Swords into Plowshares

Happy Christmas

I am still listening to Christmas music - at least until Epiphany.

This morning's songs included "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)," by John Lennon, Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band.

It was a bittersweet listen - gratitude for the talent that created the song, sorrow that he was taken from us so soon by gun violence, grief for the ongoing presence of war and the horror it inflicts on God's children, and hope in the vision the song proclaims - all mingled together.

Let's hope this is a good year - and let's hope and pray and work for the day when war is indeed over and weapons of war are transformed into instruments of healing.

All I Want for Christmas

When it comes to Christmas music, I confess that I jump the season.

At least in my personal life.

Professionally, when I am designing worship, I can maintain tight seasonal boundaries.

Stores may decorate. Cards may arrive. Specials may air. Worshipers may complain.

I stick to choosing Advent themes (or predominantly Advent-themed Christmas songs) Sunday after Sunday (or at least those Sundays when I am asked to plan worship and preach).

There is a boundary in my personal musical life as well - but it is the first Sunday of Advent. That's the day I start searching for the case with the Christmas CDs (not an easy find this year for some reason). That's the day I turn again to the Christmas playlist on the iPod. That's the day I synch the iPod to make sure that I got the songs. That's the day I start exploring new musical possibilities - this year's first purchase - New Orleans Christmas - honors our upcoming family Christmas celebration helping rebuild in New Orleans.

This morning, the playlist came across several songs by david m. bailey. I have heard his music before and have heard him in concert. But I purchased his Christmas album, Some Quiet Night, in the 2008 "offseason" so this was the first time I had heard it. Good, good stuff!

One song that touched me is one david wrote himself, "All I Want for Christmas." I did a quick search for it on YouTube and came up empty. If anyone spots it or knows where it is, let me know and I will include a link. A sample of the lyrics:

But this year I'm gonna break tradition
I'm gonna do just like my nephew and my niece
This year I'm sending him a letter
And all I want for Christmas is peace.

Now peace can be a complicated matter
Rumors of war may never cease
Perhaps we just need a stronger politician
Or maybe a prince - a Prince of Peace

Check out Some Quite Night.

The picture is from david's Web page. Hope he doesn't mind!

Hymn lamenting gun violence

As we reflect on incidents of gun violence in Fort Hood and Orlando and in places that did not make the national news, "God of Mercy, You Have Shown Us" is a hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette that can be used in private prayers and in corporate worship. A version of the hymn with words and music [PDF] is available.

This hymn may be reproduced and used in nonprofit worship with the inclusion of the complete copyright citation plus the words "Used by permission." It may not be used for profit, sold, republished, altered or placed on a Web site. Links to the hymn may be made.

Worship resources for United Nations Day

October 24 is United Nations Day. The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and the Presbyterian United Nations Office offer worship materials for use on Sunday, October 25 or another time.

Download O God Who Formed Creation [PDF], a hymn by the Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, co-pastor of Limestone Presbyterian Church.

Find prayers, bulletin inserts, and more.

Here is one prayer:

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.

— from Peacemaking through Worship: Volume I by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program

International Day of Peace at Presbyterian Center

The International Day of Peace was celebrated during a Taize worship service at the Presbyterian Center today. Download International Day of Peace 2009 Worship Service [Word doc].

The service included a minute of silence at noon, a prayer written by Jessica Hawkinson of the Presbyterian United Nations Office, and the new hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, "God of Mercy, You Have Shown Us." Carolyn is pastor of Limestone Presbyterian Church and wrote this hymn lamenting gun violence in response to a request from the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and other Presbyterians working to address issues of gun violence. Download God of Mercy [PDF].

David Gambrell, Office of Theology and Worship, designed the service. Jon Brown, Mission Interpretation, and Mike Schroeder, also in Mission Interpretation, provided music.

The closing benediction said:

The vision, God's vision, is for a world where peace prevails and the human creature and all creation know wholeness and well-being.

The challenge and invitation, God's challenge and invitation, is to live into that vision, seeking peace and doing justice.

The promise, God's promise, is that the love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit will accompany and support us as we do.

Go in peace; go in grace.

Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor

Sing a new song!  Songs of Grace includes over 70 new hymns written to celebrate biblical stories, the church year, sacraments, peacemaking and more. The new words, written to well-known hymn tunes, offer expressions of hope, joy and spiritual enrichment.  Each hymn comes with a reflection that helps it be a devotional for personal meditation and prayer as well as a resource for worship services.  The book includes indices to scriptural references, topics, lectionary texts and tunes.  The hymns are written by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, co-pastor of Limestone Presbyterian Church. Songs of Grace is published by Discipleship Resources.

God of Mercy You Have Shown Us

"God of mercy, you have shown us ways of living that are good:
'Work for justice, treasure kindness, humbly journey with the Lord.'"

So begins a new hymn lamenting gun violence written by the Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.

The hymn is available with the melody line [PDF] and without the melody line. The hymn may be used in services on September 21, the International Day of Peace, or other appropriate occasions. Details on copyright information and usage appear with the hymn.

Carolyn is the author of Songs of Grace:  New Hymns for God and Neighbor and Gifts of Love: New Hymns for Today’s Worship and the co-pastor of Limestone Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware.

"Help us change this violent culture based on idols, built on fear.
Help us build a peaceful future with your world of people here."

Peace Notes Summer 2009

The Summer 2009 issue of Peace Notes, the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program's print newsletter, is available for download. It will come out in print later this month. But you can download it from this blog. Download Peace Notes Summer 2009 [PDF]

Stories include information about the 30th anniversary of Peacemaking: The Believers' Calling [PDF], work of RECONCILE in Sudan, accompaniment in Colombia, efforts to create a nuclear free world, a way to support our partners in the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, the 2010 Peacemaking Seminar, a January term D.Min. class at the Presbyterian United Nations Office, new resources, including a book of hymn by the Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, a book of prayers by the late Jim McGinnis, and 50 Ways to Save the Earth by Rebecca Barnes-Davies.

Download Peace Notes Summer 2009 [PDF]

Together We Can Change the World

Check out this video of "Together We Can Change the World."

During the dedication of the peace pole at the Afton Presbyterian Church, singer-songwriter Mark Shepard led the song.

The refrain says:

Can’t do it by myself
So I’m asking for your help
Together we can change the world
Sail past where it’s been charted
Roll your sleeves up, let’s get started
Together we can change the world
Together we can change the world

The video features Rilee O'Neill and a choir of African youth called SIFA.

Another church goes solar

Just learned that another PC(USA) congregation went live with solar panels a few weeks ago: First Presbyterian Church of Tallahassee, Florida.

They will soon have a meter with a live feed on the website displaying how much energy they sell back to the grid.

Check out the story and pictures on Adam Copeland's blog.

Any other solar-powered Presbyterians out there?