Swords into Plowshares

Register now for Ecumenical Advocacy Days

2010 Ecumenical Advocacy Days

March 19-22, 2010 - Washington DC

A Place to Call Home: Immigrants, Refugees, and Displaced Peoples

Register Now

March 19 - 22, 2010  in Washington D.C.

"and Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.'"   -Luke 9:58

Jesus had no place to lay his head. Neither do tens of millions of migrants, refugees and displaced persons. Be a part of an action weekend addressing this global injustice. Join hundreds of faith-based advocates in taking action on U.S. legislation that will welcome immigrants, protect refugees, and prevent displacement of millions.

Participants will worship, study and dialog together. There will be special events for Presbyterians and other denominations as well as times for people to meet and plan in state groups.

On Monday, participants will visit Capitol Hill to advocate for our members of Congress to remedy these global injustices. 

The conference will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Crystal City, VA just outside Washington, DC.

Learn more and register now for this important faith-in-action event.

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.  -Hebrews 13:1-2

Updates for World AIDS Day

December 1 is World AIDS Day. The Presbyterian International AIDS Office notes that several updates and reports have been released in the last few days. These indicate that though much work remains to be done, there is good news to share.

1) According to UNAIDS 2009 AIDS Epidemic Update, there is an eight-year trend that shows new HIV infections down by 17%, the most progress has been seen in sub-Saharan Africa where the number of new infections is approximately 15% lower. This translates to about 400,000 fewer infections than in 2008. This update includes nine priority areas that UNAIDS selected, which will guide future investments and mobilize focused, concerted action to reduce the spread of HIV. UNAIDS stresses that reducing and preventing the violence perpetrated against women and girls will lead to fewer infections as well as other health issues.

2) UNAIDS launched OUTLOOK [pdf], a new publication launched that explores new ideas and ways to use the data collected in the AIDS Epidemic Update companion report.

3) Children and AIDS: The Fourth Stocktaking Report, [pdf] a report published jointly by UNAIDS, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), features data on interventions that protect women and children from HIV and AIDS and a set of principles to guide accelerated action.

4) Find resources on peacemaking and HIV/AIDS.

Plan for World AIDS Day - December 1, 2009

World AIDS Day, December 1, is the one day of the year when individuals, churches and organizations from around the world come together to remember that all our lives are touched by AIDS, especially those living with HIV and AIDS. It is the one day in the year where issues surrounding HIV and AIDS can take center stage. Responding to the HIV/AIDS pandemic is a task for peacemakers. [pdf]

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) encourages congregations to make the most of World AIDS Day 2009 by engaging in some form of worship, event or advocacy effort focused on HIV and AIDS. Learn how you can get involved.

Study resource on Africa

Resolution on Africa: A Guide for Study and Reflection [PDF] is now available for download.

Based on "Resolution on Africa" approved by the 215th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the study is intended for adults of all ages. Former Stated Clerk, the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, notes that the study guide invites us to explore "our calling to be partners with Christians in Africa—and to do something about it!"

The study guide [PDF] has six sessions, but there probably is more material than can be covered in six one-hour sessions. Options are to expand the number of sessions or to be selective about the discussion questions to keep to a shorter time frame. The guide includes the resolution.

The sessions address a comprehensive range of topics and concerns:

• Introduction to Africa and the Church in Africa
• Singing a New Song:The African Church
• Diseases of Poverty (HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis) and Health Issues
• Human Rights
• Development
• The Role of the PC(USA) with the Churches in Africa

In the closing words of the resolution [PDF]:

"Christians in Africa sing and pray every day for the kingdom of God. We can do no less than join them—and in so doing fortify and renew our faith by sharing the pilgrimage of God’s people everywhere who seek justice, peace, and freedom. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) joins African church partners in working for the liberation of all people worldwide."

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.

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

How will your congregation use its share?

Congregations that receive the Peacemaking Offering are encouraged to keep 25% of the offering for use in peacemaking ministries of their choice. These funds are used in many creative ways by different congregations. Ministries supported by the Peacemaking Offering include:

providing scholarships to peace and justice events

helping build a child care center in Malawi for children impacted by the HIV/AIDS pandemic

taking high school students on a journey through civil rights history

working with an interfaith group to build Habitat for Humanity houses

addressing gun violence

teaching children alternatives to violence

caring for veterans

and more.

How will your congregation use its portion of the Peacemaking Offering? Tell the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program so we can share your story.

The theme for the 2009 Peacemaking Offering is taken from Psalm 85:10, “Justice and peace shall kiss each other.”

The art is a serigraph by John August Swanson titled PSALM 85.

Support the Grocery Campaign

Tomato pickers toil long days for 45 cents per 32-lb bucket of tomatoes, with no right to overtime pay, no health insurance, no sick leave, no paid vacation and no right to organize to improve these conditions. In the most extreme cases, workers are held against their will and forced to work in modern-day slavery rings. The PC(USA) has been among those who have helped the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) reach groundbreaking agreements with Yum! Brands (Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut and others), McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, Whole Foods Market and Bon Appétit foodservice to

1. pay a penny per pound increase to farmworkers harvesting for suppliers of these companies and
2. work with the CIW to develop a human-rights-based code of conduct to address abuses in the fields, which includes a zero tolerance policy for modern-day slavery.
3. ensure a voice for farmworkers in monitoring improvements and reporting abuses.

Now the Fair Food Campaign is working with the CIW and others to ask three prominent grocery chains, Kroger, Ahold, and Publix, to forge agreements with the CIW that embrace these principles.

To support the Grocery Campaign:

• Send an email to the Rev. Noelle Damico for postcards to send to the CEO of the corporation whose grocery store is in your neighborhood.
• Meet with managers of your local Kroger-, Publix- or Ahold–owned grocery store. 
• Send an email to Kroger's CEO.
• Download a flyer on the Grocery Campaign. [PDF]
• View a video about the Labor Day Freedom Ride to advocate with Publix grocery stores in Sarasota. Riders included Presbyterians from the First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota.

Respond to God's call to do justice

Celebrate Labor Day this year by examining the PC(USA)’s work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers on the Campaign for Fair Food. Get resources for preaching and worship including lectionary commentary [PDF], a prayer of confession [PDF] and a prayer for the church at work [PDF].