Peace Day 2019

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Staunton Church of the Brethren—Strangers No More

Staunton Church of the Brethren responded to the call to build peace by organizing a community-wide interfaith event where Christians, Jews, Buddhists and Muslims came together at Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton, VA. 

The interfaith program's theme was "Strangers No More" and included readings on peace, music, praise dancers, children's activities, small group discussions, and a time of prayer for peace. 

Staunton CoB invited their neighbors to come together with their community to pray for peace, share in music and build bridges for the betterment of their community.

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Juniata College Campus Ministry

Juniata College’s Campus Ministry (Huntingdon, PA) responded to the call to build peace by inviting students to come together to share their unique visions, poetry, and music in order to imagine how they can build peace together on their campus.

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Bridgewater College—Putting Together the Peace Puzzle

Bridgewater College’s community kicked off their Peace Day festivities with a service of prayers on their campus at their peace pole. Participants then walked from Bridgewater College’s peace pole to the peace pole at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren. 

Bridgewater students created a large cardboard puzzle in the shape of a dove, and after an opening service at the peace pole on campus, participants carried pieces of the puzzle to the peace pole at the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren where they then worked on a community art project assembling the puzzle of a dove, symbolizing how the work of building peace is done together in community.

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Pax Christi Illinois

Members of Pax Christi Illinois collaborated with Peace Alliance, Pace e Bene Campaign Nonviolence, the larger Catholic Church, and World Beyond War to plant a peace pole in Hopkins Park and later traveled to Washington DC for the No War Conference that was organized by World Beyond War. 

At the conference members learned about the different movements and efforts for peace that were ongoing and also were able to lobby Congress on issues like the creation of a Department of Peace. Their hope was to educate and lobby for a culture of peace and nonviolence in the government and wider society.

To learn more about Pax Christi Illinois check their website out: https://paxchristiusa.org/tag/pax-christi-illinois/

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York Center Church of the Brethren—Unity Picnic

Pastor Christy Waltersdorff reported to us that the York Center Church of the Brethren hosted a Unity Picnic with their congregation and the two congregations who share their building- God's Congregation Worship Center (a predominantly African American church) and Parables Community (a church community for families with special needs members). 

The congregations also invited members from the two local police departments to attend. This event sought to create and strengthen the bonds between the congregations and also between the members of each congregation with the local police departments.

Earlier in the week, York Center Church of the Brethren also gathered after worship at their peace pole to pray for peace and justice and sing together with specific focus on the plight of the Nigerian brethren.

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Dunker Punks Peace Day Podcast

On Earth Peace’s Jenna Walmer reports on the recent 2016 International Day of Prayer for Peace. She features a variety of peacemakers and asks, how are you building peace in the world now and continuing to do so in the future?

CHECK IT OUT! http://arlingtoncob.org/16-it-aint-easy-being-peace-y/

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Quinter Church of the Brethren (Quinter, KS)—Peace Month Celebration

Tami Grandison of Quinter Church of the Brethren shared with us how Quinter CoB celebrated Peace Day the whole month of September:

This year we made September Peace Month so that every Sunday there was a peace-focused activity.

September 4—congregants brought items of any medium that represented peace to them and that display is out all month. During prayer requests, we used a technique I learned from being a part of the Racial Justice Community of Practice. Individual people spoke first names of people they knew who had been touched by some form of violence. After each name spoken, the congregation recited in unison "We hear your name. We honor you. We bring you before God."

September 11 focused on the children. I did the children's story, asking them about peace and discussing that some of what peace includes are kindness, differences, helping and love. Scripture was Luke 19:42. We discussed why Jesus is The Prince of Peace--God sent him to bring peace to us so we can be at peace with God and with each other. I made plaques for each child that says "Jesus gives me Peace in my heart."

September 18—Peace Sunday: the daughter of a Conscientious Objector during World War II shared her story and how his example affected her view of and living from, a place of peace. Youth used the song "Don't Laugh at Me" and characterized each person mentioned in the lyrics, then dramatically recited the chorus of the song. After worship, we went outside to gather around the Peace Pole where individuals read quotations and scripture about peace and peacemaking. The children sang songs and hymns about peace, and after that, we had a congregational potluck where the blessing continued and wrapped up the day’s celebration and thoughtful attention to living peace.

September 25 worship included education and activities surrounding the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Our peace month helped our congregation broaden their thinking and practices beyond "All war is sin" to an awareness that nonviolence, social injustices, inequality, oppression, marginalization are all forces in opposition to peace.

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Carlsbad Mennonite Peace At the River Celebration

Carlsbad Mennonite held their Peace at the River event a few weeks after Peace Day on October 8th.

