No Faith in WarA service to mark the death of the

arms trade and the birth of peace and hope.

5 September 2017, London ExCel Centre,Welcome: Pat Gaffney

Opening prayer

V: Here together, we bring our struggle for changeAll: Praise God who never leaves us.V: Here together we own our connection with all thingsAll: Praise God who walks beside usV: Here together, we listen for God’s word.All: Praise God who daily inspires us.V: Here today we offer ourselves in prayer and actionAll: Praise God who wrestles alongside us.

The false peace of war and indifferenceReading from the prophet Jeremiah: 14:17-21

Let my eyes run down with tears night and dayand let them not cease,for the virgin daughter of my people is smitten with a great wound, with a very grievous blow.

If I go out into the field, behold those slain by the sword!And if I enter the city, behold the diseases of famine!

For both prophet and priest ply their trade through the landand have no knowledge.

Have you utterly rejected Judah?Does your soul loath Sion?Why have you smitten us so that there is no healing for us?

We looked for peace, but no good came;for a time of healing, but behold, terror.

We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord,and the iniquity of our ancestors,for we have sinned against you.

Do not spurn us for your name’s sake,do not dishonour your glorious throne;remember and do not break your covenant with us.

The death of the arms tradeV: Now we name those who offer a false peace – the companies who will trade here in the coming days. They bring death and destruction…

(‘Tombstones’ are held and names are read out… please add names of other companies you know of who are involved in the production and sale of weapons)

Reading: Pope Francis: prayer intention for June 2017: challenge to the arms trade

It is an absurd contradiction to speak of peace,to negotiate peace and at the same time promote or permit the arms trade.Is this war or that war really a war to solve problemsor is it a commercial war for selling weapons in illegal tradeand so that the merchants of death get rich?Let us put an end to this situation….

Prayers of intercession

For the leaders of our communities, our church, our country and our world,

that they may take decisions that are in accord with God’s commandments that bring life, justice and peace.

We pray to the Lord

For those who have died by acts of violence,that they may be raised with Christ who died for them and that they may know the unending life and glory of the kingdom of peace and light.

We pray to the Lord

For those who have survived violence, that they will be sheltered in the compassion of God and our community and that, feeling the compassion of Jesus, they may find healing and hope.

We pray to the Lord

For those who commit acts of violence against others, that their hearts may be moved by Christ’s grace, and that they may be transformed by the Spirit of love, peace and justice.

We pray to the Lord

For ourselves,that we will work all together to end violence and bring life, peace and security to our world.

We pray to the Lord

Song: O where shall peace be found(to the tune: Now thank we all our God)

O where shall peace be found,and where an end to slaughter,all lands be holy ground,all peoples free from murder?Where weapons are unmadethe prophet’s word comes true,and none shall be afraidwhen God makes all things new.

The mountain of the Lordshall rise above all others;in Christ we are restoredas neighbours, sisters, brothers:our grey machines of deathare turned to nobler usewhen over all the earthhis kingdom is let loose.

We long to see the daywhen love completes that vision,but God who hears us praydemands our clear decision:Lord, give us ears to hear,and wills to heed, your voice;to yield no more to fear,to make your path our choice.Words: Christopher Idle

V: Out of death comes new life. The death of the arms trade will lift a huge burden for many around the world. The death of the arms trade will free workers to use their skills and talents for the service of people and planet.

(The Tombstones are laid on the ground for all to see…. a cloth is then laid over them to mark their end)

Building a new earth of peace, hope and justice

V: Our father who are in heavenAll: You will, that we, your children build a new earth of sisterhood and brotherhood, not a hell of violence and death.

V: Holy be your nameAll: That in your name there be no abuse, no oppression and no manipulation of the conscience of the liberty of your children.

V: Your kingdom comeAll: not the kingdom of fear, of power, of money, of seeking

peace by means of war.

V: Your will be done on earth as it is in heavenAll: Over this land of ours and other sister lands, that changed their songs of joy because of oppression and the whine of shrapnel

V: Give us this day our daily breadAll: the bread of peace, Lord, so that we can all sow and reap and share the abundance of harvest.

V: Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against usAll: May our personal and national interests be not the coin of our exchanges. May our laments be changed into songs of life, clenched fists into open hands. And bring us together into the love that knows no bounds. For the earths people let there be peace.

(We now invite you to take a sheet of paper and write a word/phrase that conveys what might be ‘freed’ or ‘grow’ from the death of the arms trade.)

Song: O Day of Peace (to tune of Jerusalem)O day of peace that dimly shinesthrough all our hopes and prayers and dreams,Guide us to justice, truth and love,Delivered from our selfish schemes. May swords of hate fall from our hands,our hearts from envy find release,till by God’s grace our warring world,shall see Christ’s promised reign of peace.

Then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb,nor shall the fierce devour the small;As beasts and cattle calmly graze,a little child shall lead them all.Then enemies shall learn to loveall creatures find their true accordThe hope of peace shall be fulfilled,for all the earth shall know the Lord.

Words: Carl P Daw

We offer one another a sign of the peace we seek and pray for today

Prayer for peace

Together: Disarm our hearts, God of Peace; Help us renounce the fear that takes the form of weapons. Help us choose the fierce love that moves your human family to dialogue, not destruction. Women: Our children are fragile, As is our earth. give us the wisdom to cherish these gifts by voicing our support for a world free of war.

Men: Disarm our hearts, God of Peace; help us to embrace Your wisdom and Your will challenge us to choose life,not weapons of destruction.

Together : We pray for authentic and lasting peace, we pray for the will to bring this about so we may be called peacemakers, the children of God. In your name we pray for the end of the weapons of war. Amen

Final song overleaf : Let us build a house

Let us build a house

Join us in promoting an understanding of nonviolence.

Pax Christi, St Joseph's Watford Way, Hendon, London NW4 4TY

Phone: 020 8203 4884Email: info@paxchristi.org.uk www.paxchristi.org.uk