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

February 19, 2007
A Publication of Lutheran Peace Fellowship
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Welcome

On February 21^st, the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. Though many perceive Lent as simply a time of repentance (especially with the traditions of omitting “alleluias” in worship services and of fasting or giving up things that are holding us back), Lent is not really supposed to be 40 days of suffering.

While self-reflection can be a part of Lent, in the early church Lent was the season of preparing for baptism at Easter or for baptismal renewal for those who were already baptized. In this way, we are called during Lent to reflect on our own baptism, and what it means to be a child of God. Rather than simply fasting or giving things up in a season of suffering, we can instead make Lent a season to renew ourselves to living out God’s call to us.

Lent does not have to be a season of sadness, but can instead be a season of growth and of renewing our commitment with other Christians to live out the Gospel. Individually and communally, we are called to discern our role in the world and how we can better live as faithful children of God.

One such chance to discern as believers during Lent is through participating in Christian Peace Witness for Iraq on March 16-17. Those who travel to DC will join thousands of other Christians in a distinctly Christian response to the war in Iraq. Through workshops, worship, “Divine Obedience,” and fellowship, we will call on our leaders to bring an end to torture, to find and use nonviolent solutions, and to seek peace in a vision of shalom.

For those unable to attend the event in DC, local vigils and worship services are being planned in cities across the country. Many of these services will coincide with the timing of events in DC, as Christians across the country discern to what we are called as baptized followers of Jesus Christ.

Lent is, indeed, a time of discernment. But rather than being a time of sorrow and suffering, let us instead make it a time of acting on our baptism, responding to the Gospel call to be peacemakers.

–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

Are you or someone you know traveling to DC for the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq event in March? Are you hosting or participating in an event in your own community on March 16-17? If so, send me your stories: why have you chosen to act? After the event, what were your experiences? Our March issue will include stories from the event, so send them in!

For more details on the event and how to register, as well as resources for local events, visit www.christianpeacewitness.org

Issue Highlights:

- Workshops Available – Bring Peace and Justice to your community!

- News Articles on Peace and Justice – Get the latest on issues of peace and justice around the globe!

- Advocacy Alerts - Find out how you can get involved in putting an end to the Darfur conflict, speaking out against the war in Iraq, and helping put an end to world hunger!

- Community News – Washington State Lutheran Advocacy Day, Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, Holden Village, and more!

- Spiritual Reflection – Rededicating ourselves to helping those in need!

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. We can also help your group plan and lead successful activities or workshops on these and other topics. If you or someone you know are interested, email me at lpfyouth@gmail.com or call the LPF office at 206-720-0313.

News Articles on Peace and Justice

Agricultural Collapse Ruins Economy - Zimbabwe is in the grip of its worst humanitarian crisis since independence. For more on this story, visit http://www.alertnet.org/db/crisisprofiles/ZW_CRI.htm?v=at_a_glance

Tribes Clash in West Sudan, Up to 100 Said Dead - Two tribes clashed over pasture in South Darfur state in western Sudan last week and a U.N. news bulletin cited a report that scores of people were killed. For more details, visit http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L19313747.htm

Charred Villages Tell of East Chad Ethnic Bloodshed - "Every day, more and more people in eastern Chad are suffering the consequences of violent conflict, and the situation is spiralling out of control," Roland Van Hauwermeiren, head of Oxfam in Chad, said in a statement. For more information, visit http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L17148406.htm

Celebrating 40 Nuclear-Weapon-Free Years - Latin America and the Caribbean celebrated Wednesday the 40th anniversary of the pact that declared this region free of nuclear weapons and made it a leader in nuclear disarmament in the world. To find out more, visit www.indynews.org

Advocacy Alerts

Demand Action in Darfur: While a cease-fire agreement in the region brings hope, the conflict in Darfur is far from over. Millions of people have been displaced and continue to be malnourished and hungry and hundreds of thousands more have died in what many have dubbed genocide. For information on the cease-fire and on the ongoing conflict, as well as ways that you can help urge our government not to ignore this conflict, visit http://www.savedarfur.org

Christian Peace Witness for Iraq: Join thousands of Christian lay people and clergy to voice your support for creating real security and peace in Iraq. Worship together, vigil together. Let's express our commitment to life! Visit www.christianpeacewitness.org for more information

Justice in the Gulf Coast: The rich have rebuilt in many areas of the Gulf Coast (the casinos, the hotels, restaurants, and the rich people), but those who aren't as wealthy are having great difficulty repairing their house so that is livable! 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: Once you have heard about the one campaign, visited the website, and bought the bracelet, don’t forget about it! Too many in the world continue to suffer from poverty, hunger, and disease, and too few are doing anything to stop it. 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. Together, one by one, we can help bring an end to overwhelming global poverty, disease, and hunger. 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: 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 is spent and explores the question "What Really Brings Security?" through vivid graphics and informative activities.

