Swords into Plowshares

Forgiveness: A Time to Love and a Time to Hate

Check your local PBS listings for a new film on forgiveness.

Forgiveness: A Time to Love and a Time to Hate, by Helen Whitney, explores a range of stories from personal betrayal to global reconciliation after genocide.

Don Shriver, author of An Ethic for Enemies and Honest Patriots and speaker at two recent seminars at the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, appears in the film. Here's the description of the film from PBS:

Forgiveness: A Time to Love and a Time to Hate provides an intimate look into the spontaneous outpouring of forgiveness: from the Amish families for the 2006 shooting of their children in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania; the struggle of '60s radicals to cope with the serious consequences of their violent acts of protest; the shattering of a family after the mother abandons them, only to return seeking forgiveness; the legacy and divisiveness of apartheid and the aftermath of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings in South Africa; the penitential journey of a modern-day Germany, confronting the horrific acts of the Holocaust; and the riveting stories of survivors of the unimaginably, brutal Rwandan genocide.

Once a uniquely religious word, forgiveness now is changing and there is no consensus about what it is and what it is becoming. However you define forgiveness, its power is real — and never more so when it struggles with the unforgivable. Inevitably, as Whitney reveals, its new role in the world raises serious and complex questions: why is forgiveness in the air today; what does that say about us and the times we live in; what are its power, its limitations and in some instances its dangers; has it been cheapened or deepened... or both?

 

Lord, What a Parade! - new hymn for Palm Sunday

Lord, What a Parade!
LYONS 10.10.11.11 (“O Worship the King, All Glorious Above”)
 
Lord, what a parade!  The crowd quickly grew;
What noise they all made in welcoming you.
“Hosanna!” they shouted.  “It’s David’s own son!
Hosanna!  Come save us!  God’s reign has begun!”
 
They welcomed you in, a conquering king,
Yet what kind of reign would you really bring?
It wasn’t a war horse you rode on that day;
A creature of peace carried you on your way.
 
Did those in that crowd expect something more
Than one who reached out in love to the poor?
Did they think a savior with armies was best,
Or did they remember: the peaceful are blessed?
 
Lord Jesus, it’s true--we give you glad praise,
Yet living for you will challenge our ways.
So may we be open and welcome your reign.
Hosanna!  Come save us!  Renew us again!
 
Biblical reference: Matthew 21:1-11
Tune:  attr. Johann Michael Haydn, (1737-1806)
Text:  Copyright © 2011 Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.  All rights reserved.
Email:  bcgi[email protected]  Web site:  www.carolynshymns.com

Download Lord, What a Parade!
 
Hymn Use Permission: Churches that support Presbyterian Peacemaking Program have copyright permission to use “Lord, What a Parade!”  The Presbyterian Outlook has made this new hymn available with the music as a downloadable file.
 
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette is the author of Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor (Discipleship Resources/Upper Room Books, 2009) and Gifts of Love: New Hymns for Today’s Worship (Geneva Press, 2000) and the co-pastor of Limestone Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware. Find a complete list of the 180+ hymns by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, many with peace and justice themes.

Tread Lightly for Lent: Ash Wednesday

Take part in "Tread Lightly for Lent" this Lenten season. Learn about eco-justice and take action to care for God's earth.

Each day an action and learning item from the "Tread Lightly for Lent" calendar will be posted on the  Facebook page and blog of our colleagues in the Office of Environmental Ministries. Download the full "Tread Lightly for Lent" Calendar. 

via presbyterian.typepad.com

Words Matter in Lent (and always)

Now available for free download: Lent Bible Studies from Words Matter! Perfect for individual or group use, this guide follows the Lectionary for this year, providing personal reflections and Biblical analysis to provoke deeper insight into the words we use. This Lent, commit to practicing the spiritual discipline of paying attention to the words you and others use. Download your copy today.
 
Please spread the word in your communities and networks!

Lenten Earth Care: Tread Lightly for Lent 2011

From our colleagues in the Environmental Ministries Office:

As part of the reflective season of Lent, Environmental Ministries is offering “Tread Lightly for Lent,” a calendar that encourages Presbyterians to learn about eco-justice issues and take action on the issues of waste, energy, water, consumption, and food. 

Each day in the season of Lent has a topic to learn about or a suggested action.  Download the full "Tread Lightly for Lent" calendar for 2011.

Or, if you would like to use individual days in church bulletins or on a church website, you can cut and paste from the Environmental Ministries website. 

"Tread Lightly for Lent" can serve as a helpful resource to introduce earth care to your church, or to expand environmental practices in your life or church.

Use the Tread Lightly for Lent calendar and share about your journey on the Environmental Ministries Facebook page.

via presbyterian.typepad.com

As part of the reflective season of Lent, Environmental Ministries is offering “Tread Lightly for Lent,” a calendar that encourages Presbyterians to learn about eco-justice issues and take action on the issues of waste, energy, water, consumption, and food. 

