2008 Theme of On Earth Peace
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
Righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
~Psalm 85:10
Each year at On Earth Peace we select a theme to inform our work, inspire our community, and ground our peacemaking efforts in Scripture. This year we selected Psalm 85:10, which feels like a blessing to our work, reminding us that as we move forward steadily focused on peacemaking, our efforts will be rewarded. We want to share this with you who steadfastly support the work our work through tithes and special offerings, who volunteer faithfully of your time and talents, and you who continue to pray for peace. God promises
our dedication will be rewarded with righteousness, justice, and peace. This is a work we do together.
Thank you for being part of our community and we look forward to working with you in the new year. |
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CPT Middle East Delegation
Peacemakers Bearing Witness
"Someday Israel will truly be a strong country, when Palestinians and
Israelis live together in true peace. Then we can show the world how
peace is possible, because they will see that if we can do it, so can
they."
-Hanna
CPT Delegation Translator
It was several months ago when the Peacebuilder first announced this trip and invited Church of the Brethren members to come along. Several responded to the call, feeling that God was calling them to take their heritage of pacifism and peace activism to the Middle East. They are arriving this week to begin a life-changing, conflict-transforming mission.
Perhaps no region in the world is
more plauged by violence than the cities in Israel and Palestine. For
those thirsting for peace, it is a situation that seems interminable at
times. Yet, as Bob Gross has been traveling in the region, he has heard a readiness for peace, including the quote above.
Traveling in the region is as dangerous as it is exhilerating and important. We ask that you continue to hold them in your prayers, along with their families who are at once proud and worried, and most of all pray that the message of Peace they are taking will be heard.
Follow Along with the CPT Delegation:
The delegates are keeping a blog of their experiences and peacemaking efforts. Please read along to see how their peacemaking efforts are going and to be a part of their community support.
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Peace Meditation When the
people of Judah and Israel fell into struggle, they would recall,
through story and song, moments when God entered their daily lives and
transformed history. The psalmist praises God:
"Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of
Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their
sin" (Psalm 85:1-2 NRSV).
Remembering God's previous acts of love does
not bring an end to the need for the things that make for peace. As the
psalmist proclaims to God, "You withdrew all your wrath; you turned
from your hot anger," but still asks in the very next breath,
"Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your
indignation toward us" (verses 3-4). In the tiring work of peace, we may find ourselves plagued by doubts, feeling far from God. Again, the psalmist brings good news: "God will speak peace to
the people, to the faithful, to those who turn to God in their hearts "
(verse 8).
As war, genocide, racism and poverty whirl around us, take a
moment, right now, to turn to God in your heart. Pray along with the
psalmist that,"Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness
and peace will kiss each other" (verse 10). In this year may our faithfulness "spring up from the
ground" to meet God's righteousness as it looks "down from the sky"
(verse 11), as we remember this promise: "The Lord will give what is
good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go
before God, and will make a path for God's steps" (verses 12-13). -By Travis Poling
On Earth Peace Writer-in-Residence
through Bethany Theological Seminary |
