Youth E-News: Sowing Seeds of Peace
"And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace" - James 3:18

December 15, 2006
A Publication of Lutheran Peace Fellowship
please share with others you think might like to see this!

Welcome

Well, it’s that time of year again: the “holiday” season has arrived and is now in full swing. For many people, this means a time of parties, shopping, and presents, which all seem to translate directly into stress, anxiousness, and irritability. It seems everywhere you turn there is another ad for the best present to get your best friend/sister/brother/mother/father/pet/spouse/etc. As Christians, though, we are reminded that this season is not about buying presents or dressing to impress at holiday parties; instead, Advent is about preparing for the Prince of Peace.

This year, as in past years, I have been trying to come up with great alternatives to the traditional “consumerist” Christmas presents. I’ve been trying to remind myself that this season is not about gifts. I have been trying to truly make this a season of peace. I’ve realized, however, that rather than being less stressful, making Advent a season to prepare for the Prince of Peace can sometimes feel just as stressful as braving shopping malls, though in a different way.

I have been thinking a lot about why this might be, and have come up with at least one reason: buying presents is easy. Even if malls and other shopping locations are crowded and sometimes crazy, you can usually find something, even if it is not exactly what you had in mind. To go against this trend and to really celebrate Advent and Christmas as a time of hope and of peace is to go against the way of the world, and is rarely easy.

As Christians, we are not called to do what is easy; buying presents for our loved ones and ignoring the fires of war and destruction in other parts of the world may be easy, but that does not help bring peace to our world. In a true vision of shalom, we are called to remember the whole community in which we live, and to help others also realize this vision, so that some day, perhaps, wholeness, community, and respect will be as important (if not more!) as parties, shopping, and presents. In the meantime, let us remember the true meaning of Advent and search for ways to bring God’s peace to the world.

–Allyson Fredericksen, LPF Youth Trainer and Program Coordinator

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for future issues, e-mail me at lpfyouth@gmail.com. Also, if you are on myspace, join our myspace group at www.groups.myspace.com/lutheranpeace

Workshops Available!

Are you interested in hosting an LPF workshop? This year, we are offering workshops on the following:

- Peacemaking in the Real World
- Christian Peacemaking
- Hunger and Conflict
- Cycles of Violence and Nonviolence
- How to Be a Bridge in a World Full of Walls
- Breaking the Silence: A Christian Response to Domestic Abuse
- Leadership Training for Peacemakers

Each workshop is highly participatory and activity-based, helping participants gain insight by doing, not only by hearing or reading. If you or someone you know are interested, email me at lpfyouth@gmail.com or call the LPF office at 206-720-0313 (voice mail #2).

News Articles on Peace and Justice

Riders from the Storm: “New Orleans shuttle buses speed economic growth.” For the full story, visit http://www.realchangenews.org/2006/2006_12_06/riders.html

Women Demand End to Darfur Rapes: “International stateswomen have made a joint call for an end to rape and sexual violence in Sudan's conflict-torn region of Darfur.” For the full story, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6165017.stm

Peacekeepers Kill 3: “African Union peacekeepers killed three Darfur rioters when a crowd of angry refugees threatened to break into their base in the town of El Geneina, a U.N. official said Monday.” For the full story, visit http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/12/11/sudan.darfur.ap/index.html

Lutheran Volunteer Corps

The Lutheran Volunteer Corps is a one-year, full-time domestic volunteer program that offers people a challenging year of spiritual and personal exploration while working for social justice, living in intentional community and simplifying their lifestyles. Volunteers are placed in full-time positions in non-profit organizations in Baltimore, MD; Wilmington, DE; Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN; Seattle and Tacoma, WA; and Oakland, CA. Volunteers receive a stipend to cover basic living and personal expenses, health insurance, and time off for retreats and vacation. Also included is student loan deferment and potential qualification for the $4,700 AmeriCorps Education Grant.

Volunteers provide direct service to people in need, organize their communities for social and political change, and advocate for better policies on a wide variety of issues. Issues include AIDS/HIV, addiction and recovery, anti-racism, children and youth, community development, education, employment, the environment, food and hunger, GLBT rights, health care, housing and homelessness, immigration and refugees, international solidarity, legal assistance, peace and non-violence, people with disabilities, seniors and women. Most positions are entry level and require little or no previous experience except a passion for social justice, flexibility, and a sense of humor!

LVC is on a Journey to an Inclusive Community, forming and strengthening alliances among people of many cultures and communities, and intentionally dismantling racism within LVC, the church and society. As a Reconciling in Christ organization, LVC welcomes and encourages the participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people in all aspects of LVC. LVC volunteers come from a wide variety of faith backgrounds, and do not need to be Lutheran. Married and committed partners are welcome to apply. While there is no upper age limit, volunteers should be at least 21 to participate. The program begins in late August of each year. Application deadlines are February 1, March 15, and May 1. Contact Kelly Shinn, Recruitment Coordinator, at 202-387-3222 or lvcrecruitment@lutheranvolunteercorps.org for more information.

