In the time of a national disaster, the comfort of faith can be offered by using prayer and ritual to acknowledge the sense of loss and to offer the promise of God's love. Use the following service as a time of worship for children and parents, a Sunday or week day school assembly, or as a family night focus; or simply duplicate and distribute it for use by families at home.

    To use the format of a bidding prayer to remember persons involved in a national disaster.

    Psalm 27:7-8

    "Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! 'Come,' my heart says, 'seek his face!' Your face, Lord, do I seek."

• Candle
• Frames containing pictures of persons involved in a national disaster

    Bible(s); Candle(s); Fabric covering for prayer table; Markers; Matches; Music for selected songs; Pens; Photographs from Internet, magazines, and newspapers of persons involved in a national disaster; Picture frames; Table.

ADVANCE PREPARATION

• Cover a table with cloth and place the Bible, candle, frames containing photos, and matches on it.
• Obtain photographs of people involved in a national disaster from the Internet, magazines, and newspaper. Locate one picture for each category such as: Family, Friends, Government Officials, Media, Medical Personnel, Military, Offenders, Ordinary Citizens, Rescue Workers, Victims, and Volunteers. Place each picture in a frame.
• Set supplies for the activity in the area where the prayer service will be held.

    In the face of a large-scale national disaster, we are struck by the images of people involved in the situation. Television, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet bring us face-to-face with the human side of the tragedy by showing us pictures of the people connected with the crisis. We see the faces of victims, of course, as well as others such as family, friends, leaders, media, medical personnel, rescue workers, and witnesses. Expressions on these faces may show emotions like gratitude and grief, relief and resolve, or shock and stress. And, the emotions depicted on these faces affect us in many ways. We may empathize with the anger or the anguish, we may take pity on those who suffer and have pride in those who serve, and we may feel determination or distress as we anticipate the future. We are affected by the emotions on the faces we view as well as by the disaster itself.

    Children are as sensitive as anyone to what they see on the faces around them. They know when something is terribly wrong, even when adults try to hide their pain. In fact, young people may find it particularly confusing when they can clearly see the distress on a face yet the cause is not acknowledged with words. On the other hand, when emotions are recognized, children may begin to express their own feelings of anxiety, fear, and sadness. At that point, adults can help youth begin to "face" the situation; adults can help them cope with their emotions.

    We can find calm for our fear and comfort for our grief in the presence of God. The Scriptures speak of "seeking God's face." This is a poetic way of saying that we enter God's presence to find assurance and peace that the Almighty God who created the universe loves us and cares for us. When we "see" the face of God smile on us we know that regardless of what we "face," all will be well.

GATHERING PRAYER/SONG

    "Kum Ba Ya"

    Explain that "Kum Ba Ya" is a song called a spiritual that invites God to be present -- to "come by here." Sing verses such as:

READING

    Invite two readers to share the words of Psalm 27. Modify the length of the passage to accommodate the age group of the listeners.

    READER ONE

    "The Lord is my light and my salvation;
            whom shall I fear?
    The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
            of whom shall I be afraid?

    READER TWO

    When evildoers assail me
            to devour my flesh --
    my adversaries and foes --
            they shall stumble and fall.

    READER ONE

    Though an army encamp against me,
            my heart shall not fear;
    though war rise up against me,
            yet I will be confident.

    READER TWO

    One thing I asked of the Lord,
            that will I seek after:
    to live in the house of the Lord
            all the days of my life,
    to behold the beauty of the Lord,
            and to inquire in his temple.

    READER ONE

    For he will hide me in his shelter
            in the day of trouble;
    he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
            he will set me high on a rock.

    READER TWO

    Now my head is lifted up
            above my enemies all around me,
    and I will offer in his tent
            sacrifices with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

    READER ONE

    Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
            be gracious to me and answer me!
    'Come,' my heart says, 'seek his face!'
            Your face, Lord, do I seek.
            Do not hide your face from me.

    READER TWO

    Do not turn your servant away in anger,
            you who have been my help.
    Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
            O God of my salvation!
    If my father and mother forsake me,
            the Lord will take me up.

    READER ONE

    Teach me your way, O Lord,
            and lead me on a level path
            because of my enemies.
    Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
            for false witnesses have risen against me,
            and they are breathing out violence.

    READER TWO

    I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
            in the land of the living.
    Wait for the Lord;
            be strong, and let your heart take courage;
            wait for the Lord!"

RITUAL

    In the face of a national disaster such as an act of violence, the assassination of a leader, an attack by terrorists, the bombing of a building, or a time of war, people come face-to-face with the situation in a number of ways. Faces of family and friends, media and medics, police and politicians, victims and volunteers, witnesses and workers are depicted on television screens and web pages as well as in newspaper photos and on magazine pages. For adults, as well as children, the question of how to "face" the tragedy is often answered by seeking the "face" of God through prayer.

    Invite the participants to offer a series of petitions by using the pattern of a bidding prayer, also called a directed or a guided prayer. Explain that the leader suggests topics related to the situation and guides the group to offer thoughts connected to the theme. After each subject, the leader invites the participants to offer a silent prayer for the people named in the phrase. Modify the petitions to reflect the specific circumstances.

    Call attention to the picture frames in the worship space and note that each one contains a photo representing one group of people who will be remembered in prayer. If desired, name the groups.

    Invite the participants to prepare their hearts to talk with God.

    LEADER

    Gracious God, in the face of this national crisis, we seek your face and we long to come into your presence.

    ALL

    As we remember the people involved in this situation, hear our prayers.

    LEADER    Visualize the faces of the victims and ask for God's grace for the dead, the injured, the missing, the survivors, and the witnesses.

