Peace Advisory #1

From
--Mennonite Peace Staff Coalition for Peace with Iraq
--Peace and Justice Support Network

Contents:

Greetings
In case of war
Letters now
Peace Sunday
Peace Pledge
Resources
Seasons of peacemaking
Reminders

GREETINGS in the name of the Prince of Peace!

Our days are increasingly dark, yet we know that this season of Advent leads directly to the birth of Jesus, who calls us and gives us strength to walk the path of peace.

As a way of encouraging and informing congregations during these times, we will send occasional "Peace Advisories." This is the first. We e-mail these to conferences and encourage them to send them on to congregations. You may also find out about them by subscribing to our free e-mail list, http://www.mennolink.org/email/reg.cgi?grp+menno.org.peace

J. Daryl Byler, MCC Washington Office Director, made this comment about our 17, 416 signatures on a letter from James Schrag, Mennonite Church USA Executive Director, "YES!!! Certainly indeed our work makes a difference! The combination of voices from countries around the world AND the strong grass roots' movement from churches and others has caused the administration to slow down and look at more of a multi-lateral response." Continue your prayers and actions!

Please note our urgent request for your report, below, under "Peace Sunday."

In case of war

Several congregations have written us, wondering whether Mennonite Church USA is planning any specific action in case the United States goes to war. (See "Peace Sunday" and "Peace Pledge" below for ideas for now.) The Peace Pledge we distributed for use on Peace Sunday suggests a "Work Sabbath." You'll find details: http://peace.mennolink.org/articles/worksabbath.html

Both the Pledge and the Work Sabbath call for public prayer services. When we move our worship to a public location, we offer a witness to a way other than war. Many of our neighbors are seeking alternatives, but won't see them if we pray only in our congregational meetinghouses. For planning information, see http://peace.mennolink.org/articles/publicprayer.html

We encourage you now, as a congregation, to make plans for a public prayer service in case the United States attacks Iraq. All you need to do is prepare your local meeting logistics; Leo Hartshorn, Mennonite Mission Network Minister of Peace and Justice, will post a public prayer service on our web site that day. Make all the physical arrangements necessary, choosing either a central community meeting location or a federal government building. Decide how you will publicize the event. Also buy a Peace Flag, http://peace.mennolink.org/resources/prayflag.html so that people passing by are clear: you are praying against war.

You may choose to use the Christian Peacemaker Team "Litany of Resistance" which powerfully states that we will not comply with the waging of war. http://peace.mennolink.org/articles/litofres.html

MCC U.S. is sponsoring training, December 6-8, for those who want to speak truth to power but are not sure how to do it. Training participants will engage in a theological dialogue on nonviolence, learn what it means to live a life of nonviolence, and discover options and develop skills for speaking truth to power. Discounts if you take youth; limited enrollment. http://www.mcc.org/journeytojerusalem

Letters now

Peace Sunday

You'll note that the worship materials http://peace.mennolink.org/psunday.html and especially Jim's letter http://peace.mennolink.org/resources/psunday0211/schrag.html asked you to use your prayer and fasting to discern how God is calling your congregation and Mennonite Church USA to action during this time. Please let us know what God said to you! Use the congregational response form http://peace.mennolink.org/boardcongform.html so we can together hear and respond to God. This is a serious request from peace staff-what has your congregation discerned as God's call to us at this time?

If your congregation hasn't yet observed a time of prayer and fasting leading to discernment, please consider using some of your Advent times for this. You'll find information about the December 8 weekend below.

Peace Pledge

Want to see what people are pledging? http://peace.mennolink.org/resources/peacepledge/totals.php

Resources

Seasons of Peacemaking: Churches Take Next Steps in Slowing the Rush to War on Iraq

American religious leaders are organizing "next steps" in their theological, moral, and ethical opposition to a preemptive war on Iraq. Read the "Seasons of Peacemaking Vision Statement" http://www.ncccusa.org/iraq/vision.html

From their list of suggestions, we recommend these activities for your congregation:

--Weekend of December 6 to 8, 2002 - PRAYERS FOR PEACE IN IRAQ
Create a prayer activity on the December 6-8 weekend for an hour, a day, or all 50 hours and then describe it on any computer web page (who, what, when and where). Then send the link with a note about location (city and state) to for posting to the Interfaith Prayer for Peace (IPFP) website: www.peaceprayer.org. Groups are also invited to submit non-copyrighted prayers and prayer resources to IPFP as resources for others and to make use of prayers and peace resources that are posted.

--December 8 to 15, 2002 -- "A SEASON OF PEACE ACTION"
National "Call in Day" or national "Prayer and Faxing Day" during this week. (NOTE: Prayer and Faxing was originated by a group of Goshen, Ind Mennonites and is now being imitated by many other denominations!)

December 8 is being emphasized because it is the deadline for the Iraqi government to give the United Nations a list of what weapons programs they have.

Reminders:

--If you are unable to access information on-line, call and ask Kathy Harshbarger, Peace Advocate office Administrative Assistant, to fax or mail you a copy: 574-523-3047

May you consciously lead your congregation in Christ's way of peace, providing strength, inspiration, and tools for local witness.

Pray for Peace,
Act for Peace,