Worship & Prayer Responses to Acts of Violence - Boston, Newtown, CT, Oslo, Tucson, Virginia Tech, etc.
(unfortunately, always in progress - please use "contact" link above to let me know about resources...)
- Prayers, Liturgies, Litanies & Other Worship Resources:
- Prayer and Worship Resources in light of the Boston Marathon Bombings and the explosion in Texas. ELCA.
- A Litany in the Wake of Terror in Boston, Rick Morley, 2013.
- A Prayer for Boston, Rev Dr John Tamilio III, 2013.
- Brand New Mourning, the Rev. Dr. Kwasi Kena, 2013.
- An Act of Praise in Response to Terrorism, Dean McIntyre, UMCGBOD.
- Resources on Terrorism and Violence, UMC GBOD.
- Prayer in the aftermath of the Boston terror attack, Rev. Mindi, Rev-o-lution, 2013.
- Theological Bloggers' Prayers for Boston, listed at RevGalBlogPals, 2013
- Call To Worship (Boston Marathon Bombings), the Rev. Mantu Joshi, UMC GBOD, 2013.
- A Prayer for the Victims and Families and First Responders in Boston, Stephen Brown, Prayers from the Closet, 2013.
- Blue Christmas resources may be especially helpful for worship planning this season. Scroll down to middle of landing page.
- Prayers of the People by Rev. Dr. Casey G. Baggott, Community Church of Vero Beach, Advent III, Year C,The day following the Sandy Hook School shooting. Based on Philippians 4:4-7.
- A Prayer for Newtown, Rev. Mindi, Rev-o-lution.
- Prayers of Intercession following the tragedy in Newtown, CT, ELCA, 2012.
- We cry, we wait, we watch for the dawn, J. Andrew McTyre, 2012.
- Prayers in the wake of the tragedy in Sandy Hook, Rick Morley, 2012.
- A Psalm for a Moment of Violence, Bob Cornwall, Ponderings on a Faith Journey, 2012.
- A Prayer for Newtown, John Edward Harris, Summit to Shore, 2012.
- Prayer in the Wake of Shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, J. Harader.
- A Prayer for Newtown, the Rev. Dr. John Tamilio III, United Church of Christ in Canton, MA.
- Church Galleries - free powerpoint prayer slide, 2012.
- Pastoral Prayer, Rev. Lisa Kay Comingore Smith, Hyattstown Christian Church in Maryland.
- Prayers for Oslo, video and prayer suggestions, Partake! 2011.
- Suffering and Serving, One and All, Mary Austin, Ronald H. Love, George Reed, Epiphany 2 and Tucson Incident, SermonSuite The Immediate Word free sample, 2011.
- The Eucharistic Prayer at time of Senseless Tragedy from In Remembrance of Me-Eucharistic Prayers for the Lesser Feasts and Festivals and other times in the life of the Church, John Dornheim.
- Words of Hope and Courage, Interfaith Community College Service of Worship, Rev. Beth H. DuBois, South and Onondaga Valley Presbyterian Church, Syracuse, NY.
- A Prayer for Oslo, Sarah Tells Stories, 2011.
- Prayer in a Time of Terror and Loss (for Oslo and others), Rev. Mindi, Rev-o-lution, 2011.
- Prayer in the Aftermath of Violence, Paul Bellan-Boyer, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Jersey City, NJ.
- Virginia Tech Reflection and Prayer, Rev. Fulton, First Presbyterian Church, Athens, OH.
- Reflections, Sermons and Articles:
- "What the Living Do," Laura Everett, Faith and Leadership, 2013. Sermon preached in Watertown, MA on April 21, 2013.
- Christian Forgiveness and the Boston Marathons, perspectives from Duke Divinity School's Faith and Leadership. Sermons, reflections, global perspectives.
- "Love and Hope in the Wake of Boston," Eric Barreto, Huffington Post, 2013.
- "The 23rd Psalm in an Age of Terror: A Pastoral Response to Boston," Timothy F. Simpson, Political Theology, 2013.
- "Why I Pray that April Tragedies Bring May Justice," Margaret Aymer, ON Scripture, Odyssey Networks, 2013.
- "On my ball cap," Martha Spong, Political Theology, 2013.
- "Islamophobia in the Aftermath of the Boston Marathon Bombings," A. Rashied Omar, Political Theology, 2013.
- "Fear is a Liar," Eric Folkerth, When EF Talks, 2013.
- Discussion and Resources at RevGalBlogPals, 2013.
- "Irony, Fear, and the Sentimentality of Terrorism," Debra Dean Murphy, 2013.
- "Sunday's Comin'," Safiyah Fosua, 2013.
- "Ending Hate - Ending Cycles of Violence," Robert Cornwall, Ponderings on a Faith Journey, 2013.
- "Disaster,"sermon discussion from Frederick Buechner, Frederick Buechner Blog.
- "Running with God - Praying with Boston," GBOD Young People's Ministries, 2013.
- "Talking to Children Following the Boston Marathon Bombing...And Listening!" Conference on Ministry with Children, UMC, 2013.
- Theological Bloggers consider Boston, listed at RevGalBlogPals, 2013.
- 9/11 = 7x70: A Formula for Forgiveness, David F. Sellery, Episcopal News Service, 2013.
- "Loving," Melissa Bane Sevier, Contemplative Viewfinder, 2013.
- 11th Hour Preacher Party Where Is the Joy Edition, RevGalBlogPals, 2012.
- Discussion at The Text This Week facebook page.