Advocacy Alerts

Million Voices for Darfur: "Nearly three years into the crisis, the western Sudanese region of Darfur is acknowledged to be a humanitarian and human rights tragedy of the first order. The humanitarian, security and political situation continue to deteriorate: atrocities continue, people are still dying in large numbers of malnutrition and disease, and a new famine is feared. According to reports by the World Food Program, the United Nations and the Coalition for International Justice, 3.5 million people are now hungry, 2.5 million have been displaced due to violence, and 400,000 people have died in Darfur thus far." Sign on to urge President Bush to stop ignoring this genocide and to help bring an end to the violence in Darfur. http://www.savedarfur.org /splash.php

Justice in the Gulf Coast: While the federal government neglects its responsibilities, grassroots groups rooted in the Gulf Coast's African-American communities have launched efforts to rebuild the Gulf Coast from the ground up. For information on how you can be a part of restoring and rebuilding the Gulf Coast, visit http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3103

Close the School of the Americas: "The School of the Americas (SOA) - renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in 2001 - is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers located at Fort Benning, Georgia. During its 56 years of existence, the SOA has used U.S. tax dollars to train more than 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. These graduates have consistently used their skills to wage war against their own countries' civilians." For more information, visit http://go.sojo.net/campaign/05_close_the_SOA

Words, Not War, With Iran: "As violence continues to rage in Iraq, and now in Lebanon and Gaza, a new confrontation is looming with neighboring Iran. Talk has increased of possible military attack against Iran to halt its nuclear program and support for Hezbollah. While we agree Iran should not support terrorism or obtain nuclear weapons, we come together as religious leaders to urge that the U.S. engage in direct negotiations with Iran as an alternative to military action in resolving the crisis." For more information, visit http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.wnw&item=wnw_main

ONE Campaign: In today's world, too often wealthy nations focus on war and acts of terrorism and neglect the fact that poverty, hunger, and disease are running rampant; however, this can change. Join the ONE campaign today and urge the United States government to use our resources to help turn the tide against hunger, poverty, and disease. For action ideas and to learn more, see www.elca.org/advocacy/one and www.bread.org

For more ideas, visit http://www.unitedforpeace.org and www.sojourners.com

LPF Resources

Budget Priorities Computer Activity 2006: As the war continues in Iraq, just how much of the US budget is being spent on military expenditures and how much for programs like the Peace Corps and other peacemaking initiatives? LPF's widely-praised Budget Priorities activity examines how the US budget it spent and explores the question "What Really Brings Security?" through vivid graphics and informative activities. The resource guide is available via our website at www.LutheranPeace.org; the CD computer activity is available for $10 ($4-$8 for LPF members). To order your copy, email lpf@ecunet.org or call (206) 720-0313.

Community News

Minneapolis, MN – Homemade Peace Workshop (December 16): at St. Joan of Arc Church, 4537 Third Ave. S, beginning 10:00 a.m. Speakers include Mel Duncan Ex. Dir., Nonviolent Peaceforce, Keith Ellison, sole Muslim elected to Congress, Mee Moua, only Hmoug legislature in the country etc. Sponsored by Do Peace MN and Department of Peace Campaign.

Washington, DC – March on Washington (January 27): The people have spoken, now congress must act. On Saturday, January 27^th, people form every corner of the country will march on Washington, DC. Our message will be clear, our voice will be strong: End the war in Iraq, Bring all the troops home now! We urge you to join us! For more information, visit www.unitedforpeace.org

Olympia, WA – Lutheran Advocacy Day (February 27): $15 registration fee includes advocacy toolkit and lunch. Registration materials will be available January 1st, 2007. For more information, contact David Coombs or Nick Barootian at (206) 464-4133 or email davidrcoombs@gmail.com

Washington, DC and Your Community - Christian Peace Witness Public Witness (March 16): We will share in an evening ecumenical worship service at the Washington National Cathedral, a candlelight procession to the White House, and a late night peace vigil, during which some participants may engage in “divine obedience” (civil disobedience) and risk possible arrest. For more information on Christian Peace Witness and this event, visit www.ChristianPeaceWitness.org

Chelan, WA –Youth Weekends at Holden Village (May): Registration for this coming May's Holden Youth Weekends will open Feb. 1. The theme is Christian Service (part of which is advocacy). Registration information is available at www.tlc.edu/cyfcenter or call 425-961-5544.

Spiritual Reflection

Though expected by many to be a mighty warrior king, Jesus instead came from humble beginnings, turning expectation on its head. Through his ministry, Jesus taught to feed the hungry and help the oppressed; the following from www.bread.org reminds us that especially in this time of Advent, we should remember who it is Jesus came to lift up. Finally, let us remember the Canticle of Mary, praising God for turning the set patterns of the world on end.

"Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given," Isaiah declares. As we prepare to receive the Christ child anew in this season of Advent, our faith compels us to hear the cry of all children, especially poor children. We must remember that every day millions of children are born suffering from hunger and poverty. Many of them will die of preventable disease.

If we are to receive the Christ child fully into our hearts, we must allow the Holy Spirit to work within us and shape our lives. We are called to take on God's passionate concern for the world's poor and oppressed people. This Advent and Christmas, let us remember with Isaiah that the Child who brings light to those "who walk in darkness" tells us that if we "offer food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted," our own "light shall rise in the darkness" and our "gloom shall be like the noonday." (Isaiah 58)

Luke 1:46-55

46 And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
⁴⁸for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
⁴⁹for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
⁵⁰His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
⁵¹He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
⁵²He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
⁵³he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
⁵⁵according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

Check it out: www.KairosAction.org

Sowing Seeds of Peace
"And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace" - James 3:18

November 14, 2006
A Publication of Lutheran Peace Fellowship
please share with others you think might like to see this!

Welcome

"Blessed are the wealthy…Blessed are the violent…Blessed are the war-makers…" For years, now, this has been the most visible message of people who are both religious and active in politics. However, there is a very different message proclaimed in the Bible – one that is being reclaimed by faithful people across the United States.

On November 1st, I attended the public launch of "Kairos: A Time to Speak, A Time to Act" in Seattle. At the launch, over 150 religious leaders and laypeople joined together to bring our faith into action – a faith rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ and proclaiming a gospel of shalom including peace, nonviolence, wholeness, community, and respect. Though the idea was nothing new to many of us in attendance, four TV stations and two newspapers covered the event; to many people, it seems, the idea of acting in faith together on values other than abortion and same-sex marriage was a novel concept.

