Swords into Plowshares

Hymn lamenting gun violence

As we reflect on incidents of gun violence in Fort Hood and Orlando and in places that did not make the national news, "God of Mercy, You Have Shown Us" is a hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette that can be used in private prayers and in corporate worship. A version of the hymn with words and music [PDF] is available.

This hymn may be reproduced and used in nonprofit worship with the inclusion of the complete copyright citation plus the words "Used by permission." It may not be used for profit, sold, republished, altered or placed on a Web site. Links to the hymn may be made.

Remembering military chaplains

On Veterans Day, November 11, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Office of Vocation invites us to remember those Presbyterians who serve as military chaplains. Remember in prayer those who are called to embody the hope of Jesus Christ in some of the world’s most perilous places.

New study resource on Sudan for children

Order Piece Work/Peace Work: Working Together for Peace and Sudan at the Presbyterian Marketplace. Use item number 24-358-09-008. The cost is $8.00 plus shipping and handling.

Piece Work/Peace Work: Working Together for Peace and Sudan is a curriculum designed for elementary children from Grades 1-6.

The study is divided into four sessions, one intergenerational session, and a resource section which includes stories of Sudan and information on African quilt history and Sudanese religions and customs.

Using a quilt project, the study explores the relationship between the work of making a quilt from different pieces of fabric and the work of making peace. Activities include games, simulations, and art projects.

Through an exploration of situations faced by the children of Sudan, children are led into an understanding of the largest country in Africa and learn also of the many divisions within the country. Worship, songs, scripture, a book center, and a computer station all enhance the
learning process.

As the author, Martha Bettis Gee says, “It is vital to the future of Sudan that followers of Jesus take seriously what is happening there and respond with compassion and real help.”

Piece Work/Peace Work: Working Together for Peace and Sudan is produced in partnership between the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and the Presbyterian Office on Child Advocacy. Representatives of the Sudan Advocacy Action Forum, the Sudan Mission Network, and the Presbyterian Africa Office provided assistance with the content of the resource. Presbyterians have been in ministry with the people of Sudan for over 100 years.

Order Piece Work/Peace Work: Working Together for Peace and Sudan at the Presbyterian Marketplace. Use item number 24-358-09-008. The cost is $8.00 plus shipping and handling.

American Indian Perspectives on Thanksgiving

We are making plans to celebrate Thanksgiving at our house - selecting the menu, sending invitations, renewing traditions.

The Education Office of the National Museum of the American Indian offers a teaching poster that presents "American Indian Perspectives on Thanksgiving."

Download American Indian Perspectives on Thanksgiving [PDF].

This teaching poster, designed for educators and students grades 4-8, examines the deeper meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday for American Indians through the themes of environment, community, encounters, and innovations. Appropriate for use at any time during the year, the poster includes information that is essential to understanding and teaching about American Indians along with compelling images and ideas for classroom activities.

The National Museum of the American Indian provides additional resources to use with the poster as well as educational resources on Native American histories and cultures.

The Office on Native American Congregational Support of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) passed along information about the teaching poster.

Pray for peace

This week, Spiritual Nurture for Peacemakers features a prayer for peace based on Psalm 122, a prayer for farm workers, and a prayer for the time of an election. November 1 is Christian and Citizen Sunday in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

These prayers may be used in individual devotions or in corporate worship.

Congregational-based community organizing

Remember the important role of congregational-based community organizing in renewing congregations and communities and seeking justice. Don't judge all community organizers and community organizing by a few bad apples.

That's the message of a recent post on Vital Signs, the blog of the Small Church and Community Ministry Office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Presbyterians and Presbyterian congregations have witnessed to their faith in Jesus Christ through community organizing and congregation-based community organizing for more than fifty years. These efforts have strengthened congregations and communities while addressing issues of poverty, predatory lending, crime, economic development, hate crime, educational systems, and more.

Vital Signs reminds us that as in any group or profession, there have been mistakes and abuses by individuals and organizations involved in community organizing.

But there has also been and there will continue to be good, solid, important work and profound ministry done through community organizers and congregational-based community organizing.

Proclaiming the Good News of God's Peace

Peacemakers from across the United States and around God's world contributed to Proclaiming the Good News of God's Peace, a daily devotional booklet for Advent 2009.

Using lectionary texts, the writers reflect on God's gift of peace and explore what it ways to live as peacemakers following Jesus during the Advent season and throughout the year.

Use Proclaiming the Good News of God's Peace in your personal devotions. Share copies with family and friends including those who homebound, in nursing homes, serving in the military or away at school.

Produced by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, Proclaiming the Good News of God's Peace costs $.40 a copy.

Advent begins this year on November 29.

Stopping torture - an Advent resource

The National Religious Coalition Against Torture announces a new resource [PDF] for Christian clergy to use during Advent 2009.

With sections for all four Sundays in Advent, as well as Christmas Eve, the new resource [PDF] provides commentary on the scriptures and sermon notes that help connect the scriptures with today's national dialog on the use of torture. It combines scholarly research and exegesis of the lectionary readings with a conversational tone that makes it easy to build upon the ideas in developing sermons. The author is the Rev. Kirsten Klepfer, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Grinnell, Iowa.

Worship Resources from a variety of faiths are also available. Send suggestions for additional prayers and worship materials to John Humphries.

General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have addressed the issue of stopping torture on several occasions. The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, in partnership with No2Torture (a grassroots Presbyterian Organization) and the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, provides additional resources and links to more information.

Trick or treat for UNICEF - more of the story

From the Presbyterian Child Advocacy Office:

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the PC(USA) have long had a special relationship. Why? Because Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF was initiated by the Rev. Clyde Allison, a Presbyterian minister. Allison's children and others from their church's youth group covered milk cartons with orange paper, dressed up as children from other countries and collected change instead of candy, raising $17 that first year. The tradition continued and was eventually taken over by UNICEF.

Sadly, this year marks the passing of Clyde Allison, who died in Lowell, Indiana, in April. He leaves behind the rich legacy of thousands of children worldwide whose lives have been saved or extended through the pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters collected by other children.

    * Read a tribute to Clyde Allison from UNICEF. [PDF]
    * Post a note for Clyde Allison's family.
    * Order a collection kit or explore other ways to contribute.

Trick or treat for Unicef - the quick post

A longer post will follow, but here is a quick reminder to Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.