Interfaith Worship Service
Sunday, October 17, 1999  
3 P.M.  

Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel
Philadelphia, PA 

Reception

(refreshments and sharing of resources)

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

3rd Annual Interfaith Service
Program

"BROKEN VOWS"

INTERFAITH SERVICE

Prelude (instrumental) 

Call to Worship 
Rabbi Sanford Hahn
Board of Rabbis 

Leader:     The world belongs to G-d. 
People:      the earth and all its people. 
 
Leader:     How good and how lovely it is, 
People:      to live together in unity. 
 
Leader:     Love and faith come together, 
People:      justice and peace join hands. 
 
Leader:     Lord, open our lips,
People:      and our mouths shall proclaim your praise.
                   O G-d, you are Mercy and Compassion,
                   may your Name be blessed through all ages.
 

Opening Prayer 
Gene Dilks  
St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church 

G-d of compassion, 
you are always working to hold us together, 
to heal division, 
to make love true and strong.  
Send your blessing, O G-d, 
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 or love. 
Lead those who live in terror to a place of quiet,  
to a place to rest their weary spirits.  

G-d 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 G-d.  
Amen. 

Reading from the Hebrew Bible 
Deuteronomy 30:11-20 
Rabbi Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer 
Jewish Family and Children's Service 

(Reflective Music) 

Reading from the New Testament  
Luke 1:47-55 
Reverend Sara Hale 
St. John's-Tinicum Lutheran Church 

Psalm 23  
SaraKay Smullens 
Marriage and Family Therapist

Leader:     O G-d, you are my shepherd; I shall not want.
                  You make me to lie in green pastures.
                  You lead me to restful waters, to restore my soul.

People:     You guide me in paths of righteousness
                  for the sake of your name.
                  Even though I walk through the valley
                  of the shadow of death,
                  I fear no evil; for you are with me;
                  your rod and your staff give me comfort.

Leader:     You prepare a table before me
                  in the presence of my enemies;
                  You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.

People:     Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
                  all the days of my life.
                  And I shall dwell in your holy house for ever
                  and ever.
 

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

(Reflective Music) 

Prayers of the People:  Litany of Healing 
Carole Johnson, Women Organized Against Rape 
Talibah Kariem White, Islamic Family Center 
Detective Joanne Wszolek, Temple University Police Dept.
Dr. Fredi Cooper, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

Oh, G-d, our world at times is divided and hostile. Some people consider themselves dominant over others based on gender, race, color or status. Trusting that our world can be reconciled, that walls of hostility can be broken, we ask you to hear our prayers:

G-d of Mercy, 
     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 G-d. 

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

G-d 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 G-d. 

Touch the minds and hearts
of all who live in confusion or doubt,
and fill them with your light.
Come with your healing power, O G-d

Touch the minds and hearts
of all who are burdened by anguish,
despair, or isolation, and set them free in love.
Come with your healing power, O G-d

Break the bonds of those who are imprisoned by fear,
compulsion, secrecy, and silence.
Come with your healing power, O G-d

Fill with peace those who grieve over separationand loss.
Come with your healing power, O G-d

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

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

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

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

Let us now name before G-d 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 G-d, heal us now, in body and soul.  

O G-d, 
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 G-d, 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 G-d, heal us now, in body and soul.  

All: 
     O G-d, 
     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 G-d, heal us now, in body and soul.  

Closing Prayer 
Ann Farley
Parish Nurse Coordinator, Holy Redeemer Health System 

O G-d, 
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 G-d, 
ever merciful and compassionate,  
we offer you praise and thanks, now and for all ages. 
Amen. 

Sending Forth 
Reverend Dr. Leonard Thompson 
Philadelphia Baptist Association

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. 

Prayer of Healing 
Dr. Fredi Cooper 

Mi she-bei-rach a-vo-tei-nu
M'kor ha-bra-cha l'i-mo-tei-nu,
May the source of strength
Who blessed the ones before us,
Help us find the courage
To make our lives a blessing,
And let us say: Amen

Mi she-bei-rach i-mo-tei-nu
M'kor ha-bra-cha l'a-vo-tei-nu,
Bless those in need of healing
With r'fu-a sh'lei-ma,
The renewal of body,
The renewal of spirit,
and let us say: Amen
(1988 Deborah Lynn Friedman)

Postlude 

RECEPTION

1999 SPONSORS
The Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia
The women's Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
The Coalition Against Jewish Domestic Violence

SPONSOR YEAR 2000
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
 

Acknowledgments

The Interfaith Coalition for the Sabbath of Domestic Peace extends sincere gratitude to Rabbi Ira Stone and members of the congregation of Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel for hosting this event.

Our thanks also to:
Mindy Cutcher (harpist)
Stephen Cutcher (flutist)
Rayna Notta (sign language interpreter)
Archdiocese of Philadelphia, printing of programs
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
Betty the Caterer

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
     Union Benevolent Association
 

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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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