On November 7, many other Americans helped show that faithful people can, and should, be opposed to acts of violence. With Democrats retaking Congress, there is renewed hope that our leaders can work together in a vision of shalom, bringing peace not only to the world, but to our nation as well.

The exciting events of the past couple of weeks are, however, only the beginning. As Christians we are called to be peacemakers, to love our neighbors and our enemies, to help bring wholeness to our world through our faith and actions. Many of us could benefit from sitting by idly, relishing in our good luck; instead, let us continue striving for a world where the vision of shalom is a reality. Also, let us remember the true teachings of Jesus:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth…Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy…Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" – Matthew 5: 3, 5, 7, & 9

–Allyson Fredericksen, LPF Youth Trainer and Program Coordinator
If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for future issues, e-mail me at lpfyouth@gmail.com. Also, if you are on myspace, join our myspace group at www.groups.myspace.com/lutheranpeace

For more information on Kairos: A Time to Speak, A Time to Act, visit www.KairosAction.org


Workshops Available!

Are you interested in hosting an LPF workshop? This year, we are offering workshops on the following:

- From Violence to Wholeness
- Christian Peacemaking
- Hunger and Conflict
- Cycles of Violence and Nonviolence
- How to Be a Bridge in a World Full of Walls
- Breaking the Silence: A Christian Response to Domestic Abuse
- Leadership Training for Peacemakers

Each workshop is highly participatory and activity-based, helping participants gain insight by doing, not only by hearing or reading. If you or someone you know are interested, email me at lpfyouth@gmail.com or call the LPF office at 206-720-0313 (voice mail #2).


News Articles on Peace and Justice

Luther King Memorial Work Begins: "US President George W Bush was among speakers at a ceremony marking the start of work on a US national memorial to Martin Luther King." For the complete article, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6144774.stm For the CNN article on the same topic, visit http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/13/king.memorial/index.html

Two UN peacekeepers die in Haiti: "Two Jordanian UN peacekeepers have been shot dead in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, UN officials say." For the complete article, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6139596.stm


Lutheran Peace Fellowship Events

November 17 & 18th: Jesus' Way of Shalom. This workshop is designed to share the skills and insights of biblical peacemaking, conflict transformation, and leadership. The sessions feature lively and engaging activities, audiovisuals, and resources to take back and use in your own congregation. They have been tested and refined in over 50 intensive and 400 shorter workshops across the country. The free intro session is Friday evening at 6:45 pm. Those who wish a broader experience can come to the all-day session on Saturday from 9 am to 4:30 pm. Both at Central Lutheran Church, 1710 11th Ave., Seattle (one block east of Broadway, one block north of Pine), free parking. Thanks to grant and member support, 4/5 of workshop costs are covered, so registration is just $8 to $15 per person, sliding scale, and scholarship help is available. For more information, go to www.LutheranPeace.org or call 206.720.0313. For more information or to find out about signing up for the event, email us at lpfyouth@gmail.com

Ongoing: Together, We Can Help Bring Peace: Volunteer with Lutheran Peace Fellowship! Are you interested in helping to bring peace to our world? At Lutheran Peace Fellowship we have many ways to help you help us bring about peace. From updating our website to helping with mailings, gathering information about peace and justice issues to helping plan a workshop, there's something for everyone! To find out how you can help, call Allyson or Glen at (206) 720-0313 or email lpfyouth@gmail.com. For more information on Lutheran Peace Fellowship, visit our website at www.lutheranpeace.org

Advocacy Alerts

Close the School of the Americas: "The School of the Americas (SOA) - renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in 2001 - is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers located at Fort Benning, Georgia. During its 56 years of existence, the SOA has used U.S. tax dollars to train more than 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. These graduates have consistently used their skills to wage war against their own countries' civilians." For more information, visit http://go.sojo.net/campaign/05_close_the_SOA

Words, Not War, With Iran: "As violence continues to rage in Iraq, and now in Lebanon and Gaza, a new confrontation is looming with neighboring Iran. Talk has increased of possible military attack against Iran to halt its nuclear program and support for Hezbollah. While we agree Iran should not support terrorism or obtain nuclear weapons, we come together as religious leaders to urge that the U.S. engage in direct negotiations with Iran as an alternative to military action in resolving the crisis." For more information, visit http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.wnw&item=wnw_main

Justice in the Gulf Coast: While the federal government neglects its responsibilities, grassroots groups rooted in the Gulf Coast's African-American communities have launched efforts to rebuild the Gulf Coast from the ground up. For information on how you can be a part of restoring and rebuilding the Gulf Coast, visit http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3103

ONE Campaign: In today's world, too often wealthy nations focus on war and acts of terrorism and neglect the fact that poverty, hunger, and disease are running rampant; however, this can change. Join the ONE campaign today and urge the United States government to use our resources to help turn the tide against hunger, poverty, and disease. For action ideas and to learn more, see www.elca.org/advocacy/one and www.bread.org

Million Voices for Darfur: "Nearly three years into the crisis, the western Sudanese region of Darfur is acknowledged to be a humanitarian and human rights tragedy of the first order. The humanitarian, security and political situation continue to deteriorate: atrocities continue, people are still dying in large numbers of malnutrition and disease, and a new famine is feared. According to reports by the World Food Program, the United Nations and the Coalition for International Justice, 3.5 million people are now hungry, 2.5 million have been displaced due to violence, and 400,000 people have died in Darfur thus far." Sign on to urge President Bush to stop ignoring this genocide and to help bring an end to the violence in Darfur. http://www.savedarfur.org /splash.php

For more ideas, visit http://www.unitedforpeace.org and www.sojourners.com

LPF Resources

Budget Priorities Computer Activity 2006: As the war continues in Iraq, just how much of the US budget is being spent on military expenditures and how much for programs like the Peace Corps and other peacemaking initiatives? LPF's widely-praised Budget Priorities activity examines how the US budget it spent and explores the question "What Really Brings Security?" through vivid graphics and informative activities. The resource guide is available via our website at www.LutheranPeace.org; the CD computer activity is available for $10 ($4-$8 for LPF members). To order your copy, email lpf@ecunet.org or call (206) 720-0313.

