Swords into Plowshares

Pray for the Little Town of Bethlehem . . .

. . . and the people of Israel and Palestine. As Christians around the world prepare to celebrate Christmas, we are invited to pray for justice, peace and security for Palestine and Israel - and to send a prayer or a peace message to Bethlehem, the place of Christ's birth.

Since December 2000, a new Christmas tradition has been taking shape: sending peace messages to people in Bethlehem. Once again, individuals, communities, churches and congregations, organizations and partners from across the world are invited to send Advent and Christmas wishes and prayers for justice and peace to Bethlehem.

The email messages go to the Arab Educational Institute (also known as AEI-Open Windows). Their email address is aei@p-ol.com.

AEI-Open Windows is an Arab-Palestinian NGO affiliated to Pax Christi International and established in Bethlehem in 1986 by a group of Palestinian educators.

Read prayers that others have sent. Send your prayers to aei@p-ol.com.

December Fast for Global Food Crisis

This month's fast to discern responses to the world food crisis falls on December 5 through 7.

The theme focus is Agrofuels and the country focus is the United States and Guatemala.

Stand Up: Our Parents Are Passing

“Jean Louise, stand up. Your father is passing.”

These few simple words from “To Kill a Mockingbird” are among the movie quotes I carry with me. Jean Louise (Scout) Finch is sitting with Rev. Sykes, an African-American minister, at the trial where her father Atticus is defending the falsely accused Tom Robinson. At one point, Atticus turns to leave the courtroom. As he does, the African-American community rises. And, encouraged by Rev. Sykes, so does Jean Louise in a statement of tribute and respect.

The quote returned to mind yesterday as I watched “Black Presbyterians: The Legacy Series” during a meeting of the Advocacy Committee on Racial Ethnic Concerns. The video features three fifteen-minute segments that tell the stories of Black Presbyterians active in the Civil Rights movement. Part I includes personal stories of oppression that shaped their lives. Part II highlights their involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. Part III focuses on the Presbyterian Church as it grappled with the moral issues that emerged from the movement.

The men and women who told their stories in this video are giants of the Church – heroines and heroes of faith upon whose shoulders we stand. Their courage and integrity and faith and hope and grace shine. Emotions washed over me – I squeezed tears from the corners of my eyes, my throat tightened, my heart leapt and cracked and soared and shattered all at the same time. And in my mind, I heard Bill Walker (who played Rev. Sykes) – “Stand up. Our parents are passing.”

Thanks be to God for their witness and for all who helped tell their story. 

Visit Black Presbyterians: The Legacy Series and find a link to order the video through Presbyterian Distribution Services.

Jerusalem Women Speak

If you are in the Washington, DC area on November 23, you might want to check out the event Jerusalem Women Speak: Three Women, Three Faiths, One Shared Vision. The event will take place at Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.

The speakers are a Jewish Israeli woman, a Palestinian Christian woman, and a Palestinian Muslim woman. The women will tell their stories and share their experiences, hopes, and visions.

The event is sponsored by Presbyterian Women of National Capitol Presbytery, Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church in cooperation with the Middle Eastern Community, and Partners for Peace.

For more information, contact the Rev. Fuad Khouri.

 

The Power of Forgiveness

Through seven dramatic stories, the documentary, The Power of Forgiveness, explores what faith traditions and health sciences teach and live about forgiveness. The film combines character-driven stories of dramatic transgressions with those of more commonplace annoyances, examining the role that forgiveness can play in alleviating the resulting anger and grief and the physical, mental and spiritual benefits that come with forgiveness. The film includes Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, Nobel Peace Laureate Elie Wiesel on forgiveness in the Jewish faith; Azim Khamisa on forgiveness and Islam; Rev. James Forbes, pastor emeritus of Riverside Church in New York, on forgiveness from a Christian perspective. There are stories on forgiveness research, The Garden of Forgiveness in Beirut, Lebanon, building a Garden of Forgiveness at Ground Zero and the Amish teaching on forgiveness. Visit The Power of Forgiveness for more information and to order the DVD.

Protect Civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Amnesty International has posted an alert allowing us to act on behalf of the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The situation in the DRC remains on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe. The priority at the moment is reinforcing the capacity of the UN’s peacekeeping force, MONUC, to protect civilians and to ensure people have access to humanitarian assistance. At least 250,000 civilians, most of them women and children, were displaced by the recent fighting. These people are in a desperate situation, without sufficient food, water, medical supplies or shelter.

