PC(USA) - Presbyterian Peacemaking Program - Worship Resources


	United Nations Day One-sided Bulletin Insert (1.4 MB) Two-sided Bulletin Insert (2 MB) Call to Worship Prayer of Confession (from South Africa) A Peacemaking Litany for the United Nations Children's Sermon on UNICEF 12 Cents — A UNICEF Children's sermon Prayers for United Nations Day O God Who Formed Creation — a hymn for United Nations Day


	Call to Worship Leader: In the midst of hunger and war People: we celebrate the promise of plenty and peace. Leader: In the midst of oppression and tyranny People: we celebrate the promise of service and freedom. Leader: In the midst of doubt and despair People: we celebrate the promise of faith and hope. Leader: In the midst of fear and betrayal People: we celebrate the promise of joy and loyalty. Leader: In the midst of hatred and death People: we celebrate the promise of love and life. Leader: In the midst of sin and decay People: we celebrate the promise of salvation and renewal. Leader: In the midst of death on every side People: we celebrate the promise of the living Christ.



	A Peacemaking Litany for the United Nations Leader: We are called to be obedient to Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. People: We are called to be peacemakers Leader: We are determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war; we are determined to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights and the dignity and worth of women and men; we are determined to establish conditions under which justice and respect for law can be maintained; we are determined to promise social progress and better standards of life.. People: We are also "the peoples of the United Nations." Leader: For the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments which present a vision of God's peace, People: We praise your name, O God. Leader: For the United Nations, and all of its ministries related to peacekeeping, peacemaking, and the fulfillment of human needs, People: We praise your name, O God. Leader: From the willfulness of nations which prevents them from seeking peaceful means of settling international disputes, People: Deliver us, O God. Leader: From the fears that blur our vision, the prejudices that cloud our judgement, and the anxieties that make us helpless, People: Deliver us, O God. Leader: For the opportunities to create a world community in which the basic economic, political, and spiritual needs of every human being can be met, People: Prepare our hearts, O God. Leader: For the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that is not of this world, People: Prepare our hearts, O God. All: Let us all be peacemakers. Let us be called the children of God, speaking boldly to the nations and to the world and acting now for peace, justice, and love. AMEN.



	Children's Sermon Kids can play a part in creating a more peaceful world. The Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF project is a great way to let children help children in other parts of the world. Go to the UNICEF USA site and order free orange Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF boxes. Tell the kids in the congregation all about the work that the UN does for children through UNICEF (information is available on the UNICEF site as well as here. Help the kids to know what the money will do so that they can tell the people they approach just what they are doing. Help the kids feel a part of UN Sunday, too. Here is a suggestion of what to say: Who all is planning on going trick-or-treating on Halloween? [ I am, I am!!] What do you hope people are going to give you when you ring their doorbell and yell "trick-or-treat"? [CANDY!!] Well, I'm going to tell you a story about a family who decided to do something a little different one year at Halloween. Mary Emma Allison lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with her husband and their three children and went to a Presbyterian Church — just like you! in 1950, Mrs. Allison decided that it would be nice If her children and all the other children in their church could do something to help other children all around the world. What they decided to do was to carry milk cartons they had painted orange with them when they went trick-or-treating. They collected spare change in the boxes, and donated it to a group called UNICEF that helps take care of children who need help all over the world. Since then, more and more children have joined every year until now kids all over the United States go trick-or-treating for UNICEF. The money they have raised helps children in countries all over the world, even right here in the United States, who don't have good food to eat or clean water to drink, or school to attend. And this year, you can too! [Pass out boxes now] When you go trick-or-treating, tell your neighbors all about UNICEF and that you are raising money so they can help other boys and girls all over the world grow up healthy and safe. Every 7cents you collect will pay for a shot that will keep a child from getting a disease called polio, a disease that can cause people to need wheelchairs to get around and can even kill them. Then bring your boxes back here next week and bring them forward when the offering is taken up. We can all help people from all over the world have a better life. Let's pray together: Dear God, We thank you that we have plenty of food to eat, and water to drink and bathe in. But we know that not all children in the world are so lucky. Please help us to remember those children who have less than we do, and help us to do our part to help. AMEN.



	Prayer of Confession (from South Africa) Oh God. You ask for our hands — that you might use them for your purpose. We only give them for a moment, and then withdrew them for the work is hard. You asked for our mouths to speak out against injustice. We will only whisper fearing that we might be accused. You ask for our eyes to see the harsh truth of poverty. We close them because we do not want to see. You ask for our lives, that you might work through us. We only give a small part. Lord forgive us our calculated efforts to serve you only when it is convenient to do so, only in the places where it is safe to do so, only with those who make it easy to do so. Patient God forgive us, renew us, and send us out as your instrument that we might take seriously the meaning of your cross. Amen. Assurance of Pardon One: Friends, hear the Good News! Christ Jesus came to this world to guide us, to show us a better path. He roused us from our indifference and calculations challenging us to go into the world. Friends, Christ suffered for you and me. Christ died a perfect sacrifice for our sins, and in his suffering we are made new! All: As a new people we shout praises to your grace and pledge ourselves to your work O Lord our strength and our redeemer.