Community News

Seattle, WA – Kairos: A Time to Speak, A Time to Act (November 14): Join us as we discern the next steps to act out our faith toward a vision of shalom. 7:00pm at Keystone UCC, 5019 Keystone Pl N, Seattle, WA. For More information, email info@kairosaction.org.

Seattle, WA – Turkey Trot For a Better World (November 24): Fight World Hunger & Support Lutheran Volunteer Corps. On Thanksgiving Day, many gather around the table for a traditional turkey dinner. On Friday, November 24th (the day after Thanksgiving), everyone is invited to join in another tradition: the 7th Annual Turkey Trot for World Hunger.

Participants will meet at Greenlake Aqua Theatre at 8:30am for registration. After a brief program, "trotters" will walk, stroll, jog, skip, scooter, rollerblade, push strollers and wheelchairs, or pedal around Greenlake to raise money in the fight against hunger.

50% of the money raised will be donated to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and 50% will be given to the local Seattle Chapter of the Lutheran Volunteer Corps in its work for a more just world.

Three stations will entice and enthuse you as you trot around the lake. You may even earn prizes if you visit all of them!

-Learn more about ways to end world hunger!

-Learn more about Lutheran Volunteer Corps- who are we? What do we do? How can you partner with us?

- And, learn about alternatives to buying gifts from shopping malls- Alternative Gift Markets and Buy Nothing Day are ways to address global issues economically, spiritually and justly for all members of our planetary family! For more information on the Turkey Trot, email Lisa Bakke at pugetsound@lutheranvolunteercorps.org

Chicago, IL - LSTC Hosts Chicago Premiere of "Jews of Luthertown Wittenberg in the Third Reich" (October 23-November 29)

Luther's own writings on Jews assisted Hitler's National-Socialists of Germany to gain control of German churches in 1933. "Jews of Luthertown Wittenberg in the Third Reich" bears witness in artifacts and photographs, to the life and systematic destruction of Jews living in Wittenberg from 1933-1945. The free exhibit, in its Chicago premiere in the Grand Hallway at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) from October 23 – November 29, 2006, hopes to increase understanding and healing. The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago is at 1100 East 55th Street, Chicago.

Exhibit-related events include:

Exhibit Opening Reception hosted by the German Consulate of Chicago on Wednesday, October 25 from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., LSTC, Grand Hallway. Remarks by the Exhibit Co-Sponsors, "Remembering Lives: The Jews of Luthertown Wittenberg in the Third Reich," will be presented at 8:00 p.m.

Jewish-Christian Seminar, "Jews and Christians: Germany and Chicago" - Lecture by the Rev. Albrecht Steinhäuser (Director of Communication, Church of Saxony) with remarks by Rabbi Elliot Gertel (Congregation Rodfei Zedek, Chicago) and the Rev. Dr. Terrence Baeder (Zion Lutheran Church, Tinley Park, Ill.), on Tuesday, October 31, 2006, at 7:30 p.m., in the LSTC, Common Room. The exhibit is open before and after the event.

Thursday, November 9, 2006, LSTC and McCormick Theological Seminary hold a Kristallnacht Remembrance and Commitment Service at 11:00 a.m. in LSTC's Augustana Chapel, followed by a panel discussion, "What Can the Barmen Declaration Teach Us Today?" with Ms. Victoria Barnett ( U.S. Holocaust Museum), Dr. Robert Cathey (McCormick Theological Seminary), Dr. Kurt Hendel (LSTC), Dr. Vitor Westhelle (LSTC) at 12:00 noon in the LSTC Common Room.

At 7:30 p.m. on November 9, 2006, Ms. Victoria Barnett (U.S. Holocaust Museum), will deliver the lecture, "Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Legacy in a Post-Holocaust World" in LSTC's Common Room. The exhibit will be open before and after the event. All events are free and open to the public.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Rob Saler, Assistant Exhibit Coordinator, at 773-909-4984 or rsaler@lstc.edu.

Olympia, WA – Lutheran Advocacy Day (February 27): $15 registration fee includes advocacy toolkit and lunch. Registration materials will be available January 1st, 2007. For more information, contact David Coombs or Nick Barootian at (206) 464-4133 or email davidrcoombs@gmail.com


Spiritual Reflection

In the recent election, many are finding a sense of peace and a sense of hope that the vision of shalom may one day be realized. In reading the following prayers, borrowed from Life Prayers From Around the World , let us remember that now is a time for us to be joyful, but also a time for us to work evermore toward a vision of community, wholeness, respect, and peace.

