Newspapers are now covering church prayer services and peace vigils, as well as the war. For this I am grateful. It's good for journalists and the larger community to see how essential the local church is in times of war.

Yet most journalists are clueless about what exactly goes on in these services. Is it to soothe worried worshipers? Is it to reconcile hopes of peace with the reality of war? Is it to join faith and politics?

Or could it be that communities like Middleton and Madison and Waunakee hold prayer meetings because prayer actually changes things!?

Journalists are not the only ones struggling to make sense of this war. As for myself-a former conscientious objector in the Vietnam War and now "one" with the troops overseas as a TV bystander "embedded" in my living room couch-I find war morally complex.

We have no consensus on the conduct of war or peace among staff at MOM or the MOM clergy. One area preacher confessed to not knowing what to say in these times of conflict. For a second pastor, bringing unity out of warring factions is the goal. A third MOM pastor did not hesitate to preach against the evils of war, but had a long-time parishioner leave the service, never to come back again. Judging from prayers heard from yet another Middleton pulpit, one would not even know a war is going on.

From pulpit and pew, we pray that God helps our president make the right decisions-but we openly disagree on what those decisions should be. Most churches are praying for the troops. Last week, the congregation I attended submitted the names of their friends and family members involved in the Armed Forces, who were then prayed for by name. Some even pray as if God is on both sides of this conflict-for the Coalition troops in harm's way, AND for the Iraqis under fire.

Views of war and peace are as divergent as our many faith traditions, yet last January Middleton area clergy agreed to lead our community in prayer for peace in the midst of war. So at 4:00pm on March 30, and on neutral turf-the beautiful new MHS Performing Arts Center- nine clergy prayed fervently for God's peace, protection and presence. As we now look to Easter (April 13), here's a reader's digest version of that service, for your own use, whenever and wherever you wish.

MOM's Kermit Hovey, adapting a Mennonite tradition, called us to worship with a responsive reading that kept affirming, God is our refuge and strength, in response to several affirmations: "God is a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, and the mountains shake…God is our refuge and strength. Though the waters roar and foam and the world's peace are disturbed we are not shaken. God is our refuge and strength….

Our worship included hymn singing led by Barbara Brown, keyboardist of Middleton Community Church-UCC, and by Rev. Gary Holmes, guitarist and pastor of Asbury United Methodist. In "This Is My Song," we invoked, "O God of all nations, a song of peace for all lands afar and mine," and we were reminded, "Other hearts in other lands are beating with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine."

Father Mick Moon of St. Bernard's Catholic Church presented our hearts to God and assured us of God's mercy. "We have strayed like sheep…. Through Your Son, the Good Shepherd, You constantly call out to us and search for us."

No prayers for peace would be complete without the one by Saint Francis of Assisi (c. 1181-1226), read by this pastor: "Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and, it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."

Dave McRoberts, senior pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church, led us in prayers for protection. "Because You also are our Protector, and we are in dire need of protection. Protection from revenge… O God, replace revenge with a spirit of healing and wholeness for all peoples. Protection from hopelessness… O God, replace hopelessness with a realization that You never give up on us or our nation or this world. Protection from a sadness that leads to despair… O God, may it be replaced with the relief, the joy of knowing and serving You. Protection from prejudice... O God, may our prejudices be replaced with love for each other, and may our love of You and love of each other lead to healing, to wholeness, to a spirit of family and unity on this earth. Protect especially those involved in this conflict. Keep them safe, O God, and may we as a world recognize You and honor You as the eternal Protector."

Pastor James Iliff, also of Middleton Community Church-UCC, led us in extemporaneous prayers reflecting on God's presence in the midst of conflict.

Two other pastors, Dan Yeazel of Dale Heights Presbyterian and Trevlynn Kimball of Meadowbrook Reformed Church, delivered a joint message from Psalm 37, which reads in part: "Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong…. Trust in the LORD and do good…. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes."

Pastor Dan's words were most inclusive: "No matter what your view on the war is, it is fair to say we are anxious and the world is indeed fretting. Some of us today are fretting about the war because it isn't going fast enough; some are fretting because we are at war in the first place…. When we don't know what to say, know that these days will not last. There is a peace for all, one that God intends to bring about…. In days like these, we are to sing and pray, trusting in the Lord and doing good.

Pastor Trev, also preaching from Psalm 37, concluded, "When the war seems bleak, when we are disheartened by the casualties of our military, when we can't comprehend what's next for the refugees, when our troops protect and help the innocent, when we see the military reports on television, we need to roll these matters to God in prayer."

William Mugford, senior pastor of High Point Church, offered the closing prayer and benediction: "Lord Jesus, we confess that we are conflicted in conflict… You taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, that we may be children of our Father who is in heaven. When you saw injustice, you confronted it- overturning the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those selling doves…. You saw ahead of time that doing what is right might occasion differences and bring even a 'sword' between peoples.

"Father God, we ask that our lives and our actions conform to the words of prophet Micah, 'To know what is good and what you require of us: to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.'

"Holy Spirit, take our hands and guide us we pray by Your sovereign power. Counsel and give wisdom to leaders. Bless, preserve and protect all innocent life. Give strength, courage, discernment, and protection to those who serve and to loved ones who wait. We need Your continuing wisdom to know what to do!

"Almighty God, help us to affirm as did an ancient king of Iraq: 'Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble,'" (Daniel 4:37).

And all God's people said, "Amen!"

If prayer is not your thing, but "volunteering" or "humanitarian aid" is, then you, too, can do something to relieve stress and make a difference in our war-torn world. Donate care packages, blood, or money through the Red Cross. Give food to the Boy Scouts food drive on April 12 to combat hunger here on the home front. Other volunteer opportunities are a phone call away-call 826-3409. To avoid fretting about the war, be a hero and meet a need.

At 2:00pm Saturday, May 3, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church-we are conducting a "Service of Appreciation," saluting those heroes in our midst who volunteer through MOM. Join us.

© 2003 Middleton Outreach Ministry

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