Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel
and the Occupied Palestinian Territories
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Special Christmas Gifting!
Celebrate the birthday of the Prince of Peace by sharing a gift in the name of family and friends through an ELCA "Good Gifts" donation to support ELCA ministries or through a donation to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.
CLICK HERE to view the options available to tell your loved ones about the gifts: eCards, Inserts, Certificates, or Notecards.
Looking for a computer game or a book for a young person? Visit the Lutheran Peace Fellowship website for resource guides that offer brief descriptions of the most useful sources, web links and more.
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World AIDS Day - December 1
Observe World AIDS Day by praying for all who are affected by the disease, participating in a remembrance/healing service for those affected by the disease, providing support for an organization working to find a cure, or wearing a "red ribbon" on December 1.
CLICK HERE for more information about World AIDS Day.
CLICK HERE for information about the ELCA's response to HIV/AIDS.
For a free advocacy action guide from Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, CLICK HERE.
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National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
December 7 is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. A 2007 Presidential Proclamation states that this day should be set aside to ".....pay special tribute to those who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor, [and] honor our veterans of World War II...."
CLICK HERE for additional information.
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Human Rights Day - December 10
Observed on December 10 annually, Human Rights Day commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations in 1948.
What can you do to celebrate this important event?
+ Participate in Amnesty International's Global Write-A-Thon: Write for
Rights;
+ Attend the 27th Annual Human Rights Day Conference organized by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights which will be held December 3 in St. Paul, Minnesota;
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Upcoming Events at Kirkridge Retreat Center
Visit the website for more information on the following:
51st Christmas Peace Pilgrimage
December 11
Walk the Road of Peace - The Pilgrimage began in 1960 as a Christian witness for peace. We welcome all persons of any age to join the Pilgrimage, symbolic of the journey of Mary and Joseph. In the 10-mile trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and in the rally, we seek to reflect the non-violent life of Jesus Christ and his truth of forgiving love. Walk with your family and friends and make new friends with others who seek a more peaceful world.
Living with Conflict - Marilyn and Rich Watson
February 16-20, 2011
Dialogue for Peaceful Change (DPC) teaches the specific skills needed by those who want to be successful leaders within communities where conflict exists. As a teacher, minister, worker in social services, or spouse, you need to address conflict directly, recognizing that it frequently....MORE
Creating a Culture of Peace - Janet Chisolm and Barb Gessner
March 10-13, 2011
CCP is training in the spirituality, practice and power of active nonviolence. The innovate design allows you to discover your own power and to increase your skills for respectful engagement with opponents, instead of perpetuating confrontations that polarize and demonize. Unlike trainings that emphasize only war issues, this training is an incubator for you to learn how to...MORE
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Global Family Day - January 1
Ring in the New Year by celebrating Global Family Day on January 1. This day has been established by the U.N. General Assembly and the U.S. Senate as a day for peace and sharing between people of all faiths, cultures, races, nationalities and economic classes.
CLICK HERE for more information and to visit the Global Family Day website.
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National Human Trafficking Awareness Day - Jan. 11
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness and take action against commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor or slavery.
CLICK HERE for resources from ELCA Justice for Women.
CLICK HERE for more information about the Blue Heart Campaign against Human Trafficking.
CLICK HERE to access the National Council of Churches' 2009 bulletin insert which contains information and facts about human trafficking.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
Please plan for and participate in the January 17, 2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. Can't find a service project in your community? Why not organize one, then register it here.
CLICK HERE for more information about the day, planning and other resources for individuals and organizations and MORE!
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No Name-Calling Week
From the website:
No Name-Calling Week, January 24-28, 2011, is an annual week of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying in their communities.
Visit the No Name-Calling Week website for more information, to join the network and receive anti-bullying resources throughout the year, and to access resources.
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National Peace Essay Contest 2011
High school students can win college scholarships up to $10,000.
The United States Institute of Peace is holding its annual NATIONAL PEACE ESSAY CONTEST. This scholarship contest is for high school students who are interested in international issues, conflict resolution, peace studies, justice, and human rights. The 2010-2011 contest's topic is "GOVERNANCE, CORRUPTION, AND CONFLICT." The topic changes every year. The DEADLINE for the 2010-2011 contest is February 1, 2011. Entries must be received by this date.
Educators who are passionate about these issues and dedicated to challenging students to think globally can make the contest a part of their curriculum or encourage students to write essays outside of class work. A study guide on the essay contest topic is available online.
The contest promotes discussions among students, teachers, parents, and youth leaders. The contest also improves and strengthens students' critical thinking, research, and writing skills.
State-level selection categories include the fifty U.S. states, Washington, D.C., U.S. Territories, and American students abroad. First place state-level winners compete for national awards and are invited to a weeklong education program in Washington, D.C. The Institute pays for expenses related to the program, including travel, lodging, meals, and entertainment. The scholarship award amounts are:
+ 1 National award, first place: $10,000*
+ 1 National award, second place: $5,000*
+ 1 National award, third place: $2,500*
+ 53 State awards, first place: $1,000 each
(*national awards include state award amounts)
For more information, visit the United States Institute of Peace website.
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Advent Resources Available from World Council of Churches
Two advent resources are still available FREE from the World Council of Churches.
"Telling Peace: Stories of Peace with Worship Resources for Advent," a collection of liturgical resources from Asia for the four Sundays of Advent, was released in 2009. It was the second in a series of collections from different regions of the world, prepared in the framework of the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation 2011. It includes four complete orders for worship, liturgical texts and songs. You can listen to the songs and download the tunes and music scores for free from the WCC website.
CLICK HERE to download "Imagine Peace," the 2008 Advent meditations and worship outlines from Latin America. This site also has music and a downloadable film (in Spanish) which was produced during a workshop in Cuba.
The Bible meditations are invitations to reflect on various aspects of peace building and overcoming violence. Although these materials have been prepared for the Advent season, they may also be used in other contexts throughout the year.
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ELCA Middle East Network Newsletter
CLICK HERE to access the most recent issue of the ELCA Middle East Network Newsletter. Articles include:
+ Peace Not Walls campaign remains strong, revises staffing,
following ELCA restructuring
+ Church leaders raise issue of Middle East peace in meeting with
President Obama
+ Vatican convenes Synod on the Middle East, invites Bishop
Younan to speak
+ World Interfaith Harmony Week proclaimed by UN General
Assembly
+ Churches for Middle East Peace condemns killing of Iraqi
Christians in letter to Secretary of State
+ Presbyterian mission network calls for boycott of settlement
products
+ Talking points: Topics in Christian-Muslim Relations ready for use
+ Peace Not Walls website being revamped
+ Oxfam provides Gaza update
Visit the Peace Not Walls website for more information or to join MENET (ELCA Middle East Network) and receive the newsletter and action alerts.
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Peace Notes and Quotes:
DECEMBER PEACE QUOTE:
"For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6, Holy Bible, NRSV
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Go in peace and serve the Lord!