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Faith-based Mediation Workshop
Milford, IN February 2008
The Ministry of Reconciliation, a branch of On Earth Peace, welcomes natural peacemakers and those interested in conflict resolution to a two-weekend mediation workshop. A refreshing, faithful approach to interpersonal peacemaking will be taught through a series of interactive and collaborative sessions.
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Position Announcement
On Earth Peace seeks a Program Coordinator to oversee its Peace Education Program.
A full position description and application instructions are available at our website.
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Talk to your Youth about Peace
In this time of war, On Earth Peace offers Peace Baskets to help Sunday School classes explore faithful responses to violence and conflict.
The youth Peae Basket features, Thermostat, a DVD which includes a wide variety of resources: Bible studies, role plays, stories, images, poetry, video clips, rap, and study units. The units -- which can be used separately -- include the themes of peacemaking, terrorism, camouflage, and nonviolence. "Thermostat" encourages intergenerational conversation and learning. Grade 7 to adult. Additionally, the Peace Baskets include a wide variety of peace related books and resources.
For more information about available Peace Baskets, please click here. | |
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from Bob Gross
At the Missouri & Arkansas district conference, Bob Gross noticed a pick-up truck with the On Earth Peace bumper sticker "When Jesus said..." on one side. What confused him was the sticker on the other side that read, "Proud parent of a US Army soldier."
As happens when the hand of God is at work, Bob met the owner of the truck at the display table. She explained that her son is in his late 20's and enlisted without telling her first. He knew she would not approve, because when he was younger they had talked about it and she persuaded him not to enlist. Now he did it on his own.
Please include the sons and daughters from the Church of the Brethren community who have joined the armed services in your prayers for peace in the Middle East.
Bumperstickers are available at our online store.
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Welcome Home Project
Peace Witness Opportunity
"I would like to convey the feeling that came over me as I rubbed the forehead of a young man that had never shaved, lying on a bed, paralyzed from the neck down at the Veterans' Hospital. He still had a baby's face, but his eyes were as unresponsive as his body. How do we ever welcome that young man back home?"
-Doris Abdullah,
First Church of the Brethren, Brooklyn NY
Beyond the physical injuries, there are long-term impacts of the war experience, including Post-Traumatic Stress, family breakdowns, domestic violence, and even suicide. Also, after months or years on the battlefield, there are also challenges that come with re-entering "normalcy," returning to the workplace, reestablishing relationships with family and friends, and laying aside the warrior mentality for civilian life.
The Christian church, with its message of God's unconditional love, has a vital role to play in opening arms to women and men returning from war.
On Earth Peace's Welcome Home Project is currently seeking indivdual volunteers to support this program for congregations developing a ministry for returning soldiers.
Get Involved with Welcome Home Ministry:
Pray for God's guidance and inspiration.
Visit the Welcome Home Project site.
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Peace Meditation
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
~Isaiah 2:4, NRSV
The commemoration of Veterans Day may feel like an annual reminder of the suffering caused by war, the lessons unlearned and destined to be repeated. But this way of thinking of history as empty repetition is not God's message for us. The prophet Isaiah tells us of a time, "In the days to come" when war will cease to be the deadly pattern, and all nations shall gather to receive God's instruction. Swords will be carried to the mountain, but no one will leave with a single weapon. Instead, our weapons will be reforged into tools for planting and new life.
This prophetic image has served to guide many of God's people toward such days to come, when war is obsolete, when rulers and soldiers have exhausted themselves to such an extent that they can do nothing but gather at the house of God and pray for peace. World War I ended in 1918 with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Offically, it was the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month and November 11 was set aside as Armistice Day to commemorate the moment. At the time this must have seemed like a fulfillment of Isaiah prophecy.
In 1954 the holiday was renamed Veterans Day in the US to honor of those who have served in the American armed forces. Our nation and our world have seen so many die in the fierce violence of war; we must never forget any of their precious lives. This year let us remember Veteran's Day and Armistice Day together, for there is no better way to honor the victims of war than to pray and act for the final end to all war.
Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.
~Isaiah 2:3, NRSV
-By Travis Poling
On Earth Peace Writer-in-Residence
through Bethany Theological Seminary |
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| Contact Information |
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Gimbiya Kettering, Editor
Bob Gross, Managing Editor:
On Earth Peace: 410-635-8704 | |
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