    ALL    [Pause for silent prayer.]

    LEADER    Picture the faces of family members and pray for God's mercy for husbands and wives, daughters and sons, brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins and other relatives.

    ALL    [Pause for silent prayer.]

    LEADER    Remember the rescue workers and request God's strength for equipment operators, fire fighters, helicopter pilots, police officers and others.

    ALL    [Pause for silent prayer.]

    LEADER    Consider the medical personnel and solicit God's blessing on the services offered by doctors, emergency medical crews, nurses, technicians, and many more people.

    ALL    [Pause for silent prayer.]

    LEADER    Recall the images of government officials and plead for God's wisdom for leaders on the local, state, national, and international level such as Mayors, Governors, Cabinet Members, Congresspersons, and Presidents.

    ALL    [Pause for silent prayer.]

    LEADER    Envision the countless number of volunteers and implore God's guidance for people helping in blood banks, churches, counseling centers, emergency management offices, food establishments, social service agencies, schools, and many other places.

    ALL    [Pause for silent prayer.]

    LEADER    See the faces of the men and women in the military service and invoke God's direction for those in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy.

    ALL    [Pause for silent prayer. ]

    LEADER    Imagine the faces of people responsible for acts of violence and seek God's justice for those involved in unjust incidents.

    ALL    [Pause for silent prayer.]

    LEADER    Ponder the faces of friends and appeal for God's compassion for acquaintances such as classmates, co-workers, neighbors, and teammates.

    ALL    [Pause for silent prayer.]

    LEADER    Reflect on people involved in the media and invite God's sustenance for workers such as camera crews, magazine editors, news commentators, talk show hosts, and television reporters who put in exhausting days.

    ALL    [Pause for silent prayer.]

    LEADER    Think about ordinary citizens and entreat God for charity to those who have donated blood, given money, lit candles, made meals, purchased clothing, and so much more.

    ALL    [Pause for silent prayer.]

    LEADER    God, the stronghold of our lives, be gracious to us and hear our prayers.

    ALL    Amen.

RESPONSE

    At the conclusion of the Bidding Prayer, ask the participants to gather in a semi-circle in front of the prayer table. Distribute a framed picture to each individual or, if a large number of people are involved, give one to each small group. Invite the worshippers to make cards for the people represented by their photos. For example, one person or group will create a card, or several of them, for family members, another for rescue workers, and another for volunteers. Show the supplies for the cards including construction paper, markers and pens. Direct the group to fold a piece of construction paper in half and to draw or to write a message on the outside cover as well as on the inside page. Allow time for the project. When the cards are completed, collect and send them to groups that will distribute them to people involved in the crisis.

    If there are enough frames for each person to have one, consider asking the participants to take the pictures home and to continue to pray for the specific category of people.

CLOSING SONG

    "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands"

    [If inclusive language is preferred, change "He" to "God"]

    Invite the participants to sing verses of the song naming categories of people for whom they offered prayers. For example: family members, government leaders, and rescue workers.

• Distribute mirrors and invite each person to look into the glass and to realize that he or she is created in the image of God. Remind the group that when others look at each of us, they see the face of God.
• Place candles on the prayer table and light one before or after each prayer petition.
• Play the song "Take Me Home" from Les Miserables and emphasize the line "to love another person is to see the face of God."

• Invite a counselor or a representative of a social service agency to speak to the group about the various aspects of the crisis.
• Prepare or purchase "Where to look in the Bible when…" bookmarks and offer one to each participant.
• Wrap a "ribbon" around a church, home, school, or another building in response to a national disaster. Involve everyone at the prayer service, or in the congregation, in a banner-making activity that will result in a "ribbon," constructed from decorated rectangles of material. When tied together it can be used to "wrap" a sanctuary or social hall. Weather permitting, or with the use of durable materials, the pieces can encircle an entire building as a way to share the story with the whole community. Explain to the participants that in 1985 thousands of people gathered in Washington, DC on the 40^th Anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to tie a 27,000 piece "ribbon" around the Pentagon and other public buildings. It symbolized their desire for peace for the world. The story and photographs are contained in the book, The Ribbon: A Celebration of Life. (Philbin, Marianne. Asheville, NC: Lark Books, 1985). Talk with the group about designs to portray on the pieces. These could be symbols from a Scripture passage, scenes depicting people involved in the disaster, or illustrations highlighting peace. Many additional ideas could be suggested. If the project is to be completed in one session, suggest techniques such as fabric paint, permanent markers, tie-dye, or batik. If the pieces are to be finished over a longer period of time, appliqué, weaving, hooking, quilting and other procedures might be incorporated. In advance, or at the event, prepare a panel of light-colored, sturdy cloth, double thickness, to a finished size of 18" x 36" for each person or group. Include a 2" top stitched border on all four sides. Several rows of topstitching will give extra strength to the piece. Sew a 9" strip of ribbon or bias tape to each corner so the sections may be tied together. If the ribbon will be used outside, use weatherproof material such as oilcloth, rip-stop nylon, or vinyl. Distribute the pieces and provide time to work on them. When they are completed and joined together, invite the "banner-makers" to share stories about their scenes.

NOTICE:  Permission is given to copy this service for use in homes, churches, schools, and other organizations provided that the above copyright statement and this notice is included. This document may not be reproduced for sale in any form, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of the copyright holder.

Phyllis V. Wezeman and Kenneth R. Wezeman are the authors of Guiding Children Through Life's Losses.  This resource contains sixteen services to help children deal with changes that occur from day to day and time to time.  It is available from Active Learning Associates.