Resources for Worship and Prayer in the Face of Violence

We are living in a culture of violence. Violence comes to our schools with sudden devastation. Violence comes as family abuse that scars future generations. Terrorism is used to gain political ends. Violence is conceived on a global scale and affects us in all our cities. It reaches into our homes and hearts. The church is called both to pray and to act. Here are some links for worship resources. We hope you will find resources here both for gathered worship in churches, homes, and in the worship in service that follows worship.

World Council of Churches — Overcoming Violence

Reach out and join hands with others praying and working for peace!

Worship Resources— Litanies, Laments, Prayers, Sermons, Writings, Stories
http://peace.mennolink.org/congregations.html
Here you will find a number of litanies, a prayer vigil, and access to many prayers and resources for worship out of the Mennonite Peace with Justice Committee.

Messengers of Peace Worship Service
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources

Prayers for Peace from the Orthodox Peace Fellowship
http://incommunion.org

Eritrea-Ethiopia: Prayers for Peace — 15 paintings
http://www.bettyladuke.com
These paintings, one of which is called Prayers for Peace, are rich. Each has a paragraph of commentary.

General Board of Church and Society — Peace with Justice
http://www.umc-gbcs.org

Here you will find background resources and links to newsletters and more.

Message on the Occasion of the Launch of the Decade to Overcome Violence
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/who/cc2001/pr-ii1rev2-e.html
Includes a wonderful prayer of St. Basil, the Great of the fourth century.

National Crime Prevention Council
www.ncpc.org/
This home page will take you to many resources and sites. In terms of worship planning and action, consider these sources for creating prayers, litanies, and grist for creating songs and hymns.

Christian Peace Prayer
http://christianity.about.com/od/prayersforspecificneeds/qt/prayerforpeace.htm

Be sure to consult the indexes of The United Methodist Hymnal and The Faith We Singfor hymns and songs related to consolation and peace and overcoming violence.

The Center for Worship Resources staff prepared this list of links. The Center for Worship Resources is an office of the Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church. This listing is not an official endorsement of any of the above resources by The United Methodist Church and is offered as a service to churches seeking to share in God's mission of shalom and the global quest for peace and an end to violence.