Reflecting on the Journey, Part I

As we near closer to the closing of our journey to the Borderlands and AZ we are poised to look back at the people and experiences we have encountered along the way. When looking back over the last two weeks a highlight for me was our worship with Southside Presbyterian in Tucson, AZ. After all the hours in the car, being tired, and anxious for the journey barely underway, the spirit we found there and a commissioning of sorts for the experiences and action that lied ahead of us. Below is a prayer from that service.

CALL TO FAITHFULNESS – from Southside Church, Tucson, AZ

Let us declare together the way of peace, the way of non-violent resistance and the way of self-sacrificing love.

Guide our feet in the way of peace.

We will no conform to the pattern of this world.

Let us be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

With the help of God's Grace.

Let us resist evil where ever we find it.

With the waging of war… We will not comply.

With the legalization of murder… We will not comply.

With the laughter of innocents… We will not comply

With the laws that betray human life… We will not comply.

With the destruction of community… We will not comply.

With the pointing finger and malicious talk… We will not comply.

With the idea that happiness can be purchased… We will not comply.

With the ravaging of the earth… We will not comply

With powers and principalities that oppress… We will not comply.

With the raping of women… We will not comply.

With governments that kill… We will not comply.

With the theology of empire… We will not comply.

With the business of militarism… We will not comply.

With the hoarding of riches… We will not comply.

With the politics of fear… We will not comply.

Today we pledge our ultimate allegiance to the Kingdom of God… We pledge allegiance.

To the gospel of enemy-love… We pledge allegiance.

To the king who loved his enemies so much he died for them…We pledge allegiance.

To the least among us… We pledge allegiance.

To the homeless rabbi who had no place to lay his head… We pledge allegiance.

To the cross rather than the sword… We pledge allegiance.

To the one who rules with a servant's towel rather than an iron fist… We pledge allegiance.

To the revolution that sets both oppressed and oppressors free… We pledge allegiance.

To a peace that is not like Rome's… We pledge allegiance.

To a peace born not of violence but of love… We pledge allegiance.

Let us share a sign of God's peace with one another. Peace be with you… And also with you.