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Welcome to the August 2010 Equipping for Peacemaking Network E-Newsletter. Our hope is to help bring attention to resources that relate to the work of the ELCA Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence (2001-2010). Included in this monthly e-newsletter are events and resources that can be used at the small group, congregational and individual level. Thank you for being part of the network! CLICK HERE to find additional resources and enroll in the E4P network.
In this E-Newsletter you will find information about:
There's Still Time! 50 Days Until the International Day of Prayer for Peace, September 19-21
It's not too late to plan for the 2010 International Day of Prayer for Peace! How can we as Christians share hope with those feeling discouraged about violence today? How can we learn more about how conflict can be transformed into peace? And how can we help peacemaking to grow in a world that direly needs it?
More than 10,000 congregations worldwide observe the International Day of Prayer for Peace (IDPP) as a chance for people to grow in faith and action for peace. NOW IS THE TIME -- ONLY 50 MORE DAYS until September 19 -- to ask pastors and worship planners to put this on the fall calendar, to explore resources, and to plan prayers, forums, and advocacy for the weeks before and after September 19 (and/or September 21).
Why organize a day like this? Prayer is central to peacemaking. We are capable of far more when we place our efforts in the hands of the One who is Peace, who has called us to be peacemakers, and who walks with us on the Path fostering Shalom.
You can use the half page bulletin insert written by two Lutheran leaders for the first IDPP and revised for 2010 at www.lutheranpeace.org. And you can find more from the World Council of Churches, the ELCA and others.
The Day of Prayer is a chance to inspire and encourage people of faith to realize that we can grow as God's peacemakers in our families, churches, communities and world, empowered by the Gospel's deep roots of Shalom. God has given us the peace that passes all understanding. Plan NOW! to observe this special day in your congregation and community.
PLEASE LET US KNOW what your congregation or community has planned for the 2010 International Day of Prayer for Peace. We'd love to connect with you and support you in this important peace-building endeavor.
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WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle
Visit the World Council of Churches' Ecumenical Prayer Cycle web site. This site lifts up a different area of the world each week and provides prayers for personal and congregational use. Prayers are available two weeks in advance. Prayers for this month include:
Aug. 29 - Sept. 4: Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia
Sept. 5 - 11: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia
Sept. 12 - 18: Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania
Sept. 19 - 25: Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine
Sept. 26 - Oct. 2: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia
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ELCA Glocal Mission Gatherings - Connecting Global and Local
Deepen your understanding of the changing context and practice of global mission, enjoy great food and music, meet others who share your passion for ministry. Attend one of the following Glocal Mission Gatherings in 2010:
August 6-7, Billings, MT
September 10-11, Lexington, SC
October 1-2, Grand Forks, ND
October 8-9, West Linn, OR
November 12-13, Camp Hill, PA
For more information, please email GlobalMissionInfo@elca.org or call Mia Cortez at 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2642.
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Events at Kirkridge Retreat Center
Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center in Bangor, PA is offering the following:
Creating a Culture of Peace - Janet Chisholm - August 19-22, 2010
A nationwide program for community peacemaking, this innovative training provides a holistic and practical foundation in active nonviolence. Participants come to recognize their own power for making personal and social changes that will create a world without violence.
Creating a Culture of Peace Facilitators' Training - Janet Chisolm -
October 7-11, 2010
Training for individuals who want to develop skills for leading "Creating a Culture of Peace" events. (Participation in "Creating a Culture of Peace" is a pre-requisite for this event.)
Visit the website for more information or to register.
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October Observances
As you put together your fall congregational calendar, be sure to include activities for the following peace-related observances:
October 2 - International Day of Non-Violence
The birthday of Mahatma Ghandi, the United Nations established this day "as an occasion to 'disseminate the message of non-violence, through education and public awareness.'"
October 15-17, 2010 - Children's Sabbaths Celebration
The theme of this years' celebration, sponsored by the Children's Defense Fund, is "Blessed to be a Blessing: Lifting Up the Next Generation." Children's Sabbaths Celebration "is a way for faith communities to celebrate children as sacred gifts of the Divine, and provide the opportunity for houses of worship to renew and live out their moral responsibility to care, protect and advocate for all children." CLICK HERE for resources from past years and for more information.
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Hold educational forums, organize a vigil, wear a purple ribbon, create a public display to remember victims and raise awareness, or participate in a community action. CLICK HERE for more ideas from the Domestic Violence Awareness Project.
Crime Prevention Month
Visit the National Crime Prevention Council for more information about the history of this observation, programmatic ideas and to download a 2010 Crime Prevention Month kit: Staying Safe in a High Tech World.
And, don't forget to share photos and information about your activities with other members of the Network by contacting Jean Morehouse, Network Coordinator.
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Global Peace Index
From the July Newsletter of the Lutheran Office for World Community:
The institute of Economics and Peace has released the results of the Global Peace Index (GPI) for 2010 which suggests that the world has become slightly less peaceful in the past year. The GPI is a tool that reveals relative peacefulness among nations and hopes to contribute to an understanding of what factors help create or sustain peaceful societies. It examines domestic and international conflict, safety, and security in society within 149 countries.
The United States ranked 85th out of 149 countries worldwide.
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ELCA Middle East Network Newsletter
CLICK HERE to access the ELCA Middle East Network Newsletter. The most recent issue includes:
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ELCA Presiding Bishop Meets with Staff of National Security Council
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Join the Holy Land Youth Mission via Blog and Facebook
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ELCA policies re boycott, divestment, and sanctions and relevant actions from 2005 and 2007 churchwide
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Tent of Nations Update
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Recent news reports and documents of note
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President Obama meets with President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu
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African Theologian Analyzes Links Between Religion, Politics and Violence
From World Council of Churches - Overcoming Violence News and Stories:
"The prospect for a religion-based approach to peace-making has a great potential in sub-Saharan Africa," Dr. Yacob Tesfai said presenting his new book Holy Warriors, Ifidels and Peacemakers in Africa.
Tesfai, an African scholar specialized in Peace and conflict Resolution in Africa and former general secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eritrea, presented his book to staff of organizations based at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva on 2 July. His presentation was followed...MORE
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COMING SOON! to Your Email
The ELCA Interunit Task Force for the Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence will be distributing a peacemaking survey in the coming weeks. As the Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence draws to an end in 2011, members of the Task Force would like to know what has been helpful to you and what additional resources could be useful to support your work. So, watch your email. We'll be waiting to hear what you have to say!
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Peace Notes and Quotes
If you have a favorite quote or want to share a brief thought about peacemaking, please send your contribution to Jean Morehouse, Equipping for Peacemaking Program Coordinator.
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Go in peace and serve the Lord!
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