Church of the Brethren Newsline
September 7, 2007
“It has been incredible to watch the number of Brethren communities involved in the International Day of Prayer for Peace multiply,” wrote Mimi Copp in an e-mail update today. “We are now over 70 congregations and colleges joining in this global time of prayer. Our original goal was 40! This is a Spirit-filled effort.”
Copp is coordinating Church of the Brethren participation in the International Day of Prayer for Peace, to take place on or around Friday, Sept. 21. The Brethren effort is sponsored jointly by the Brethren Witness/Washington Office of the General Board and by On Earth Peace. The international event is linked with the World Council of Churches (WCC) Decade to Overcome Violence.
Hansulrich Gerber, coordinator of the Decade to Overcome Violence, wrote to Copp from WCC headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, to thank the Church of the Brethren for participating.
“Dear friends of the Church of the Brethren,” he said. “This morning on my Google Blogs Alert for ‘overcome violence’ I found one item: ‘Newsline Brethren Churches to observe day of prayer for peace….’ The news about the Church of the Brethren churches is a happy and enormously encouraging one. Thank you for setting a good example! Blessings of peace to you.”
Copp is requesting Brethren who are planning prayer vigils to list the events on the International Day of Peace Vigil website at http://www.idpvigil.com/, “so others in our communities can find out about them.”
She also reminded Brethren who are planning vigils about the next conference call on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 4 p.m. Pacific time / 7 p.m. eastern time. To join in the call, send an e-mail request to Copp at miminski@gmail.com.
Today’s e-mail message featured some comments from Brethren who are planning to take part in prayer for peace on Sept. 21:
“One of the goals is to bring people together who–for reasons of religion, economic status, geographic location, etc.–may not otherwise come together. Our prayers for peace, even acknowledging our sitting together to a meal as a prayer for peace, will be the unifying force,” said a church member from Morgantown, W.Va.
“We are not just planning an event; we are creating a community that can transform our local culture into one of passionate, loving, humble peacemakers,” said another participant from Durham, N.C.
Merle Forney, who grew up in the Church of the Brethren and is the founder of “Kids as Peacemakers” (http://www.kidsaspeacemakers.org/) in Massachusetts, wrote, “This year for the first time Kids As Peacemakers is organizing support in the Newburyport Area for observing and celebrating the United Nations International Day of Peace. Letters have been sent to 70 different churches and schools suggesting ways each might consider being involved. In addition we are sponsoring a Peace Procession, walking three city blocks from a peace pole in the downtown to a peace pole at Central Congregational Church, where a Celebration of Peace will be held.”
Church of the Brethren communities and congregations that have committed to pray for peace or are considering holding events: Beacon Heights (IN), Bear Creek (OH), Beavercreek (OH), Beaver Dam (MD), Beech Run CoB (PA), Blue Ball CoB (PA), Bremen CoB (IN), Bridgewater CoB (VA) ecumenical, Bridgewater College (VA), Brook Park CoB (OH), Brooklyn First CoB (NY), Carlisle Church of the Brethren (PA), Chicago First CoB (IL), Church of the Brethren General Offices (IL), Center for Peace and Nonviolence (IN) interfaith, Cincinnati CoB (OH), Columbia City CoB (IN), Covington CoB (OH), Crystal CoB (MI), Daleville CoB (VA), Eel River Community (IN), Elizabethtown CoB (PA), Everett CoB (PA), EYN Churches in Nigeria, Fairview CoB (MD), Fellowship in Christ (Fremont, CA), First Central CoB (Kansas City, KS), Flint CoB (MI), Freeport CoB (IL), Germantown CoB (PA), Green Tree CoB (PA), Green Hill CoB (VA), Greene CoB (IA) ecumenical, Hagerstown CoB (MD), Harrisburg First Church (PA), Hollidaysburg CoB (PA), Hope CoB (MI), Ivester CoB (IA), Juniata College (PA), Lacey Community CoB (WA), Lafayette CoB (IN), Lancaster CoB (PA), Lansing CoB (MI), La Verne CoB (CA), Lincolnshire (IN), Lititz CoB (PA), Little Swatara CoB (PA), Live Oak CoB (CA), Living Peace CoB (OH), Lower Miami CoB (OH), Mack Memorial (OH) ecumenical, Miami First CoB (FL), Manassas CoB (VA) interfaith, Manchester CoB (IN), Maple Gove CoB (NC), McPherson Church of the Brethren (McPherson, KS), McPherson College (KS), Mechanic Grove (PA), Mechanicsburg CoB (PA), Middlebury CoB (IN) ecumenical, Middlecreek CoB (PA), Mill Creek CoB (VA), Ministerial Association Athens, OH, Midland CoB (MI), Modesto CoB (CA), Monitor Church of the Brethren (McPherson, KS), Mont Ida Church of the Brethren (Garnett, KS), Morgantown CoB/Mennonite (WV) ecumenical, Monroeville CoB (PA), Mountain View CoB (ID), Mt. Morris CoB (IL), Mt. Wilson CoB (PA), Nampa CoB (ID), Nokesville CoB (VA), New Carlisle CoB (OH), New Covenant CoB (FL), Oakland CoB (OH), Oakton CoB (VA), Palmyra CoB (PA), Peace Covenant Fellowship (NC), Pleasant Hill CoB (OH), Pine Creek CoB (IN), Potsdam Church of the Brethren (OH), Prince of Peace CoB (IN), Prince of Peace CoB (Littleton, CO), Pueblo De Dios Fellowship (Puerto Rico), Quinter CoB (KS), Richmond Church of the Brethren (IN), Richmond, IN Community, Root River CoB (Preston, MN), San Diego First CoB (CA) ecumenical, Skippack CoB (PA), Skyridge CoB (MI), Stone CoB (PA), Springfield (OR), Springfield First CoB (IL) interfaith, St. Petersburg First CoB (FL), Stone CoB (PA), Troy CoB (OH), 28th Street CoB (PA), Twin Falls Community (ID), Una Nueva Vida en Cristo CoB, Union Center CoB (IN), University Park CoB (MD), West Charleston (OH), West Milton (OH), West York CoB (PA), Westminster CoB (MD) interfaith, Wichita First CoB (KS).
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The Church of the Brethren Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board. Mimi Copp contributed this report. Newsline stories may be reprinted if Newsline is cited as the source. To receive Newsline by e-mail go to http://listserver.emountain.net/mailman/listinfo/newsline. Submit news to the editor at cobnews@brethren.org. For more Church of the Brethren news and features, subscribe to “Messenger” magazine; call 800-323-8039 ext. 247.