Their celebration included food, fellowship, peace workshops, and presentations. The most unique presentation that Carlsbad had involved an organization called RAWtools, Inc.

This group was able to procure a decommissioned handgun from the Carlsbad Police Department that had been taken away from a drug dealer years earlier. This group then hammered and beat the gun into a usable tool in an action that carried out Isaiah’s vision of hammering swords into plowshares.

This action was the highlight of an entire afternoon of peace activities in Carlsbad, NM.

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Smith Mountain Lake Community Church of the Brethren

Smith Mountain Lake Community Church of the Brethren (Wirtz, VA) participated in Peace Day with a special candlelight service. Their service consisted of singing, hearing and reflecting on scripture, and communal prayers for peace. 

This hour long service was followed by a time of fellowship. Wooden doves were placed by our sign and front entrance as a symbol of peace. 

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Brethren Retirement Community—Greenville, OH

Paula Ulrich of the Brethren Retirement Community shared with us their Peace Day story.

At the Brethren Retirement Community in Greenville, OH, the Pastoral Care Department and friends put together a "Peace Walk." Our Peace Walk included stations around the building with information and photographs highlighting Church of the Brethren peacemakers as well as scriptures and other things related to peace. 

Some of the peacemakers featured included M.R. Zigler and On Earth Peace; Ted Studebaker, whose sister lives in one of our independent living villages; Art and Peggy Gish; Dan West; Ted Chambers and Brethren Volunteer Service (including photos of current and recent Brethren Volunteer Service workers); Bob Gross; and Cliff Kindy. 

We hung a small peace crane mobile near our aviary in the main building, which was accompanied by a poster highlighting the story of peace cranes. We also included a poster with information about peace poles, such as the one we have near the entrance of our building. We placed a collection of Brethren Press children's books, such as The Tall Man and Faith the Cow. on a table in our chapel.

We left our "Peace Walk" in place for nearly a week, and then we took portions of it for display at the Southern Ohio District Conference.

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Virlina District and Oak Grove Church of the Brethren

On September 18th, a group of inter-generational Brethren gathered at Oak Grove Church of the Brethren to celebrate Peace Day at an event sponsored by the Virlina District’s Peace Affairs Committee. 

The service was focused on this year’s theme: Called to Build Peace. Young adult speakers like Tyler Goss, Phoebe Hart, Jenna Walmer, and Courtney Hawkins all challenged attendees to discern how they individually and how the church communally were called to build peace. The service also featured music from Oak Grove’s own Carol Elmore and Tim Harvey.

Later in the week Oak Grove’s youth gathered on Peace Day for bible study, prayer, and good fun before heading off to school. And many Oak Grove members gathered that evening for communal prayer. 

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Interfaith Peace Day In the Park—Staunton Church of the Brethren

Pastor Scott Duffey and the Staunton Church of the Brethren (Staunton, VA) organized a community-wide interfaith event at Gypsy Hill Park where Christians, Jews, Buddhists and Muslims came together to share and build bridges for the betterment of their community. The interfaith program's theme was "Strangers No More" and included readings on peace, music, praise dancers, children's activities, small group discussions, and a time of communal prayer for peace. 

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Igreja da Irmandade-Brasil (Church of the Brethren in Brazil)

Alexandre Goncalves shared with us how the Church of the Brethren in Brazil celebrated Peace Day

We had a great experience here in Brazil. It was actually the first time our congregation got involved in a campaign like this and the results were quite positive.

The core of our celebration was to remember and honor those who have inspired us to live a peaceful life and work for peace. Many in our congregation (as it is the case of many Brazilian churches) don't know the people who work for peace and have little information about important peacemakers as Martin Luther King Jr, Bishop Oscar Romero, Gandhi, among others. Because of that, most of them remembered ordinary people who have been exemplary in the way of peace. Part of my effort as the leader of the congregation is to introduce the theme of peacemaking to them, as well as the historic involvement of the Church of the Brethren with this subject. 

I decided to take part of the celebration to talk about the historic commitment of CoB with nonviolence and nonresistance. I told the congregation about the famous story of Dirk Willems and what it represents to the Anabaptist witness of peacemaking. I also told them something about how Alexander Mack and the others who founded our denomination were committed to a peaceful lifestyle, believing that was one of the main aspects of Christian life, and how the Church of the Brethren has held this tradition until the present day.

In another moment of the celebration, I promoted a discussion about the different forms of violence in our societies, providing numbers and pictures on a kind of "string of violence" (as you can see in the pictures). After a briefing discussion about the roots of the distinct types of violence and what we can do to prevent them, we prayed for the end of each one of them.