The activity and resource guide are available via our website at www.LutheranPeace.org; both are also available on a CD with supplementary resources for $10 ($4-$8 for LPF members). To order your copy, email lpf@ecunet.org or call (206) 720-0313.

Community News

Olympia, WA – Lutheran Advocacy Day (February 27): Join Christians from across Washington for a day of advocacy at the state capital. $15 registration fee includes advocacy toolkit and lunch. The day will include worship, workshops, a chance to meet with elected representatives, and more. 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 For Iraq (March 16-17): Excitement is building for the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, March 15-17 in Washington , DC, with local events springing up across the country. With a worship service at the National Cathedral and a powerful prayer vigil at the White House, some estimate as many as 8,000-10,000 Christians will be present at this event. It is time to say no to torture, no to the war, and yes to nonviolent solutions. If you can’t make it to DC, be a part of the witness and join or start an event in your community. For more information on registering for the event in DC, resources for local action, and more details on this exciting witness, visit www.ChristianPeaceWitness.org

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

Bellingham, WA – Join Hands Day at Camp Lutherwood (May 5):

Saturday, May 5^th, 2007 from 9am – 5pm, bring your work gloves and favorite tools. Lutherwood will be providing a free BBQ lunch to all volunteers. All ages and skill levels are welcomed. This is a great opportunity for families, students, retirees and friends to connect and serve together. Call Bob Merrill, Camp Director at 360-303-7930 or the office at 360-734-7652 for more information. www.camplutherwood.org 1185 Roy Road, Bellingham WA 98229.

Washington, DC – Pentecost 2007: Taking Vision to the Streets (June 3-6): At this Pentecost gathering, we want to move boldly against poverty by calling together new partners and seizing new opportunities for the implementation of our initiative: the Covenant for a New America. The covenant is an anti-poverty platform and vision that calls our elected leaders and political candidates to enact solutions that transcend ideology–that stress both personal and social responsibility and insist that overcoming poverty must become a non-partisan issue and a bi-partisan cause. For more details, visit http://go.sojo.net/sojourners/events/Pentecost/details.tcl

Local and National Opportunities to Serve

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 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. 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.

Lutherwood Join Hands Day: Join hands with your neighbors and friends on Saturday, May 5^th, for Join Hands Day at Lutherwood Camp and Retreat Center. Help prepare the facility for the hundreds of kids who will come to camp this summer.

This allows Lutherwood to prepare the facilities for the upcoming summer season. Saturday, May 5 ^th, 2007 from 9am – 5pm, bring your work gloves and favorite tools. Lutherwood will be providing a free BBQ lunch to all volunteers. All ages and skill levels are welcomed. This is a great opportunity for families, students, retirees and friends to connect and serve together.

Lutherwood is a year-round outdoor ministry that is supported by western Washington Lutheran congregations and welcomes all to participate regardless of church affiliation. Lutherwood is located on the north shore of Lake Samish, only 6 miles south of Bellingham, WA. For nearly 60 years the camp has touched the lives of thousands of children, youth and adults in positive ways encouraging personal, relational, spiritual and community growth through outdoor adventure and reflection.

There are a lot of projects to be accomplished such as working to complete the new skate park, re-roof one of the bath houses and clearing trails.

Join Hands Day is a national day of volunteerism that encourages people to connect with their neighbors through service, giving back for a good cause. Join Hands Day is sponsored by fraternal organizations, including Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Please join Lutherwood for this wonderful opportunity to give back to the community. Call Bob Merrill, Camp Director at 360-303-7930 or the office at 360-734-7652 for more information. www.camplutherwood.org 1185 Roy Road, Bellingham WA 98229.