Each day in the season of Lent has a topic to learn about or a suggested action.  Download the full "Tread Lightly for Lent" calendar for 2011.

Or, if you would like to use individual days in church bulletins or on a church website, you can cut and paste from the Environmental Ministries website. 

"Tread Lightly for Lent" can serve as a helpful resource to introduce earth care to your church, or to expand environmental practices in your life or church.

Use the Tread Lightly for Lent calendar and share about your journey on the Environmental Ministries Facebook page.

The people refuse to give up hope

On Maundy Thursday (April 1), participants in the evaluation of the Colombia Accompaniment Program visited Via Blanca outside Galapa. The following reflection was written about the event.

This morning we visited a rural displaced community of people who are farming land owned by the mayor. They are grateful to have land to farm and are going to be trying new farming methods, including perhaps building greenhouses. But they mostly want  their own piece of  land where they can choose what to plant, their own house. They wonder if this life will every change. One man said he had nine certificates of training for various skills but no opportunity to use them. There is such longing for an opportunity to change their lives.

We shared a liturgy prepared by students at Union Seminary who had visited Colombia recently. We read  Psalm 31 aloud , the verses dispersed among statements of loss – loss of land, of husbands who were dragged away, of an entire village destroyed by bombs, where only one person was left – alone. One woman spoke of fleeing on foot, an hour after her baby was born, with a cow hide to shelter them from the rain. The scriptures take on a new power in such a setting.  

We worshiped outside around a liturgical setting on the ground – with a calabash of dried corn, a calabash of cherries, farm boots, an ax, a machete, a shovel, a bowl of cherries, the Bible, a bowl of papaya, a bowl of earth, another of water, a canister of pesticide, a beautiful cross, other farm implements, and a root of aloe which is used as medicine in many ways.

After the litany and some beautiful singing, we each held up one of the symbols before us and spoke of its meaning.  Then we took turns to dig a whole and  planted and watered the aloe root. The people refuse to give up hope. 

Worship was followed by a lunch of a traditional soup (sancocho) and rice. A beautiful morning. Soon we will head off to various churches for Maundy Thursday services. Blessings on all of you as you explore the meaning and power of this week.

An  Accompanier

Cathy Surgenor

Check out more pictures from the visit and the rest of our time in Colombia.

Who do you remember this day?

In Colombia, engaged in conversation about the Colombia Accompaniment Program, the conversation turned to some who spoke truth to power in the name of Jesus Christ:

Archbishop Oscar Romero

Fr. Rutilio Grande

Sr. Maura Clarke

Sr. Ita Ford

Sr. Dorothy Kazel

Jean Donovan

Who do you remember on this day?

Eco-Palms

The use of Eco-Palms for Palm Sunday (March 28) services plays an important role in protecting forests, local jobs, and sustainable livelihoods in the harvesting communities.

Eco-palms are purchased directly from the communities at 5 to 6 times the normal payment per frond. Families are able to depend on a more stable source of income and benefit from additional value-added processing that takes place within the community.

See prices and ordering information for 2010. Order by March 2 (check) or March 9 (credit card)

A Christian Peace Witness Study and Invitation to Act

Christian Peace Witness is ready to bring:
Tony Campolo,
Sr. Dianna Ortiz,
Rev. Lennox Yearwood,
Kathy Kelly,
Joshua Casteel,
Liz McAlister,
Noah Baker Merrill &
Ken Butigan

to YOUR CHURCH for Lent!

Along with a dvd featuring profound inspiration from these faith leaders, our Lenten study includes:

• biblical reflections on lectionary passages for each Sunday in Lent - plus Easter (good preaching resource!);
• prayers and litanies for worship; and
• seven complete study lessons which can be used as a series or individually.

Download a sample of the study text and watch a sneak preview of the first two sessions.

The entire packet will be on dvd, include about 90 minutes of presentations from the featured speakers and a pdf study guide, and be available by February 3rd.  All orders will be shipped overnight delivery (included in the price).  Place your advance orders NOW!
All this for only $30!

Cries of Anguish, Stories of Hope

During Lent, a series of study resources will help congregations and individuals work to end violence against women.

Featuring films and stories from places as diverse as Colombia, India, the Democratic Republic of Congo and New Zealand, the WCC Decade to Overcome Violence Web page will host the interactive resources from 17 February until 4 April 2010.

Church congregations, community groups and individuals will be invited to sign up to follow the bible studies, use the liturgical resources and become involved in online discussions to advance the cause of ending violence against women. The resources will be available as a downloadable toolkit.

The campaign is a partnership of the World Council of Churches, the World Student Christian Federation and the World Young Women's Christian Association.

A sample of "Cries of Anguish, Stories of Hope" is available.

Find additional resources from the Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence Network.