Agencies respond to tragedy with study, worship resources
9/13/2001 News media contact: Tim Tanton · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) -- The United Methodist Publishing House and churchwide Board of Discipleship are making special resources available to local congregations following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The Publishing House's Cokesbury unit is preparing free, downloadable resources to help Sunday school teachers discuss the tragedy in children, youth and adult classes, and to help parents discuss the attacks with their children. The information will be available by noon Central time, Friday, Sept. 14, at Cokesbury.com.
The Publishing House has a host of resources in several areas to help people deal with what has happened. "People are going to be dealing with shock, with grief, with fear and with anger," said Neil Alexander, president and publisher.
"With essentially the nation's business and normal activity coming to a halt -- everything from television programming to sports to businesses -- there could well be a sense of needing to do something this Sunday that is very specific in addressing these events, so we feel obligated to give our congregations resources that will help them do that," he said.
The downloadable resources will consist of a resource for teachers of children, a resource for teachers of youth, a special issue of the weekly FaithLink curriculum for adults, and a resource called "Your Child and Violence" for parents, said the Rev. Judy Smith, a staff executive. "All of those will have a list of additional resources on them."
Those additional resources will deal with such topics as bad things happening to good people; how to relate to people of other faiths, particularly Islam; how individuals can respond to the current situation and what they can do as part of the church community.
Staff with the Publishing House's Curricuphone unit is available to help callers who have questions about the use of materials, how to deal with different group situations and other needs.
The Publishing House suggests that "A Prayer in a Time of National Crisis," on page 517 of the United Methodist Book of Worship, is appropriate for congregational and class prayer. The agency also is offering a hymn, "When We Are Called to Sing Your Praise," from The Faith We Sing for churches to use (see end of story).
The Board of Discipleship also is responding to the week's events.
"We are trying to provide the resources needed by local church pastors and laity," said the Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, top staff executive.
Staff members are taking questions related to ministry areas, such as Sunday school classes, worship and children's ministry. Callers who are in deep personal crisis are being directed to local crisis centers, which have resources close at hand, Greenwaldt said.
The Board of Discipleship has posted "Prayer Resources in the Wake of the Attack on America" linked at http://www.gbod.org/worship online. It offers a list of prayers, readings and hymns for people to use individually or in groups.
"We hope this will be a ready reference for pastors, musicians and others who are called upon to give pastoral care," the Web site reads. "We hope this reference will enable those leaders to help people to exercise restraint when they want to demonize and strike out against others."
The site, prepared by staff with the board's Center for Worship Resourcing, suggests psalms in addition to music from the United Methodist Hymnal and The Faith We Sing. The resource offers a wide range of suggested prayers from the United Methodist Book of Worship, the Book of Common Prayer and the United Methodist Hymnal.
Other resources available include an online piece titled, "Resources for Worship and Prayer in the Face of Violence."
Upper Room staffer Sarah Parsons has written "Reflections on the Terrorist Attack" for the Upper Room Web site, accessible through www.gbod.org or www.upperroom.org.
The board has two more resources that it will post online in the next day or two: "Helping Children Deal with National Crisis" by the Rev. Mary Alice Gran and "An Act Of Praise
In The Wake Of The Attack On America" by the Rev. Dean McIntyre.
The Upper Room has a number of books that deal with grief and crisis, including When the World Breaks Your Heart: Spiritual Ways of Dealing with Tragedy by the Rev. Gregory S. Clapper, and Discovering Grace in Grief by James Mayfield.
The Upper Room's toll-free prayer line is open 24 hours a day. People can call in or post a prayer online through www.upperroom.org. The number for the Upper Room Living Prayer Center is (800) 251-2468.
In a statement that Alexander wrote regarding the Cokesbury resources, he concluded with words of encouragement: "We trust that all of us will find ways to root ourselves deeply in the reality and promises of God, reminding each other that 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.'" (Psalm 46)
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The Cokesbury unit of the United Methodist Publishing House is offering this hymn, free of charge, for churches to use. Note information following the song.
"When We Are Called to Sing Your Praise"
When we are called to sing your praise with hearts so filled with pain
that we would rather sit and weep or stand up to complain,
remind us, God, you understand the burdens that we bear;
you, too, have walked the shadowed way and known our deep despair.
When we are called to sing your praise and cannot find our voice,
because our losses leave us now no reason to rejoice,
remind us, God, that you accept our sad laments in prayer;
you, too, have walked the shadowed way and known our deep despair.
When we are called to sing your praise and life ahead looks grim,
still give us faith and hope enough to break forth in a hymn,
a thankful hymn, great God of Love, that you are everywhere;
you walk the shadowed way with us and keep us in your care
WORDS: Mary Nelson Keithahn, © 2000 Abingdon Press, admin. by The Copyright Co.
From: The Faith We Sing. Permission is granted to churches, synagogues, and temples to reproduce for congregational use through the end of September 2001.
Note: Please include all credits/copyright information when reproducing this hymn text. For other uses contact The Copyright Company; 40 Music Square, East; Nashville, TN 37203; FAX (615) 244-5591
COMMENTARY: This song of praise reminds us that God has "walked the shadowed way" and is walking it with us now. It speaks honestly to "hearts filled with pain" and asks for a "faith and hope enough to break forth in a hymn." The text to the hymn "When We Are Called to Sing Your Praise," published in The Faith We Sing (#2216), can be sung to several tunes found in the United Methodist Hymnal as well as in many other hymnals. They are: "Cleansing Fountain" (UMH 622); "Forest Green" (UMH 152, 539, 709); "Gerald," (UMH 410); and "Kingsfold" (UMH 179, 285, 606).
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