"The prayers and poems in this chapter encourage us to stretch our hearts to embrace more of this world. They call us to stand beside the wounded and the defenseless, to acknowledge those whoa re despised or ostracized, and to open our hearts in solidarity. This is not just a political agenda – it is central to the meaning of our lives. What the world needs most is people who are less constricted by prejudice. It needs more love, more generosity, more mercy, and more openness. We are meant to be brothers and sisters, a family of nations." – from the forward to the chapter "Prayers for Solidarity and Justice"

We are the gernation that stands between the fires:
Behind us the flame and smoke
That rose from Auschwitz and from Hiroshima;
Before us the nightmare of a Flood of Fire,
The flame and smoke that consume all Earth.
It is our task to make from firenot an all-consuming blaze
But the light in which we see each other fully.
All of us different,
All of us bearing One Spark.
We light these firest to see more clearly
That the Earth and all who live as part of it
Are not for burning.
We light these fires to see more clearly
The rainbow in our many-colored faces.

Blessed is the One within the many.
Blessed are the Many who make one.
- Arthur Waskow

O God, our Father and Mother,
We confess today that your own sons and daughters in Christ have let you down.
Dominated by our fears,
We have trampled and smothered one another.
We have smothered the tenderness of man;
We have smothered the creative thinking of women.
Help women to discover honest and life-giving relationships;
Help men to open their hearts to each other in friendship;
Help us to create a community of brothers and sisters,
Where we can live with each other in creative community
Man with man
Woman with woman
Man with woman. Amen.
- Kerstin Lindqvist and Ulla Bardh

The time for healing of the wounds has come.
The time to build is upon us…
We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people
From the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation,
Suffering, gender and other discrimination…
There is no easy road to freedom…
None of us acting alone can achieve success.
We must therefore act tgether as a united people,
For reconciliation, for nation building,
For the birth of a new world.
- Nelson Mandela

Youth E-News
“And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” - James 3:18

October 12, 2006
A Publication of Lutheran Peace Fellowship
please share with others who would like to see this

Welcome

In this season of harvests, we, as Christians, are called to continue to sow the seeds of peace to the world. As the leaves change and the world continues to turn, we can turn to Jesus’ teachings to understand what true peace is even amidst the conflicts that go on around us. Shalom, loosely translated as peace, means so much more than just the absence of conflict: shalom is wholeness, community, understanding, equality, and a continual process of growth and renewal.

This weekend I attended and helped lead a high school youth retreat at Holden Village called Let Justice Roll, where all in attendance were encouraged to Busta Move - that is, to not only learn what shalom is, but to act on that knowledge in concrete steps to pursue peace. While I thought I had a pretty good idea of shalom going into the retreat (I was, after all, leading workshops on it all weekend), it was throughout the course of the weekend, the questions asked by the participants, and my surroundings at Holden that I began to really understand the wholeness and renewal that must be part of shalom.

During one of our sessions on conflict resolution (How to Be a Bridge in a World Full of Walls), one of the members of the group I was leading said that while he’d like to react with the suggested steps in the exercise, in a real situation he didn’t see it being realistic. We discussed this, and came to the conclusion that, though it may not be realistic at first and we may all fail miserably for a while, the effort and baby steps would eventually help us all to do a better job as peacemakers in situations of conflict. This realization that shalom is a process and that it may take failure and baby steps to reach peace was not completely new to me, but I really had not accepted nor understood it until the honesty of this high school student that this change wasn’t going to happen overnight.

People rarely change overnight, nor does the world change with one action, one war, or one nonviolent protest. Peace, like life, is a process, and the baby steps we take today must sometime be taken slowly, and sometimes it takes falling down and shedding our leaves a few times to find the growth necessary to catch our balance.

–Allyson Fredericksen, LPF Youth Trainer and Coordinator
If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for future issues, e-mail me at our new email address at lpfyouth@gmail.com. Also, if you are on myspace, join our myspace group at www.groups.myspace.com/lutheranpeace



Peace and Justice Around the Globe

International Day of Protest to Stop the Militarization of Space (October 13): Currently, protest events are planned in 19 nations and at 109 locations. Many of the actions will also call for peaceful and legal solutions to recent terrorist attacks instead of more violence and a spiraling of civilian deaths and revenge. For more information, visit http://pax.protest.net/Peace/october13th.htm.


News Articles on Peace and Justice

All eyes on Nobel Peace Prize possibles: “The annual Nobel Peace Prize guessing-game has been gathering pace, ahead of an announcement on Friday by the secretive Norwegian committee.” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5398780.stm

What the Amish Are Teaching America: “The rest of us can learn a lot from how the Amish community responded to last week's gruesome school shooting in Pennsylvania.” http://www.alternet.org/story/42773/

N. Korean Nuke Tests Say World Must Return to Peace Agenda: North Korea has shocked the world by detonating a nuclear explosion and making good the threat it had held out six days earlier. http://www.indynews.org/



Lutheran Peace Fellowship Events

October 18th, and November 15th: Volunteer Opportunities: Are you interested in helping LPF to reach more people, helping develop workshop materials, and responding to requests for workshop materials? Join us at Central Lutheran Church on any or all of these three dates and help pursue peace with LPF For times and additional information, email us at lpfyouth@gmail.com

November 17 & 18th: Jesus’ Way of Shalom: This workshop introduces participants to Jesus’ way of shalom - of peace with justice and wholeness - through interactive workshops. For more information or to find out about signing up for the event, email us at lpfyouth@gmail.com

Advocacy Alerts

Words, Not War, With Iran: “As violence continues to rage in Iraq, and now in Lebanon and Gaza, a new confrontation is looming with neighboring Iran. Talk has increased of possible military attack against Iran to halt its nuclear program and support for Hezbollah. While we agree Iran should not support terrorism or obtain nuclear weapons, we come together as religious leaders to urge that the U.S. engage in direct negotiations with Iran as an alternative to military action in resolving the crisis.” http://go.sojo.net/campaign/wordsnotwar?CFID=6609947&CFTOKEN=44558401

