Swords into Plowshares

Have you done your Thanksgiving shopping?

Give your friends a copy of Proclaiming the Good News of God's Peace, a daily devotional booklet for Advent 2009. It makes a lovely Thanksgiving present!

Peacemakers across the country and around God's world contributed to the booklet.

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.

Pass copies around with the turkey and your family and friends can start using the devotional when Advent begins on November 29.

A prayer for Veterans Day

Righteous God, you rule the nations.
Guard brave men and women
who risk themselves in battle for their country.
Give them compassion for enemies
who also fight for patriotic causes.
Keep our sons and daughters from hate that hardens,
or from scorekeeping with human lives.
Though they must be at war,
let them live in peace,
as eager for agreements as for victory.
Encourage them as they encourage one another,
and never let hard duty separate them
from loyalty to your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Book of Common Worship, © 1993 by Westminster/John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky, [733], p. 818.

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.

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.

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.

Operation Stand Down

Congregations use 25% of the Peacemaking Offering that they receive in peacemaking ministries of their choice.

Recognizing that many veterans returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan face tremendous problems re-entering American society, congregations are using their offering funds to reach out to those who have served in the military. Congregations support groups that work with veterans in need, homeless veterans, and groups that care for families of those who have served. Events to learn about ministry with and to veterans and their families have been held.

Another way that congregations might become involved is through support of Operation Stand Down programs. Operation Stand Down Nashville is among such programs that are held in many places across the country.

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans notes: "The original Stand Down for homeless veterans was modeled after the Stand Down concept used during the Vietnam War to provide a safe retreat for units returning from combat operations. At secure base camp areas, troops were able to take care of personal hygiene, get clean uniforms, enjoy warm meals, receive medical and dental care, mail and receive letters, and enjoy the camaraderie of friends in a safe environment. Stand Down afforded battle-weary soldiers the opportunity to renew their spirit, health and overall sense of well-being. That is the purpose of the Stand Down for homeless veterans, and achieving those objectives requires a wide range of support services and time. The program is successful because it brings these services to one location, making them more accessible to homeless veterans."

The Biblical Witness to Peacemaking

The Biblical Witness to Peacemaking, 2009-2010, is a daily lectionary that bears witness to God's gift of peace and to Christ's call to live as peacemakers.

This resource may be used by individuals or by congregations or other groups. The resource may be used in devotions, worship, or Bible study. 

New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, CD, First Presbyterian Church in Rumson, NJ, and other congregations include the Biblical Witness to Peacemaking in their bulletins each week.

Download the Biblical Witness to Peacemaking 2009-2010 in Word

Download the Biblical Witness to Peacemaking 2009-2010 in PDF

Domestic Violence Awareness

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and Sunday, October 18 in 2009 is designated as Presbyterian Domestic Violence Awareness Sunday. To assist congregations in effectively raising issues related to domestic violence, the Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence Network offers their 2009 Awareness Packet on Teen Dating Violence. 

Among the resources in this year’s packet, you will find an article on the inappropriate use of texting and cell phones, a letter from a father to his children on the gift of their sexuality, a youth activity on dating violence for youth group leaders, a lesson plan for a session on teen dating violence from Anguished Hearts, a covenantal contract for teens and their families and youth group leaders to sign around the issues of dating and sexuality, suggested resources for teens on dating violence, the teen power and control and equality wheels, a dating “bill of rights,” a bulletin insert on dating violence and sermon suggestions using October’s lectionary readings to address issues of relationship violence.

Additional resources to address domestic violence are also available.

The Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence Network is one of the ten networks of the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association.

October 18 is also designated as the Children's Sabbath.