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Welcome to the September 2009 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! Forward this to your friends and encourage them to sign up for the network as well. CLICK HERE to find additional resources and enroll in the E4P network.
In this E-Newsletter you will find information about:
2009 International Day of Prayer for Peace
It's not too late to be part of the International Day of Prayer for Peace celebration! "One Love: Building A Peaceful Caribbean" is the theme for the World Council of Churches' Decade to Overcome Violence 2009 International Day of Prayer for Peace.
According to the website, "the International Day of Prayer for Peace offers an opportunity for church communities in all places to pray and act together to nurture lasting peace in the hearts of people, their families, communities and societies. The idea was proposed in 2004 during a meeting between WCC General Secretary Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (press release), and coincides with the UN International Day of Peace. The [International] Day of Prayer [for Peace] is one of the initiatives of the WCC's Decade to Overcome Violence. Congregations are invited to pray for peace - possibly using the same prayers - on September 21 or the Sunday preceding it."
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
+ Visit the ELCA website for more information, to view video peace
reflections and download a worship service and devotion.
+ CLICK HERE for prayers, an affirmation of faith, a confession and other
resources your congregation can use during worship on Sunday,
September 20.
+ Create Pinwheels for Peace and display them on the lawn of your church.
+ Create Peace Posters and display them in the church.
+ Organize a Peace Day for families in your community, with activities
centering around the theme of peace and peacemaking.
+ Coordinate with others in your community who are participating in the
International Day of Prayer for Peace. CLICK HERE to add your event or
view a list of events in your city.
+ Share what you are doing to celebrate the International Day of Prayer for
Peace by emailing Jean Morehouse, Equipping for Peacemaking
Network Coordinator.
Visit the Decade to Overcome Violence website for more information or contact Jean Morehouse for assistance in planning your International Day Prayer of Peace activities.
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PeaceMail
Watch your email for PeaceMail beginning September 11, and continuing on weekdays through September 18 in preparation for the International Day of Prayer for Peace. Each message will include a link to a brief video peace reflection from a member of the ELCA Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence Task Force.
If you want your family and friends to receive Peace Mail, please encourage them to enroll in the Equipping for Peacemaking Network before September 11 or forward the message to them when you receive it.
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E-Advocacy ACTION ALERT - Sudan
If you have not yet read the statement from ELCA Bishop Mark Hanson or sent a letter to President Obama or your legislator regarding the Sudan, please CLICK HERE. You could also provide materials or copies of the letter for members of your congregation to sign on Sunday, September 20 as a part of your participation in the International Day of Prayer for Peace.
For more information, or to sign up to receive e-advocacy action alerts, visit the ELCA Advocacy website.
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ELCA Middle East Network Newsletter
CLICK HERE to read the August issue of the ELCA Middle East Network Newsletter. The newsletter, a part of the ELCA Peace Not Walls campaign, provides news articles and action alerts relating to the middle east.
For more information about what you can do to support the Peace Not Walls campaign or to sign up to receive the Middle East Network Newsletter, CLICK HERE.
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ELCA Global Formation Events
Would you like to deepen your understanding of the changing context and practice of global mission and to receive the gifts of Christians and churches? Register TODAY for a one-and-a-half day ELCA Global Formation Event. These events provide an opportunity for congregational teams to build skills for effective ministry locally and globally. Click on the links for more information about each event:
October 2-3, 2009
Living Word Lutheran Church in Katy, TX
October 30-31, 2009
Southwood Lutheran Church, Lincoln, NE
November 13-14, 2009
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Olympia, WA
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World March for Peace and Nonviolence
The first World March for Peace and Nonviolence will be held from October 2, 2009 through January 10, 2010. The intent of the march is to circle the earth, calling for the end of war and nuclear arms and the elimination of violence in all its forms and manifestations. The idea was conceived by "World Without War," an organization working for 15 years in the fields of pacifism and nonviolence.
Please visit the website for more information about the World March for Peace and Nonviolence and the international activities that are scheduled during this time.
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October Observances
Plan now to observe the following in your congregation next month:
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 16-18, 2009 - Children's Sabbaths Celebration
This event, sponsored by the Children's Defense Fund, "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 and more information.
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Hold educational forums, organize a vigil, create a public display to remember victims and raise awareness, or participate in a community action. CLICK HERE for more ideas from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Crime Prevention Month
Visit the National Crime Prevention Council for more information about the history of this observation, programmatic ideas and to download a Crime Prevention Month kit.
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Training Events at Kirkridge Retreat Center
Kirkridge Retreat Center, Bangor, PA, is offering the following:
Community or Empire – Which Will We Build?
September 18-20, 2009
We are in a profound struggle and must connect across barriers. We cannot change alone. We have choices to make! (A celebration of Daniel Berrigan at his last annual Kirkridge retreat.)
Peacemakers in the Midst of Conflict
October 24 - November 6, 2009
Participants will travel to Jerusalem and Bethlehem, throughout Israel and the West Bank with local guides. An opportunity to listen, build relationships, promote dialogue, and learn about the real life situation and politics of the region.
Love Force – The Peacemaker’s Way
November 6-8, 2009
Reflections with Richard Deats on the call to live on the growing edge of history with cues from peacemakers Hildegard Goss-Mayr, Aung San Suu Kyi, Jim Lawson, Thich Nhat Hanh, Abdul Ghaffar Kahn and Abraham Heschel. How do we reach out to enemies?
Visit the Kirkridge website for information on registration and fees.
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New Hope for Peace: What America Must Do to End the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Four American statesmen, Jimmy Carter, James Baker, Brent Scowcroft and Zbigniew Brzezinski, believe the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be resolved with a comprehensive U.S. presidential initiative.
Speaking as President Obama's diplomacy is unfolding, the four leaders say the time is right for a new U.S. initiative in New Hope for Peace. This 20-minute DVD is presented by Landrum Bolling with cooperation from the Foundation for Middle East Peace and Mercy Corps International.
Drawing on their long experience, the four statesmen explain that solutions that would meet the basic needs of Israelis and Palestinians are well known and that both want peace but have been thwarted by hard-line minorities. They believe that strong U.S. presidential leadership can help bring a two-state peace through a comprehensive peace plan and sustained mediation. They predict that the international community would welcome and support such a U.S. initiative.
Preview New Hope for Peace on YouTube. Copies are available on request from the Foundation for Middle East Peace (202-835-3650,1761 N Street, NW, Washington DC 20036).
Thanks to Ann Hafften, a member of the Equipping for Peacemaking Network and US Coordinator for the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel, for information about this resource.
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2009 Global Peace Index
In June, the Institute for Economics and Peace released the 2009 Global Peace Index (GPI). According to the website, the GPI "ranks the nations of the world by their peacefulness and identifies some of drivers of peace."
New Zealand ranked as the most peaceful country and the United States was ranked 83rd.
CLICK HERE to read a full report.
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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.
SEPTEMBER PEACE QUOTE:
"Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called into one body. And be thankful."
Colossians 3:14-15, The Holy Bible, NRSV
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Go in peace and serve the Lord!
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