With the season of Lent beginning March 1, the Brethren Witness/Washington Office is promoting two Lenten resources for pastors and congregations to use during this time of prayer, fasting, and self-reflection: “Coming to Life: Worship Aids for the Living Peace Church,” and a series of Lenten reflections from the Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV), a program of the World Council of Churches.
Ordering palms for Palm Sunday services? The Brethren Witness/Washington Office suggests an alternative with lower environmental impact. See the story below.
Find the Living Peace Church resource at www.brethren.org/oepa/WorshipAid2006Lent.pdf. This document offers a collection of prayers, litanies, and other worship resources developed by the Brethren Witness/Washington Office and On Earth Peace.
The Decade to Overcome Violence, USA, has produced “Lenten Fast from Violence Resources 2006,” a series of reflections focusing on a different topic of violence each week. For an overview and to download the resources, visit www.wcc-usa.org/resources.html. Weekly sessions are: Week 1: Millenium Goals, Hunger and Poverty; Week 2: Repairing the Breach; Week 3: Water; Week 4: Suicide; Week 5: Media.
A resolution affirming the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations will be presented to Annual Conference this summer. The set of eight goals aim to end extreme poverty, hunger, and disease by 2015, and were agreed to by world leaders in 2000.
“Use the helpful reflection from week one to introduce this topic to your congregation,” suggested the Brethren Witness/Washington Office. For further consideration on the Millennium Development Goals, congregations are encouraged to order the newly released study guide from the National Council of Churches, “Eradicating Global Poverty: A Christian Study Guide on the Millennium Development Goals.” For more information visit www.ncccusa.org/news/060201eradicatingpoverty.html. The 64-page study guide may be ordered for $7.95 from Friendship Press, 7830 Reading Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45237. Order toll-free at 800-889-5733 or by e-mail at Rbray@gbgm-umc.org.
Contact the Brethren Witness/Washington Office of the Church of the Brethren General Board at 337 N. Carolina Ave., SE, Washington, DC, 20003; 202-546-3202 or 800-785-3246; washington_office_gb@brethren.org.
USE ‘ECO-PALMS’ TO LOWER THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF PALM SUNDAY, SAYS BRETHREN WITNESS
The Brethren Witness/Washington Office is encouraging Brethren congregations to lower the environmental impact of Palm Sunday by using “eco-palms.”
“Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem was celebrated by jubilant waving of palm branches and is re-enacted each year in Christian churches around the world. Unfortunately for the communities in which those palms are harvested, palm fronds do not represent the same jubilation as they do for us,” the office said.
“Typically, palm harvest is done in such a way that compromises the environment and contributes little to the local economy,” Brethren Witness added. “Communities in Mexico and Guatemala are learning to turn palm harvest into a positive for the environment and for themselves, and you can help by buying Eco-Palms for your Easter Week celebration.”
For more information visit the Lutheran World Relief website at www.lwr.org/palms.
Contact the Brethren Witness/Washington Office of the Church of the Brethren General Board at 337 N. Carolina Ave., SE, Washington, DC, 20003; 202-546-3202 or 800-785-3246; washington_office_gb@brethren.org.