Call on the US governmentto ensure that the UN Security Council takes further steps to protect civilians in eastern DRC.

Learn more about the situation in the DRC and Presbyterian mission involvement in the country. Find prayers for the DRC.

Vigil at Fort Benning, GA

November 21-23, 2008: Thousands will converge on Fort Benning, Georgia for the November Vigil to Close the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation
(Formerly Known as the School of the Americas).

Join the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship (PPF) for a breakfast on Saturday at 7am ($10; $5 for student). Reservations are required.

March with Presbyterians during Sunday's vigil.

If you will be staying the entire weekend, PPF may  be able to help with hotel arrangements or transportation from the airport.

For more information, contact Marilyn White.

Learn more about WHINSEC. Visit WHINSEC's official Web page.

The 206th General Assembly (1994) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) called upon the United States government to

• eliminate any and all funding for the School of the Americas, and close the school;
• cease any further training of the military leaders from the countries of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean; and
• use the funds that have been spent on the School of the Americas to support — both in the U.S. and in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean — programs for women, children, the hungry, the homeless, and other victims of violence.

The 207th General Assembly (1995) reaffirmed this action. The mission of the School of the Americas has been taken over by the Western Hemispheric Institute for Security Cooperation.

 

A Day of Witness to End Torture

The National Religious Coalition against Torture offers an invitation to participate in a National Day of Witness on Wednesday, November 12 from your own home or office. 

More than 50 delegations of religious leaders will visit Members of Congress in their district or state offices across the country to request them to endorse the "Declaration of Principles for a Presidential Executive Order on Prisoner Treatment, Torture and Cruelty" and to urge the President-elect to issue an executive order banning torture. The 218th General Assembly (2008) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted to affirm the Declaration of Principles. 
 
You can join the effort of hundreds of people in Washington, DC who will gather in front of the White House to make the same request of the president- elect by sending an email to President-elect Obama's Transition Office.  Just take these three easy steps:

1. Visit his transition website.

2. Fill out your contact information.  Write "torture" in the "another issue" box.
3. In the "Your ideas" box, write something like "As a person of faith, I am deeply troubled by our nation's use of torture.  Please act to end U.S.-sponsored torture by issuing an executive order based on the Declaration of Principles endorsed by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.  Then click "submit form."

Learn more about Presbyterian efforts to address torture.

Pray and Act for Christians in Iraq

The following was sent by the executive committee of the Fellowship of the Middle East Evangelical Churches. I received it last night. It specifically asks for prayer on November 9 (today) but prayer is always in order. It also asks us to contact our elected officials on behalf of the Christians of Iraq. Here's a prayer from a group who met with Iraqi Presbyterians in Syria a few weeks ago. Other prayers for those affected by the war in Iraq are available. Finally, here's a bulletin insert asking prayer for Christians in Iraq.

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE MIDDLE EAST EVANGELICAL CHURCHES
November 6, 2008

A Call for Prayer for Solidarity with the Christians in Iraq,
From the Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches

We, like all others, are appalled at the news coming from Iraq about the systematic killing, terrifying, and expelling of Christians from their homes in Mosul. It is reported about two thousand Christian families have been displaced from Mosul. due to the terror and violence they suffered. They fled their houses with only what they could carry; many fled with the only the clothes on their backs. Moreover, about twenty have been killed thus far, churches have been destroyed or burnt, and the atrocity goes on. So far, we have heard from many reputable voices, many of those voices came from notable Muslim leaders, condemning and denouncing what is occurring in Mosul. However, we have not heard of any definite steps or any plan of actions taken on behalf of these Christians for their safety and protection.

Therefore, as the Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches,

First:
We call upon ALL the churches in the Middle East and to our partners and sister churches around the globe to dedicate the second Sunday in November to bring attention to the plight of Christians in Iraq, and to pray for their relief. We hope that as our prayers are raised we shall be alert from this moment on to the plight of our brothers and sisters. Therefore, we humbly ask that you join us on November 9 to offer unified prayer as part of the shared worship of Christ's people everywhere.

Second:
We call upon All the churches around the world to raise this issue with their respective governments, decision-makers, and responsible organizations with political influence in their respective countries. Iraqi Christians are fearful that they have become a commodity in the political marketplace. We are sensitive as we remember the massacres of Armenians and Syriac people at the outset of the 20th Century. Today this becomes an issue of conscience that our Lord compels us to speak out on behalf of the cries of these beleaguered people.

