January The Nineteenth

An Affirmation Based on the Writings of Dr. King

I refuse to believe that we are unable to influence the events which surround us.
I refuse to believe that we are so bound to racism and war, that peace, brotherhood and sisterhood are not possible.
I believe there is an urgent need for people to overcome oppression and violence, without resorting to violence and oppression.
I believe that we need to discover a way to live together in peace, a way which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of this way is love.
I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. I believe that right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant.
I believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits.
I believe that what self-centered people have torn down, other-centered people can build up.
By the goodness of God at work within people, I believe that brokenness can be healed. "And the lion and the lamb shall lie down together, and everyone will sit under their own vine and fig tree, and none shall be afraid."

From the Web site of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
http://www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/worship/worship.htm#mlk

January The Eighteenth

O Master and holy God, who are beyond our understanding:
at your word, light came forth out of darkness.
In your mercy, you gave us rest through night-long sleep,
and raised us up to glorify your goodness and to offer our supplication to You.
Now, in your own tender love, accept us who adore You and give thanks to You with all our heart.
Grant us all our requests, if they lead to salvation; give us the grace of manifesting that we are children of light and day, and heirs to your eternal reward.
In the abundance of your mercies, O Lord, remember all your people;
all those present who pray with us; all our brethren on land, at sea, or in the air,
in every place of Your domain, who call upon your love for mankind.
Upon all, pour down your great mercy, that we, saved in body and in soul, may persevere unfailingly; and that, in our confidence, we may extol your exalted and blessed Name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, always, now and forever. Amen.