Spiritual Reflection

One way that we can live out the call to be peacemakers as baptized believers is to realize how much wealth we have and, rather than store up those treasures here on earth, share those treasures with those who are hungry and impoverished. The following devotion from Bread for the World reminds us to stop and think about how much we have, how little others have, and how we should respond as children of God. For weekly Lenten devotionals from Bread for the World, visit www.bread.org

Jesus Overcomes
the Evil One

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 Romans 10:8b-13
Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Luke 4:1-13

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the
Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty
days he was tempted by the devil . . . —Luke 4:1-2a

You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty
will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.”
—Psalm 91:1-2

ACTION

For one day in each week during Lent, try getting by on just one dollar. Yes, it will mean giving up that coffee or soft drink. In our world today, more than 800 million people struggle to survive on a dollar a day or less. An alternative action might be for you to give a dollar bill to a coworker or friend. Explain to them that you’re making a special effort this Lent to remember those who are hungry in our world.

PRAYER

O Christ, in your death and resurrection, you have conquered all the forces of evil. During these days of Lent, may we find our shelter and strength in you, so that we might rededicate ourselves to helping those who suffer from the evil of hunger. Amen.

Have you heard the news? Excitement is building for the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, March 15-17 in Washington, DC, with local events springing up across the country. With a worship service at the National Cathedra and a powerful prayer vigil at the White House, some estimate as many as 8,000-10,000 Christians will be present at this event. It is time to say no to torture, no to the war, and yes to nonviolent solutions.

A group of us are meeting via conference call on a regular basis (with our next call tomorrow, February 2nd, at 4pm Eastern, 1pm Pacific) to plan how we, as Lutherans, can be involved in the event. If you are interested in joining us on one of these upcoming calls to add your voice to the discussion, send me an email and I will get you the details on how to join us. Also, if you are interested in travelling to DC for the event but are concerned about funds to get there, we will soon be sending out suggestions on raising funds for this exciting event.

For more details, check out the information below and visit www.ChristianPeaceWitness.org for info on registration (you'll need to register if you want a spot at the Cathedral!), workshops, nonviolent action, and ways you can be a part of this distinctly Christian peace event!

Shalom,
Allyson

Christian Peace Witness for Iraq: March 15-17

How is this different from other peace gatherings?

Unlike so many other peace marches and gatherings in Washington, DC, Christian Peace Witness for Iraq is rooted in worship, with an ecumenical service at the National Cathedral on March 16^th at 7pm. The service will be followed by a candlelight procession (not a noisy march!) where walkers will convey the spirit of Christ and the values of compassion, justice, generosity, and nonviolence. The night will end in prayer on the grounds of the White House, with some choosing, as a matter of conscience, to engage in direct action.

Before the service there will be nonviolence trainings and a dozen workshops that afternoon that address the five affirmations that shape our witness together. Leaders will address topics related to torture and the campaign against it, the budget and real security, health care for all citizens, policies on Iraq, what kind of church Christ calls us to be in a time such as this, and other related issues.

To register, visit www.christianpeacewitness.org (Registration is essential for admission to the National Cathedral as it only seats 3,000 people). We have sent out thousands of invitations and need your help to know how many of you plan to come.

How are Lutherans involved?

Lutherans will be involved in every aspect of the event (and have been involved in planning it as well). During the afternoon of March 16, Lutheran Peace Fellowship will lead two workshops, and on Saturday the 17^th there will be a gathering of Lutherans at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation near Capitol Hill. A description of the two LPF-led workshops is included below. For more information on Lutherans at CPWI, email Glen Gersmehl at lpf@ecunet.org or myself at lpfyouth@gmail.com.

From the Confessing Church of Bonhoeffer to the Resisting Churches of Today
Leader: Glen Gersmehl, National Coordinator for Lutheran Peace Fellowship
Location: TBA Offered twice: 1:00 and 3:00

"The crisis in US foreign policy has both political and theological dimensions. This workshop will help us clarify our vision and strengthen our organizing by examining several especially powerful responses by Christians to political crises. We'll begin with insights from the Confessing Church in Nazi Germany and the Kairos movements in South Africa and Latin America in the 1980s. Then we'll explore what efforts like KairosAction have to offer to both our theological vision and our effectiveness in reaching out to other Christians."

What Brings Lasting Security? A Lively, Interactive Look at the Federal Budget
Leader: Allyson Fredericksen, Youth Trainer & Program Coordinator for Lutheran Peace Fellowship
Location: TBA Offered twice 1:00 and 3:00

As the war continues in Iraq, just how much of the US budget is being spent on the military and how much for programs that approach security from different assumptions such as UN Peacekeeping, development assistance, or the Peace Corps? LPF's widely-praised Budget Priorities activity offers the numbers, and also explores "What Really Brings Security?" through vivid graphics and engaging activities. Participants can leave with a copy of this dramatic and empowering computer-based activity and a leader's manual to galvanize the debate for youth and adults alike back home.