Stand Up Against Poverty, Stand Up for the Millennium Development Goals: STAND UP is an exciting and innovative challenge to set an official Guinness World Record for the most number of people ever to STAND UP for a cause.
* Bread for the World is calling on people of faith and others to join our partners in the ONE Campaign and similar campaigns around the world -- from both wealthy and low-income countries -- to STAND against poverty.
* To participate, get a group to literally STAND UP against poverty, and count how many people are standing.
* We have just 24 hours to set this record. Every person counts
For more information, visit www.bread.org

ONE Campaign: In today’s world, too often wealthy nations focus on war and acts of terrorism and neglect the fact that poverty, hunger, and disease are running rampant; however, this can change. Join the ONE campaign today and urge the United States government to use our resources to help turn the tide against hunger, poverty, and disease. For action ideas and to learn more, see www.elca.org/advocacy/one and www.bread.org.

Million Voices for Darfur: “Nearly three years into the crisis, the western Sudanese region of Darfur is acknowledged to be a humanitarian and human rights tragedy of the first order. The humanitarian, security and political situation continue to deteriorate: atrocities continue, people are still dying in large numbers of malnutrition and disease, and a new famine is feared. According to reports by the World Food Program, the United Nations and the Coalition for International Justice, 3.5 million people are now hungry, 2.5 million have been displaced due to violence, and 400,000 people have died in Darfur thus far.” Sign on to urge President Bush to stop ignoring this genocide and to help bring an end to the violence in Darfur. http://www.savedarfur.org /splash.php

Community News

Seattle - Kairos: A Time to Speak, A Time to Act (November 1): for more information on Kairos visit www.kairosaction.org

Chicago - LSTC Hosts Chicago Premiere of “Jews of Luthertown Wittenberg in the Third Reich” (October 23-November 29)

Luther’s own writings on Jews assisted Hitler’s National-Socialists of Germany to gain control of German churches in 1933. “Jews of Luthertown Wittenberg in the Third Reich” bears witness in artifacts and photographs, to the life and systematic destruction of Jews living in Wittenberg from 1933-1945. The free exhibit, in its Chicago premiere in the Grand Hallway at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) from October 23 – November 29, 2006, hopes to increase understanding and healing. The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago is at 1100 East 55th Street, Chicago.

Exhibit-related events include:

Exhibit Opening Reception hosted by the German Consulate of Chicago on Wednesday, October 25 from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., LSTC, Grand Hallway. Remarks by the Exhibit Co-Sponsors, “Remembering Lives: The Jews of Luthertown Wittenberg in the Third Reich,” will be presented at 8:00 p.m.

Jewish-Christian Seminar, “Jews and Christians: Germany and Chicago” - Lecture by the Rev. Albrecht Steinhäuser (Director of Communication, Church of Saxony) with remarks by Rabbi Elliot Gertel (Congregation Rodfei Zedek, Chicago) and the Rev. Dr. Terrence Baeder (Zion Lutheran Church, Tinley Park, Ill.), on Tuesday, October 31, 2006, at 7:30 p.m., in the LSTC, Common Room. The exhibit is open before and after the event.

Thursday, November 9, 2006, LSTC and McCormick Theological Seminary hold a Kristallnacht Remembrance and Commitment Service at 11:00 a.m. in LSTC’s Augustana Chapel, followed by a panel discussion, “What Can the Barmen Declaration Teach Us Today?” with Ms. Victoria Barnett (U.S. Holocaust Museum), Dr. Robert Cathey (McCormick Theological Seminary), Dr. Kurt Hendel (LSTC), Dr. Vitor Westhelle (LSTC) at 12:00 noon in the LSTC Common Room.

At 7:30 p.m. on November 9, 2006, Ms. Victoria Barnett (U.S. Holocaust Museum), will deliver the lecture, “Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Legacy in a Post-Holocaust World” in LSTC’s Common Room. The exhibit will be open before and after the event. All events are free and open to the public.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Rob Saler, Assistant Exhibit Coordinator, at 773-909-4984 or rsaler@lstc.edu.


Contest

We’ve extended our contest deadline to allow for some more entries (the ones we got were great, but I’d like to give a few more people the chance to be creative and get their ideas out there as well). We’re looking for ideas for a creative title for the e-newsletter, preferably tied in some way to James 3:18 “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Please send submissions in by October 31st to lpfyouth@gmail.com. The winner will receive an LPF resource of their choice.


Spiritual Reflection

As the leaves begin to change color here in Seattle, the natural world around me becomes more and more evident. The following reflection on how to “Nurture Nonviolence Through Nature” reminds us that we are not alone in the world, but that we are to be forever united with the natural world.

“Nurture Nonviolence Through Nature” - from A Call to Peace: 52 Meditations on the Family Pledge of Nonviolence by Jim McGinnis

“All of this [the earth] is sacred and so do not forget Every dawn as it comes is a holy event, and every day is holy. (From a Oglala Sioux ritual)

“...that they may all be one” (John 17:21)

Gandhi once described nonviolence as “the power that minfests itself in us when we become aware of the oneness of life.” Through his many “experiments with truth” (also the title of his autobiography), Gandhi deepened and broadened his loving heart to such a degree that he radiated love even to his opponents. They knew he cared for them at the same time he resisted their policies and practices. It is not surprising to learn that Gandhi spent time each day in prayerful union with creation and the Creator.

