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Welcome to the January 2011 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.
In this E-Newsletter you will find information about:
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:
Dec. 26 - Jan. 1, 2011: Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel
and the Occupied Palestinian Territories
Jan. 2 - 8: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates,
Oman, Yemen, Iran, Iraq
Jan. 9 - 15: Cyprus, Greece, Turkey
Jan. 16 - 22: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
Jan. 23 - 29: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden
Jan. 29 - Feb. 5: Ireland, United Kingdom
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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
Honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by participating 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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Upcoming Events at Kirkridge Retreat Center
Visit the website for more information on the following:
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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International Ecumenical Peace Conference
The World Council of Churches' Decade to Overcome Violence initiative will host the International Ecumenical Peace Conference in Kingston, Jamaica, May 17-25. The gathering "will be a 'harvest festival' celebrating the achievements of the Decade to Overcome Violence which began in 2001. At the same time, it encourages individuals and churches to renew their commitment to nonviolence, peace and justice.
CLICK HERE to read more about the International Ecumenical Peace Conference, to access resources (including a Study Guide: "Telling the Truth About Ourselves and the World," the IEPC Newsletter, posters, the Declaration on Just Peace and bible studies), learn about the themes for the event, find ways to get involved, and access Living Letters, notes from ecumenical teams who visited many countries to listen, learn, share approaches and challenges in overcoming violence and peace making, and to pray together for peace in the community and in the world.
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Preaching Peace 2011 Conference
The 2011 Theology & Peace Annual Conference organized by Preaching Peace, will be held May 31 through June 2, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. The theme for this year's conference is "Transforming Christianity."
Preaching Peace began in 2002, as a free website dedicated to bringing a holistic peace message. It currently serves approximately 10,000 visitors a month. Inspired by the mimetic theory of Rene Girard and the Christian peace heritage, Preaching Peace offers commentary on the gospel lectionary texts from a peace perspective, a blog where pastors work out the implications of preaching peace, essays and sermons related to the mimetic theory and peacemaking, and a listing of numerous conferences and seminars bringing the best scholarship to churches around the country. The Preaching Peace team is available for weekend retreats, clergy ashrams and gatherings, and youth retreats.
For more information on the upcoming events or to book a conference or seminar in your area, contact Preaching Peace by phone at 717.392.1550 or by email.
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ELCA Middle East Network Newsletter
CLICK HERE to access the December 2, 2011 issue of the ELCA Middle East Network Newsletter. This issue includes:
+ Join CMEP's new national Christian campaign; send Christmas greet-
ings to the President
+ Dar Al-Kalima College, Bethlehem, celebrates new campus
+ Fourth annual Bethlehem prayer service to be held December 18 at
National Cathedral
+ PIEF invites sharing of prayers for peace
+ Advent resources with a Holy Land theme available online
+ Churches for Middle East Peace gets new website
+ Film, "Budrus," expands theatrical release
+ New Gaza Report published
The Middle East Network Newsletter is a resource provided by ELCA Peace Not Walls.
CLICK HERE to subscribe to the Middle East Network Newsletter.
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PEACE NOTES AND QUOTES:
January PEACE QUOTE:
"We will not build a peaceful world by following a negative path. It is not enough to say 'We must not wage war.' It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it."
Martin Luther King, Jr.,
from his Nobel Lecture, December 11, 1964 entitled "The Quest for Peace and Justice."
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Go in peace and serve the Lord!
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