Overall, it was a great time in community for discussion, awareness, prayer, and sharing.

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It’s Peace Week

It’s finally Peace Week and exciting events and worship services are already happening! How are you celebrating Peace Day this year? How are you called to build peace?

We’re connected to over 65 Peace Day events happening in our On Earth Peace network but there will be tons of events happening all across the world that celebrate peace in unique and powerful ways.

Some groups are focusing on issues of racism, some are focusing on gun violence, while others are focusing on the inner spiritual work of cultivating peace. To keep up with what folks are doing check this page and our Facebook Page for updates from Peace Day participants.

There are countless ways that you could build peace in your church and community this week, and even if you haven’t planned an event yet, there’s still time. Sign up today! 

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1 Month Until Peace Day!

There’s only 1 month until Peace Day (Sign-up today!) and in anticipation we’d like to share some of the Peace Day plans we already know about!

Smith Mountain Lake Community Church of the Brethren (Wirtz, VA) will be making wooden doves for an art installation that will raise awareness about peace issues around their church

Northwest Suburban Peace & Education Project (Mt. Prospect, IL) will be at several high schools on and around Peace Day and is planning to talk to the students about how they can promote peace.

Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren (Littleton, CO) is hosting a Peace Fest that will feature outdoor worship, face painting, and a cookout for their neighborhood.

Igreja da Irmandade (Sao Paolo, Brazil) is holding a special worship service to celebrate those who have worked and still work for peace in their community.  

The United Church of Christ, OC Inc. has organized  a media violence fast which encourages people to choose peace by abstaining from violent movies, television, and video games during the week surrounding Peace Day.

This is just a small snapshot of the kinds of events that are in the works, and we’d love to add your Peace Day event to the list.

Join us on our journey of building peace by signing up today!

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PEACE DAY 2016—CALLED TO BUILD PEACE

REGISTER YOUR EVENT HERE: http://bit.ly/PeaceDayForm

On Earth Peace invites churches, peacebuilders, and seekers of justice to participate in Peace Day 2016. Plan a prayer service or community action event and reflect on how you and your community are called to build peace during the week surrounding September 21, 2016.

God’s call to build peace and create just communities has always been key to our story of faith. Abraham was called in his old age to leave home and become the Father of many nations (Gen 12:1-3), Moses was called to lead his people out of slavery and into freedom (Exo 3), Samuel was called to lead Israel during an uncertain time (1 Sam 3), Esther was called to redeem her people from oppression (Esth 4:14), Mary was called to bear and raise the Redeemer of the world (Luk 1:26-55), and Jesus himself was called to bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18-19).

Like our spiritual forebears, we are all called to different places and to different ministries to do God’s work and to bring God’s peace and justice in the world. We are each called to build peace in a unique way and in a unique place.

Some are called to resist and undo racism, some to pray without ceasing, others to heal God’s creation, and others to stop war.

Some are called to build peace in their neighborhood, in their church congregation, in their local community, or somewhere across the world.

We are all called to build peace in unique and transformative ways, and this Peace Day we invite you to follow God’s call to wherever you and your church community can build peace together to God’s glory and your neighbor’s good.

Learn more about Peace Day, tell us what you’re planning and learn how we can help you get involved!

REGISTER YOUR EVENT HERE: http://bit.ly/PeaceDayForm

E-mail us: [email protected]

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At vigil, a Harrisburg community calls for an end to gun violence; honors those killed

An interfaith alliance of faith leaders, community leaders and the families of loved ones killed by gun violence call for an end to gun violence; appeal for peace.

Thanks to Harrisburg First Church of the Brethren for their work to reduce illegal gun sales and gun-related homicide in Harrisburg - and the vigil they helped organize as part of Peace Day 2015.

From the linked September 17, 2015, news article by Ivey de Jesus at pennlive.com:

"It's important to do this so we never forget that life is sacred, that we are a part of a common community and peace is important for us all," said the Rev. Belita D. Mitchell, chair of Heeding God's Call Harrisburg.  The group, a member of the national organization, dedicates itself to advocating for an end to violence - particularly gun violence. Since 2009, approximately 72 people have lost their lives in Harrisburg due to gun violence.

"We're not trying to eradicate every gun off the streets," said the Rev. Ron Tilley, one of the organizers with Heeding God's Call. "We know that we would be impossible. We know there's things like the Second Amendment in America. But we want to get all the illegal guns off the street, every last one of them and we know that if we work together as a community, we can get very close to that."

Mitchell is pastor of the Harrisburg First Church of the Brethren, and Tilley is executive director of Brethren Community Ministries.

Read full article here