Mark Harrison, Director, Peace with Justice Program GBCS
MHarrison@umc-gbcs.org


Prepared by: The Peace with Justice Coordinators from
The Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference
The California-Nevada Annual Conference