Swords into Plowshares

Take the Countdown to Copenhagen Pledge

Take the Countdown to Copenhagen Pledge - today!

International leaders will be meeting in Copenhagen in December to create a new international agreement to lower greenhouse gas emissions that will replace the Kyoto Protocol when it expires in 2012. These are crucial talks, and it is important for the United States to take a leading role in curbing climate change. Take the Countdown to Copenhagen pledge through Church World Service to send a message urging President Obama to urge strong action on climate changes issues and to pledge to do your part for climate change. Church World Service and the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program will be delivering the pledges in Washington, D.C. on November 5, so act quickly!

This material was original posted on Eco-Journey and is re-posted here with permission. Check out and subscribe to Eco-Journey, the blog of the Environmental Ministries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for good material to help make peace with God's earth - one of the areas of ministry identified in the Commitment to Peacemaking for peacemakers following Jesus.

A prayer for United Nations Day

Here is a prayer for the United Nations for use in relation to United Nations Day (October 24) or any appropriate time:

God of compassion, walk alongside all of your global stewards who work to create a more just and peaceful world. Equip the United Nations community with a sense of urgency and humility that lets your will be done. Each day you give bread enough for all, grant us also the wisdom to ensure that everyone has enough.Teach the world’s leaders to forgive, to extend welcome across borders. Show the world a new path beyond greed, oppression, and division. We pray for a world united. We pray for the power to save succeeding generations from war. We pray for a glory that reaffirms the dignity and worth of every person. We pray that your grace might ensure life in larger freedom forever, for all of your children. Amen.

Jessica Hawkinson
Associate for International Relations and Education
Presbyterian United Nations Office

Photo of the United Nations General Assembly by UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras.

Worship resources for United Nations Day

October 24 is United Nations Day. The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and the Presbyterian United Nations Office offer worship materials for use on Sunday, October 25 or another time.

Download O God Who Formed Creation [PDF], a hymn by the Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, co-pastor of Limestone Presbyterian Church.

Find prayers, bulletin inserts, and more.

Here is one prayer:

Great God,
supreme ruler of all the earth,
give vision to those who serve the United Nations.
With justice and goodwill, may they take down barriers
and draw the world together in peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

— from Peacemaking through Worship: Volume I by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program

Yupiks address toxic waste

In September, Presbyterian indigenous Yupik tribal leaders, youth, and elders visited policy makers in Washington, DC to discuss the environmental health issues caused by toxic waste at a former military base near their home in Alaska. Read more from the blog of the Presbyterian Environmental Ministries Office and from the blog of the Eco-Justice Programs of the National Council of Churches of Christ.

Limestone Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware is on a journey to becoming green.

Nazeli visits Miami Valley Presbytery, Ohio

Presbyterians in the Presbytery of Miami Valley (Ohio) are among those who had the opportunity to meet Dr. Nazeli Vardanyan from Armenia.

Her visit included a presentation at Sinclair Community College where she made a presentation. Students had the opportunity to speak with her further after her presentation.

Dr. Vadranyan is director of Armenia Forest, a non-governmental organization (NGO) and president of GOY, an NGO focusing on environmental issues.

Dr. Vadranyan is one of eleven participants in the International Peacemakers program of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The Peacemaking Offering supports the ministries of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.

Barbara Battin provided the pictures.

Nazeli in Western New York

Among her stops visiting Presbyterians, Dr. Nazeli Vardanyan from Armenia visited the Presbytery of Western New York.

Dr. Vadranyan is director of Armenia Forest, a non-governmental organization (NGO) and president of GOY, an NGO focusing on environmental issues.

Her visit in the Presbytery of Western New York included an opportunity to speak at Daemen College and a visit to Reinstein Woods.

Dr. Vadranyan is one of eleven participants in the International Peacemakers program of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The Presbyterian Peacemaking Offering supports the ministries of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.

Gladys Gifford of the Presbytery of Western New York provided the pictures.

Eco-Journey: A new blog

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Environmental Ministries Office has created a new blog: Eco-Journey.

Recent posts focus on:

• Online Energy Star training opportunities - September 21 and 24
• An opportunity to advocate with our Senators on climate change

We welcome this new opportunity to find resources on making peace with the earth!

Observe the International Day of Peace

Here are some ways to observe the International Day of Peace:

• Pray
• Meditate
• Practice other spiritual disciplines
  
• Participate in the A Million Minutes for Peace campaign
• Participate in the WMD - We Must Disarm Initiative
• Light a candle
• Send the message by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to your elected officials
• Find ideas for observing the International Day of Peace as a day of ceasefire from gun violence in the United States
• Advocate for the creation of a Department of Peace
• Purchase Peace Day and read it to a child
• Hold a peace party and donate funds to a group working for peace
• Twitter messages of peace
• Post messages of peace on  Facebook
• Share worship resources with your pastor

50 Ways to Help Save the Earth

50 Ways to Help Save the Earth:How You and Your Church Can Make a Difference

This guide outlines ways that to address global warming, live as followers of Jesus, and renew connections with God’s creation and our sisters and brothers. Seven chapters explore topics related to global climate change. Each chapter contains a statement on how the topic relates to global warming, followed by action items ranging from individual efforts to congregational activities. Examples of ways individuals and faith communities have made a difference are also included. Rebecca Barnes-Davies, former coordinator of Presbyterians for Restoring Creation is the author.

Work for a world without nuclear weapons: Pray

A recent statement by the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches notes that we have entered a season of hope in the effort to abolish nuclear weapons. The statement closes with a prayer:

God of all times and seasons,
You have presented us with a season of hope and
a time of opportunity for a nuclear-weapon-free world.
May we not squander this opportunity
but find ways of working together
to make a difference  for the whole global family.
 
Fill us with the vision of your kingdom,
where the lion lies down with the lamb,
and weapons are turned into farming tools.
Empower us to declare that authentic security
is found in enhancing our human interdependence
in your one creation.

Enable us to live this declaration
in our relationships with neighbours, near and far
and to you be all glory and praise, now and forever.

Other prayers related to working for a world without nuclear weapons include:

Two prayers for Hiroshima Day

A prayer for those attacked by bombs and rockets

A prayer of confession