Sabbath of Domestic Peace - The Philadelphia Coalition to Prevent Domestic Violence

Interfaith Service 1997

Sunday, October 5, 1997

3 P.M.

Rev. David McMillian preaching

Overbrook Presbyterian Church

City Line and Lancaster Avenues

Philadelphia, PA

(215) 877-2744

Reception - 2 P.M.

(refreshments and sharing of resources)

Clergy, women and men of all faiths are invited to attend this worship service of healing, hope and restoration. A reception will be held at 2 p.m. to welcome worship participants. In addition, support agencies will be present to provide information and answer questions.

Order of Worship

Prelude

Welcome
Mary VandenBerge
Clerk of Session
Overbrook Presbyterian Church

*Call to Worship
Yvonne Allen
President, Church Women United

Leader:     Our help is in the name of the Lord
People:      Who made Heaven and earth.
Leader:     Those who wait for the Lord
                   Shall renew their strength,
People:      they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
Leader:     they shall run and not be weary,
People:      they shall walk and not faint.
Leader:     Come, let us worship our God who renews our strength.

*Processional Hymn
#263 Ye Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

Opening Prayer
Reverend Deborah McKinley
Third, Scots and Mariners Presbyterian Church

God of grace,
you are always working to hold us together,
to heal division,
to make love true and strong.
Send your grace, O God,
to the homes in our community where women and men, the young and the old, live in fear of violence;
to homes that are places of danger and pain,
to homes where there is no peace and love.
Lead those who live in terror
to a place of quiet,
to a place to rest their weary spirits.

God of mercy,
you hear the voices of children crying.
Send us love enough to turn their tears into laughter.
You see terror in the faces of our sisters.
Send us courage enough to turn their fear into hope.
You know the pain, the brokenness, the anger of abusers.
Send us conviction enough to confront and embrace them.
You hear our cries of anguish and frustration,
send patience and persistence,
until all people live in peace, without fear.
We long for that time O God.
Amen.

Hymn
Hope in the Lord
Cantor: Rabbi Margot Stein

Reading from Hebrew Scripture
Psalm 27
Student Rabbi Myriam Klotz
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

Sung response:
Mine is the faith that I surely will see
God's goodness in the land of life (2x)

Hope in the Lord and have courage
Hope in the Lord and be strong (2x)

Reading from the New Testament
Matthew 26:6-13
Reverend Dr. Leonard Thompson
Philadelphia Baptist Association

Reading from the Qur'an
Surah 4:1 and 34
Imam Qasim Rashad
Islamic Family Center

Message
Reverend David McMillan
Overbrook Presbyterian Church

*Congregational Hymn
#488 The God of Abraham Praise

Prayers of the People: Litany of Healing
Jacquelyn Hall, Lutheran Settlement House
Barbara Hyman Beyah, Masjidullah, Inc.
Ginny Schwartz, Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church

God of Grace,
     you nurture us with a love deeper than any we know,
     your will for us is always healing and salvation.
     We Praise and thank you, O God.

God of love,
     you enter into our lives, our pain, and our brokenness,
     and embrace us with your healing hands wherever we are.
     We praise and thank you, O God.

God of strength,
     you fill us with your presence
     and send us forth with love and healing
     for all whom we meet.
     We praise and thank you, O God.

Hear now, O God, the prayers of your people.
Hear us, O God of life.

For the world,
that your creation may be understood and valued.
Hear us, O God of life.

For order which dispels fear,
for those paralyzed by confusion or doubt.
Hear us, O God of life.

For women and men, girls and boys,
terrorized and beaten by domestic violence.
Hear us, O God of life.

For their empowerment,
for their healing,
for their peace and self-value,
for their dignity.
Hear us, O God of life.

For children who witness violence
that they might learn and know the ways that make for peace,
breaking the cycles of violence from one generation to the next.
Hear us, O God of life.

For all relationships
that they might be based on justice, equality, respect, dignity and peace.
Hear us, O God of life.

Let us now name before God and this gathered community
those, including ourselves, for whom we seek healing.

(The congregation may call out names.)

Sing:
Anah, Eyl nah, refah nah lah
Please God, heal us now, in body and soul.

O God,
we remember before you this day
all who have died at the hand of violence.

(The congregation may call out names of those who have died.)

Sing:
Anah, Eyl nah, refah nah lah
Please God, heal us now, in body and soul.

That they may have rest
in your presence where there is no fear, no pain, no grief,
but life eternal.

Sing:
Anah, Eyl nah, refah nah lah
Please God, heal us now, in body and soul.

All:
     O God,
     in you all is turned to light,
     and brokenness is healed.
     Look with compassion on us
     and on those for whom we pray,
     that we may be re-created in wholeness, in love,
     and in compassion for one another.
     Amen.

Sing:
Anah, Eyl nah, refah nah lah
Please God, heal us now, in body and soul.

Offering

Solo
By 'n By/Great Day
Keith Crawford
Overbrook Presbyterian Church

Closing Prayer
Most Reverend Joseph F. Martino
Archdiocese of Philadelphia

O God,
in mystery and silence you are present in our lives,
bringing order out of chaos,
new life out of destruction,
hope out of despair,
growth out of difficulty.
We thank you that you do not leave us alone,
and are always at work to make us whole.
Give us eyes to see your unseen hand
in the unfolding of our lives,
and to attend to the gentle guidance of your Spirit,
that we may know the joy of the life you give.
O holy and faithful God,
ever merciful and compassionate,
we offer you praise and thanks, now and for all ages.
Amen.

*Sending Forth
Reverend David McMillan
Overbrook Presbyterian CHurch

May we go forth to turn our hearts and hands and prayers to restoring hope for the future of our families and toward the healing of our nation. Then, truly, shall we raise up the foundations of many generations, and our light will shine forth in the darkness. Amen.

*Recessional
#270 O God, in a Mysterious Way

Postlude

*Please stand if you are able.

Acknowledgments

The Interfaith Coalition for the Sabbath of Domestic Peace extends sincere gratitude to the Session and Congregation of Overbrook Presbyterian Church for hosting this event.
Out thanks also to Dennis Elwell, organist, and Keith Crawford, soloist, of Overbrook Presbyterian Church.

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance given in support of the goals of the Sabbath of Domestic Peace given by :
     The Philadelphia Foundation
     The Danellie Foundation
     The Samuel S. Fels Fund
     St. Martin-In-The-Fields Episcopal Church

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The Sabbath of Domestic Peace is an interdisciplinary, interfaith coalition to encourage and support the involvement of religious leaders and congregations in the greater Philadelphia area in their efforts to prevent and reduce domestic violence by raising awareness and providing educational and resource materials.

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