	Children's Sermon (get some Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF boxes and lots of coins) Give each child a couple coins or have a handful of change. Ask the children what that change can buy. Ask them if they thought 12 cents could feed some one. Of course not, that's silly! A long time ago, Jesus was teaching a lot of people, and they were very, very hungry. Jesus knew that people need food in order to be healthy and to learn, so he asked what food there was. A little child had a basket with a few dried fish and a few loaves of bread. Jesus said a prayer and blessed the food, and told his disciples to feed the people. They laughed, because a few fish and a little bread couldn't feed thousands of people! But as they served people, they saw that the food didn't run out. Jesus had preformed a miracle! We have a chance to help care for people just like Jesus did. If I take this 12 cents and put it in this box (a Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF box) do you know what it can do? It can feed a very hungry child for a day. This Halloween, you can be like Jesus and ask people as you trick-or-treat if they have a little change for your box. Just like how Jesus was able to feed thousands with a little food, with a little money we can help UNICEF feed thousands of our brothers and sisters around the world! Let's say a prayer: Dear God, thank you for the food we eat and the water we drink. Please, God, help us to make sure all of your children can have good food. And all God's children say: AMEN.



	Prayers for United Nations Day A Prayer for the United Nations Great God, supreme ruler of all the earth, give vision to those who serve the United Nations. With justice and goodwill, may they take down barriers and draw the world together in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. — Peacemaking through Worship: Volume I A Prayer for Peace in Our Time O God, Our Father, O God, Our Mother: we pray for all your children on earth, of every nation and of every race; that we may be strong to do your work. We pray for the Church in the world. Give peace in our time, O God. For the United Nations, the World Court, and for all governments and their leaders, give peace in our time, O God. For worldwide agencies of caring which bind wounds and feed the hungry: give peace in our time, O God. For all who seek to transform systems that wound give peace in our time, O God. For all who work for justice and peace: give peace in our time, O God. Amen. — Peacemaking through Worship: Volume I World Peace Prayer Lead me from death to life, From falsehood to truth. Lead me from despair to hope, From fear to trust. Lead me from hate to love, From war to peace. Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe. — Satish Kumar Peacemaking through Worship: Volume II The Peace the World Cannot Give O God, You love justice and You establish peace on earth. We bring before You the disunity of today’s world: the absurd violence, and the many wars which are breaking the courage of the peoples of the world; militarism and the race for arms, which threaten life on the planet; human greed and injustice, which breed hatred and strife. Send Your Holy Spirit and renew the face of the earth: teach us to be compassionate toward the whole human family; strengthen the will of all who work for justice; lead all nations into the path of peace; bless the efforts of the United Nations and other cooperative groups; grant us the peace the world cannot give. Through Jesus we pray. Amen. — Peacemaking through Worship: Volume II A Prayer for United Nations Day Merciful and life-giving God, We long for a world where justice and peace thrive We want to be proud of our communities, our countries, our world And, we know that we are your instruments in bringing that peace Ground us in a counter-cultural hope that has power to transform us and our world For we are a generation prone to skepticism and self-centeredness We are overwhelmed with our over-scheduled lives Remind us that we are first humans on this planet Then nations, tribes, religions, families Help us to plant and water the seeds of peace From our personal spirituality to our engagement in civic and political life We give thanks for those leaders who call us to our best selves, Who offer a vision of an involved and compassionate world Who do not run from sacrifice or dismiss the powerless And who call us lift our gaze to see find you and ourselves in the other Return the church to our prophet, Jesus, who called us into community to care for the poor, to welcome the stranger, and to set the oppressed free. Amen. — Shannon Parks-Beck, Seattle Presbytery



	O God Who Formed Creation A Hymn for United Nations Day AURELIA 7.6.7.6 D (“The Church’s One Foundation”) O God, who formed creation and made each living thing, We’ve seen the devastation that war and conflict bring. We long to stop the violence and end the scourge of war; We yearn for peace and justice, now and forevermore. We join in celebration of those who’ve heard your call To bring together nations and seek the good for all. We thank you for their labors to bring a lasting peace, That we might live as neighbors and justice might increase. Some care for your creation, some daily feed the poor; Some offer education, or seek an end to war. Some labor bringing healing, or care for refugees; It’s you, O Lord, they’re serving, in doing each of these. This work to heal the nations becomes our calling, too. For reconciliation is first a gift from you. As we have been forgiven, may we reach out to share The peace that comes from heaven with nations everywhere. Tune: Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864. Text: Copyright © 2007 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved. O God Who Formed Creation — a hymn for United Nations Day with music Carolyn Winfrey Gillette gives permission for free use of this hymn by PC(USA) congregations. Hymn Note This hymn was requested by the Presbyterian United Nations Office and the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program for the celebration of United Nations Day 2007 (October 24). The first verse is inspired by the Preamble of the United Nations Charter. The second verse celebrates those who have served and are serving in the United Nations and other international peacemaking efforts. The third verse lifts up some of the work of UN agencies and programs (like food, environmental, humanitarian and refugee) and draws from Matthew 25:34-40. The final verse is a prayer that we as people of faith will respond to God’s peace by being peacemakers. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette is the co-pastor of Limestone Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware and the author of two collections of hymns: Gifts of Love: New Hymns for Today’s Worship (Geneva Press) and the forthcoming Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor.


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