Not only does nature have the power to gentle us down, it draws us into communion with all life. Communion with the whole of creation leads to communion with the human species. There are special places and times for such communion. Perhaps the two most popular and available times are sunrise and sunset. Some describe these as God’s two great performances every day, and they make sure that God does not “play to an empty house.” Perhaps you’ve seen it: the dark predawn sky that gradually takes on colors - pinks, reds, yellows. You sense the sun inching its way up the horizon until it explodes in an ecstacy of light. We can savor this moment as Francis did, singing out to Brother Sun and feeling the warmth of God’s love in the radiance of the sun.

Then again at sunset, after the cares and challenges of the day have been embraced, we are again carried into this spectacle of light as colors climb upward and the sun sinks into the horizon. Our hearts expand in this moment of swelling color. Our hearts want to break into song - “then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee, how great thou art, how great thou art.”

In that moment we touch a unity with all creation: “We are one in the Spirit, we are on in the Lord...and we pray that all unity may one day be restored. That unity is being restored in us, that very moment. Jesus’ prayer “that they may all be one” is being realized in our very selves in that moment. God’s great plan for the world - “the reunification of all things in Christ” (see Ephesians 1:10) - is being realized in tat moment of communion.

Prayer: Awesome Creator God, how great thou art Lead us to you through every moment and movement of life. Help us to savor your creation as the revelation and celebration of your love. Make us, your humble creatures, also revelations and celebrations of your love. Make us, as you made your servants Gandhi and Francis, a means of your peace.

Reflection: What places and moments of communion can you make a part of your daily routine? How can you nurture this sense of quiet communion within your family or other small groups?

Youth E-News
September 11, 2006
A Publication of Lutheran Peace Fellowship

Welcome

Welcome to the first issue of Lutheran Peace Fellowship’s revamped e-newsletter One hundred years ago today Gandhi began his nonviolent revolution, using nonviolent means in the face of injustice. Five years ago today, thousands were killed by acts of terrorism in the United States, and the country reacted in violent retaliation. In the face of injustice, we can violently retaliate or we can work nonviolently to help bring an end to the cycles of injustice. Instead of using an “eye for an eye” mentality, we can look to the world around us and see the conditions of poverty, hunger, and disease that often lead to the growth of terrorism.

Today and in the coming weeks, many of us will participate in times of reflection and meditation in remembrance of September 11th. Many people who realize the injustices in society today also realize that it is up to the youth of today to bring justice tomorrow, which is why LPF’s youth program is dedicated to growing leaders among today’s youth to shape a better tomorrow with a view that lets all people see rather than making the whole world blind. Thank you for joining us in believing that there is a better way to live.

–Allyson Fredericksen, LPF Youth Trainer and Coordinator
If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for future issues, e-mail me at lpfyouth@yahoo.com


“Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.” –Gandhi

Peace and Justice Around the Globe

Global Day for Darfur, September 17: As violence in the Darfur region of Sudan continues to rise, events are happening around the United States including a rally in New York City, a prayer service in Seattle, and a rally in Des Moines on September 17, among others nationwide, to call for an end to the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region. For information on the situation in Darfur, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5329548.stm. To find an event near you, visit http://www.savedarfur.org/home.

Call for Global Action Against IMF/World Bank, September 14-20: Mobilization for Global Justice is calling on people around the world to “take action in their own communities against the IMF/World Bank the week of September 14-20, while the institutions meet in Singapore.” For more information, visit http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/134649/index.php.

International Day of Peace, September 21: On Global Peace Day, people around the world will join in events in their communities as a unified call for peace. To find an event near you, visit http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org/events.htm.

Lutheran Peace Fellowship Events

Let Justice Roll: October 7-9: ELCA Region 1 high school youth leadership retreat held at Holden Village in Washington. LPF will be leading workshops and helping facilitate the retreat. For more information, e-mail cyfcenter@tlc.edu.

Rick Steves Benefit Event, October 8: Rick Steves will explore with us how travel and faith have shaped his activism for peace. Rick is widely known for Travel with Rick Steves on NPR and Rick Steves’ Europe on PBS. Tickets available from LPF or order online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5788

Advocacy Alerts

September 11 IS a Choice: Since the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, September 11 has been remembered as a day of tragedy. However, injustice doesn’t have to lead to more violence but, as seen by Gandhi’s actions 100 years ago, injustice instead can lead to hope and constructive work toward a better future. Visit www.seattlecenterforpeace.org to find information on pledging to choose the path of nonviolence and not the path of violent retaliation.

ONE Campaign: In today’s world, too often wealthy nations focus on war and acts of terrorism and neglect the fact that poverty, hunger, and disease are running rampant; however, this can change. The US can and must do more to aid governments and groups helping improve the lives of those affected by global poverty and the hunger and disease that follow. Each one of us, too, can make a difference and help our nation help others. Join the ONE campaign today and urge the United States government to use our resources to help turn the tide against hunger, poverty, and disease. For action ideas and to learn more, see www.elca.org/advocacy/one and www.bread.org.

Declaration of Peace: “The Declaration of Peace is a nationwide campaign to establish by September 21, 2006 a concrete and rapid plan for peace in Iraq, including:
* a prompt timetable for withdrawal of troops and closure of bases
* a peace process for security, reconstruction, and reconciliation
* and the shift of funding for war to meeting human needs.”
For information on action opportunities, visit www.declarationofpeace.org.