We urge all Christians to partner with our brothers and sisters in Iraq. The Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches has already sent a letter of deep support and encouragement to them; we have contacted our respective governments bringing these issues to light. We invite you to join us in demanding their protected return to their rightful land and homes, and guaranteeing their safety and well-being.

Despite frequent persecution, Christians of the Middle East have through the ages contributed to the building and development of their countries, furthered the values of freedom, justice, and democracy. The alternative is religious fanaticism, confessional division and neo-apartheid.

May the Lord bless you and give you the courage to act prophetically as his people and the witness of his justice. Amen.

On behalf of FMEEC Executive Committee:

Bishop Munib A Younan, Presiden

Rev. Dr. Habib Badr, Vice President

Mrs. Rosangela Jarjour, General Secretary

Courage and Hope - A Prayer for Iraqi Christians

This prayer comes from members of the Iraq Partnership Network (IPN) who pray this prayer and share it with all who may wish to join us. It is patterned after a prayer written by an Iraqi Presbyterian elder.

The IPN encompasses members of three churches: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Reformed Church in America, and United Church in Christ. These denominations shared a common ministry in Iraq from 1924 to 1969. In June 2007, the Network was formed to be in partnership with the Assembly of Presbyterian Churches in Iraq.

We met with Iraqi church leaders in Damascus, Syria, October 4 – 7, 2008. On World Communion Sunday we worshiped with the National Evangelical (Presbyterian) Church of Damascus, a congregation that includes many Iraqi refugees. Because of that meeting, this prayer specifically focuses on Presbyterians in Iraq. Please pray for the other Christians of Iraq as well. A bulletin insert is available to encourage prayer for Iraqi Christians and all who are impacted by the war.

PRAYER FOR IRAQ

We thank you, O God, for calling us to share in the lives of your sons and daughters in the Presbyterian Church of Iraq. We are most grateful for the opportunity to meet twenty of the members of that church. We heard their stories of suffering in the midst of war, of agony from injuries and death, and of frustration with the daily experiences of loss and misery that have afflicted the Iraqi nation for over five years since the American invasion.

We bring before you, O God, our pleas for forgiveness for our nation’s war against the Iraqi nation, which the 2004 Presbyterian General Assembly perceived to be "unlawful, immoral and unwise," and confess our moral culpability as citizens for the war's dire consequences.  We ask that we may be guided to respond in Spirit-filled and nonviolent ways, and to work with our partner church in making peace. 

We recognized the presence of your Holy Spirit as we gathered for holy communion with Presbyterians in Damascus. We recall how one of our members apologized to a fellow Iraqi worshiper, expressing her sorrow for the calamity that the war has inflicted on his country. As he responded “he never thought that he would live long enough to hear these words” their eyes filled with tears – “beautiful tears of peace!”

Lord, we have learned first-hand the courage and hope that these Iraqi churches display as they persevere daily in the face of ---

• the kidnapping and murder of an elder in one congregation;
• deciding each week whether the situation is safe enough to gather for worship in the church building or in a member’s home;
• the loss of sixty percent of the members of one congregation who have taken refuge in safer locations in or outside the country; and
• functioning without a pastor after several were forced to leave the country in the past five years.

Gracious Lord, we share the hope in your providence that these brothers and sisters ex-press as they seek ways to find and train five candidates to minister among the five congregations; to train elders to lead; and to strengthen lay groups to carry on educational and Bible study, as well as pastoral care and outreach.

We request, O Lord, that you will ---

• give wisdom and peace to all who seek resources for rebuilding Iraq;
• guide the government of Iraq as it seeks to restore security and basic services such as electricity, water, roads and sewage disposal;
• enable deepening and supportive relationships with the evangelical/reformed churches in neighboring countries and with other ecumenical partners;
• provide scholarship aid for seminary students who will return to serve your church in Iraq;
• increase the number of trained elders who share in the governance of each congregation;
• provide the means for housing the kindergartens of these congregations;
• energize the authorities who are engaged with the care and support of the massive numbers of refugees now displaced inside or outside Iraq; and
• guide the government and people of the United States into paths that result, not in the triumph of a worldly empire, but in the justice and peace of your Kingdom.

We magnify your name and rejoice in the assurance of your loving care, O Lord. We lift up the broken hearted, and pray for all who commit violent acts.

We make our prayer in the name of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.