- Fred Rogers Talks about Tragic Events in the News. Fred Rogers company.
- "The Innocents," Nancy Rockwell, Bite in the Apple, 2012.
- Pointing to the Light, Rev. Patricia L. Liberty, First Congregational Church, Madison, CT, Advent 3, 2012.
- "The Boy Next Door: On Another Senseless Shooting,""Hopes and Fears," the Rev. Dr. Janet H. Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2012.
- "Child Sacrifice," Michael Coffey, 2012.
- "Remembering Rachel: The Slaughter of the Innocents," Pam Fickenscher, The Journey with Jesus.
- "Christmas and Killings: Where Is God?" J Harader, spacious faith, 2012.
- "Joy and Tragedy, an Advent Response," Anne Campbell, 2012.
- Another Tragedy, Sharon Pearson, Building Faith, 2012.
- Sermon after the Sandy Hook Shooting, the Rev. Dr. Frank S. Deming, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Ehoboth Beach, Delaware.
- "Rejoice?" Rev. Fred Day, St. George's UMC, Philadelphia, PA.
- Sermon after Newtown: What I'll Be Saying on Sunday, John Fairless, 2012.
- Congregational letter following the mall shootings in Oregon, Pastor Steven Sprecher, Lake Oswego United Methodist Church, Lake Oswego, Oregon, 2012.
- "What Do We Say to the Children when Kids are Killed with their Teachers at School?" Carolyn C. Brown, 2012.
- "The Untold Christmas Story," Ron Love, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Sermon Suite, 2012.
- 11 Tips for Responding to Children's Fears and Concerns following a Disaster, Melanie Gordon, UMC GBOD.
- President Obama speaks about the tragedy in CT. YouTube
- "Are You In?" sermon, December 16, 2012, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Denver, The Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley.
- Finding Joy in the Midst of Tragedy, Robert Cornwall, Ponderings on a Faith Journey, 2012.
- A congregational letter written on December 14, 2012, by Alan F. Parker, Pastor, United Church of Craftsbury (UCC).
- "A Time to Mourn," Robert Stuhlmann, Stories from a Priestly Life, 2012.
- "Thinking about Norway," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation, 2011.
- Spotting the Kingdom of God after the Tragedy of Death, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Sojourners, 2011.
- An Oslo Lament, Changing Worship, 2011.
- Faithful Living in a Time of Violence and Terrorism A study guide by a gifted educator on the Resolution on Violence, Religion, and Terrorism adopted by the 216th General Assembly (2004) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
- Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords: Speaking for the Soul, Diana Butler Bass, Beliefnet, 2011.
- Thoughts on Gabrielle Giffords, Todd Weir, bloomingcactus, 2011.
- Grace and Peace, Melissa Bane Sevier, Contemplative Viewfinder, 2011.
- "Called to Testify," Bob Cornwall, Ponderings on a Faith Journey, 2011. (Epiphany 2 lectionary texts, MLK, shootings in Tucson.)
- A Time of Silence and Lament, Richard A. Kauffman, Century Blog, 2011.
- "The King's Speech: MLK and Tucson," Debra Dean Murphy, Intersections, 2010.
- Reflections, Pastor Marilyn Lerch, Good Shepherd Church of the Brethren, Blacksburg, VA, campus minister at Virginia Tech.
- Tuesday Lectionary Leanings, Easter 3C, RevGalBlogPals lectionary discussion.
- "God in the Midst of Grief," Mirabai Starr, Beliefnet.
- "Through a Prism of Tears," meditation on the Virginia Tech Rampage and Revelation 5:6, Dr. William R. Long, Expository Essays.
- A Pastoral Response to the Shootings at Virginia Tech, The Staff of Pastoral Counseling of Northern Virginia.
- "The Awful Truth about Letting Go," Mimi Doe, BeliefNet.
- "Words for When I'm Wordless," Therese J. Borchard, BeliefNet.
- "Sorrow Can Make Us Better, Not Bitter," Brian McLaren, BeliefNet.
- "Can We Forgive God?" Harold Kushner, audio excerpt from When Bad Things Happen to Good People at BeliefNet.
- "Releasing Your Fear," Dr. Bernie Siegel, BeliefNet.
- "When Reasons Can't Be Found," sermon text Romans 8:37-39, Dr. Gay Lee Einstein, Cove Presbyterian Church, Covesville, VA.
- Virginia Tech Reflection and Prayer, Rev. Fulton, First Presbyterian Church, Athens, OH.
- Reflections on the Mass Murder at Virginia Tech, Pastor Edward Markquart, Sermons from Seattle.
- "Living the Questions: A Complex Web of Connection," Fred Day, Historic St. George's United Methodist Church, Philadelphia.
- Third Sunday of Easter - Revelation 5:1-14, Rev. Rolf Svanoe, Peace Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, SD.
- Hymns & Music:
- Music Downloads for addressing Violence, UMCGBOD, 2013.
- "What Do We Do? How Can We Cope?" Andrew Pratt, 2005.
- "God of Mercy, You Have Shown Us," a Hymn Lamenting Gun Violence, Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.
- "A Prayer for Our Children," Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, Church World Service.
- "God Bless The Poet's Heart and Hand," Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (tolerance of differences). In planning our contemporary services for this weekend, we are planning to use the Don Moen song, 'God Can Make a Way.'" (Jack Cartwright, Director of Music, Shiloh United Methodist Church, Jasper, IN)
- "Bless the Little Children," Sandy Willard Rogers, UMC GBOD.