Million Voices for Darfur: “Nearly three years into the crisis, the western Sudanese region of Darfur is acknowledged to be a humanitarian and human rights tragedy of the first order. The humanitarian, security and political situation continue to deteriorate: atrocities continue, people are still dying in large numbers of malnutrition and disease, and a new famine is feared. According to reports by the World Food Program, the United Nations and the Coalition for International Justice, 3.5 million people are now hungry, 2.5 million have been displaced due to violence, and 400,000 people have died in Darfur thus far.” Sign on to urge President Bush to stop ignoring this genocide and to help bring an end to the violence in Darfur. http://www.savedarfur.org/splash.php

Community News

Across the nation workshops, vigils, inter-faith peace services, and other events are taking place in a pursuit of peace and nonviolence. Please e-mail events in your community or events that you are aware of to lpfyouth@yahoo.com and we will include them in our next e-newsletter. In the meantime, you can find information at the following websites about events throughout the United States.

www.unitedforpeace.org
www.forusa.org

Contest

We are looking for a catchy name for our e-newsletter, and you’re invited to help The title should have something to do with peace and justice, and if possible tie to the Bible verse James 3:18, “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Submissions will be accepted until October 3, 2006. The creator of the title we choose will be recognized in next month’s issue and will also receive an LPF resource or CD activity of their choice. Send your ideas to lpfyouth@yahoo.com

Spiritual Reflection

In this time of uncertainty, we are all united in an opportunity: to make September 11 a day of hope for a better future. The following poem, reflecting on the myriad of issues of injustice in our world, has been borrowed from http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/practices. May we be reminded that we are all connected and that there is yet hope.

Rest in Peace: September 11, 2002
by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

I am one who died on September 11 from the terrorist attacks, and
I am one who died since September 11 from the violence of war, floods and fires, AIDS and famine, accidents on the highways and drownings at sea, and from all other causes.
May I rest in peace.

I am one who has been deeply touched by the trauma experienced by the survivors and families of September 11 and the rescue workers who served so selflessly at Ground Zero, and
I am one who has been moved to compassion by the suffering in other tragedies since September 11 and the loss of so many valued members of our world community.
May I know peace.

I am a New Yorker still hearing media warnings of new attacks, feeling vulnerable and insecure in my hometown, and
I am an Afghan refugee still fearful that my village is not safe from the bombs and fighters in the war on terrorism.
May I know peace.

I am an Arab immigrant in the United States whose son was taken away by the FBI last September and has not been heard from since, and
I am a relative of one of the disappeared in Columbia or Chile or Bosnia-Herzegovina who is losing hope that I will ever find out what happened to my loved one.
May I know peace.

I am a prisoner in China held incommunicado for a political crime, and
I am an al Qaeda detainee held without a trial or access to lawyers in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
May I know peace.

I am a deer in a Rocky Mountains forest asphyxiated by the black boiling smoke of a fire outside Denver, and
I am a goat resting in a cave in Afghanistan when an American-made daisy cutter bomb levels my mountain habitat.
May I rest in peace.

I am the father of a dutiful and compassionate son who was maimed while clearing mines in the fields outside Kabul, and
I am a father with two children in college who has taken a high-paying job at a plant in Minnesota that makes and exports landmines.
May I know peace.

I am a Palestinian girl killed by an Israeli missile attack while walking home from my first day of school, and
I am an Israeli boy killed by a Palestinian suicide bomber while eating at a pizzeria in downtown Jerusalem.
May I rest in peace.

I am a soil particle from Kenya's eroded farmland that has blown across the Atlantic Ocean to Florida, and
I am a tree in the world's largest virgin forest in Russia that has been chopped down illegally by loggers out to make money.
May I rest in peace.

I am a mother in the American Midwest casually washing my car and watering my lawn with the abundant water I take for granted, and
I am a mother in Pakistan whose village has so little water that I clean the dishes with dirt.
May I know peace.

I am a little girl snatched from the yard of my home in California and sexually abused, and
I am a little boy kidnapped from my home in India and forced to work long hours in a carpet-making operation as a modern-day slave.
May I know peace.

I am a young man who was abused by my parish priest and I now want justice from the church, and
I am a priest who sinned in the past and I now want forgiveness so I can continue in my ministry.
May I know peace.

I am a teenage girl sold into a prostitution ring in Thailand by my parents so they can purchase a refrigerator, and
I am a marketing expert for a multinational corporation trying to be responsible to the stockholders by creating demand for new products in developing countries.
May I know peace.

I am a 16-year-old girl in Bangladesh working 7 days a week 15 hours a day for 15 cents an hour sewing t-shirts, and
I am an unemployed American parent who is grateful I can purchase cheap clothes made overseas.
May I know peace.
I am an infant suffering from malnutrition in Baghdad, and
I am a United States government official who is convinced that economic sanctions and even a war against Iraq are the only ways to make the world safe for children everywhere.
May I know peace.

I am a financially strapped senior citizen in Maine who must go over the border to Canada to purchase the prescription drugs I need at affordable prices, and
I am a young man dying of AIDs in Africa with no access to the generic drugs that could ease my suffering.
May I know peace.

I am the chairman of a large corporation who cashed in stock worth millions while trying to keep my company out of bankruptcy, and
I am a worker in the same company who lost my job, my medical benefits, and the savings in my 401(k) pension plan.
May I know peace.

I am a Ukrainian mother who gathers berries and mushrooms for family meals from fields still contaminated with radioactive debris from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, and
I am an American student in Massachusetts worried about my health since finding out that my school is near a toxic waste dump.
May I know peace.

I am an American businessman needing to upgrade my company's computers and cell phones in order to compete in the marketplace, and
I am a Chinese teenager who has gotten lead poisoning from working at a recycling operation handling technological trash from the United States.
May I know peace.

I am a citizen of the world, worried about the escalation of violence, the devastation of the planet, a future seemingly in jeopardy, and
I am a person of faith who believes that good things can come from people working together and who relies on the grace of God/Lord/Allah/Spirit/Higher Power.
May I know peace.

I am a child of God who believes that we are all children of God and we are all part of one another.
May we all know peace.