First Presbyterian Church
(Billings, Montana)

Service of Prayer
September 12, 2001

Thanks to the Rev. John Shuck, pastor of the church, who shared this with us.

OPENING SENTENCES

O God, come to our assistance.
O Lord, hasten to help us.
Now that we have been put right with God through faith,
We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
He has brought us by faith into the grace of God.
We rejoice in the hope of sharing God's glory!

*HYMN OF LIGHT #210 "Our God, Our Help in Ages Past"

PRAYER DURING A NATIONAL CRISIS

God of ages,
In your sight nations rise and fall,
And pass through times of peril.

Now when our land is troubled,
Be near to judge and save.

May leaders be led by your wisdom;
May they search your will and see it clearly.

If we have turned from your way,
Help us to reverse our ways and repent.

Give us your light and your truth to guide us;
Through Jesus Christ,
Who is Lord of this world, and our Savior. Amen.

A READING FROM THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES Psalm 46

A READING FROM THE QU'RAN Surah 4:135

Let the man who seeks the reward of this life know that God holds the rewards of this life and of the hereafter. He hears all and sees all.

Believers, conduct yourselves with justice and bear true witness before God, even though it be against yourselves, your parents, or your kinsfolk. Be they rich or poor, God knows better about them both. So do not be led by passion, lest you swerve from the truth. If you distort your testimony or decline to give it, know that God is cognizant of all your actions.

A READING FROM THE GOSPELS John 14:1-3, 25-27

SILENT REFLECTION

MEDITATION

*HYMN #404 "Precious Lord, Take My Hand"

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

O God of all creation, Designer of beauty and goodness:
We pray that our work may preserve beauty and increase justice.

May human ingenuity be used creatively,
And our cleverness not lead to destruction.

We see war between nations and we are afraid;
We know conflict within our very selves and we are fearful.

Where we are responsible for human need, injustice,
sorrow and suffering, we pray for forgiveness, O Lord.

We pray for Your reconciliation and peace, O Lord of all.
We pray as fearful people, that we may find courage.

We pray as weary people, that we may find rest;
As sorrowing people, that we may find comfort;
As despairing people, that we may find hope.

We pray that we may experience Your healing peace in the
midst of our brokenness, through Jesus Christ our Savior.

(spoken and silent petitions may be offered at this time)

THE LORD'S PRAYER

*HYMN #293 "This is My Father's World"

*BENEDICTION

Voices of Sophia blog

Heather Reichgott, who has created this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:

After fifteen years of scholarship and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy, students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and thoughtful community.

Witherspoon’s Facebook page

Mitch Trigger, Witherspoon’s Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!

You can post your own news and views, or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you.

John Harris’ Summit to Shore blogspot

Theological and philosophical reflections on everything between summit to shore, including kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology, politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a member of the Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian Church in Flushing, NY.

John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive

A Presbyterian minister, currently serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton, Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and lightening up.

Got more blogs to recommend?

Plan now for ...

GHOST RANCH PEACE & JUSTICE WEEK
July 27 - August 2, 2009

Now's the time to make reservations to be a part of the 2009 Peace & Justice Week at Ghost Ranch, July 27-August 2. There are eight seminars to choose among, including the Witherspoon-sponsored class “New Eyes for Peace & Justice from the World Church” led by Clifton Kirkpatrick.

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