Youth Network Phone Gatherings

Wanna to get to know other Lutherans who care about peace and justice? Want to know more about LPF peacemaking mini-grants? Want to feel connected and supported in your own peacemaking?

We have scheduled two phone gatherings of Lutheran college and high school youth from across the country, and would love to have you join us.

The goals for these calls are:
1. To get to know each other.
2. To share about the biggest issues in your schools, and ideas for organizing
3. To hear about how LPF support can help with your expenses for peacemaking events or actions on the war in Iraq.

To attend this phone gathering, dial (605) 990-0700 and enter code 164699# on Tuesday, January 29 at 5 pm Central ST (6pm Eastern, 4pm Mountain, 3pm Pacific) or Thursday, January 31 at 7pm Central ST (8pm Eastern, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific). Both calls will be basically the same, and it doesn’t cost anything over your own phone minutes or long distance.

Please let me know if you are planning on calling in, or if you’d like to know more but can’t make the call. Hope to talk with you soon!

Monica
lpfyouth@gmail.com

Youth Peacemaking Mini-Grants

Hey there, fellow peacemakers, welcome to 2008! Its going to be a big year, I’m sure. Here at LPF, we want to start it out right by supporting your efforts for peace with both encouragement and some cold, hard cash!

So if you or someone you know wants to host a local action against the war in Iraq, and you need a little financial help with that, contact me at lpfyouth@gmail.com. Details below.

What is the purpose?
The Lutheran Peace Fellowship (LPF) is offering small grants to high school and college students and groups in order to support their local organizing for actions and vigils against the war in Iraq. These actions and vigils will be a part of a nationwide, ecumenical “wave” of Christian witnesses.

What sort of “actions” count?
For the purposes of this grant, LPF will consider any action that is 1. nonviolent and 2. provides a public witness against the war or 3. builds bridges between community/religious/school groups. Some examples are a candlelight vigil in a key intersection, a worship service for peace in your church, a march through your campus or town, a student forum about Iraq. We prefer actions to take place during the Lenten season, and they must happen before the end of the school year.

Who is eligible?
Any youth group, student group, or pair of individuals who are in high school or college can apply. If it is a large group, you should choose one point person to fill out the form and talk with me.

How much?
Each group should ask for the amount they need. Most grants will be up to $35, (in some cases higher), depending on the group’s needs and the LPF funds available.

How does it work?
You fill out the form on the next page and email or mail it to LPF. After reviewing your request, we will contact you about how much money we can offer you. You will front the costs of your project, keeping receipts and records which you will then turn in to LPF for reimbursement. When you send in your receipts for reimbursement, you will also send a short report with photos of your event. Then LPF will mail you a check!

Questions?
If you have any questions, want input about your action idea, or need help filling out the form, contact Monica at LPF. Email me at lpfyouth@gmail.com, or call me at (206) 720-0719 on Tuesdays.


Lutheran Peace Fellowship
www.lutheranpeace.org 1710 11th Ave. Seattle, WA 98122 Phone: (206) 720-0719

December Peace Newsletter

Sowing Seeds of Peace

Lutheran Peace Fellowship Youth Newsletter

Hunger in the Holidays

This morning I was packing food to take to my family’s house for Christmas— some coffee beans, cheese, and tangerines— and was reminded of how hard it is to reconcile my heart for justice with the Christmas traditions I am used to.

How can I enjoy the good food, people, and gifts that are in my life while still honoring all of those who will go hungry, who may have just lost a loved one, or who live with war every day?

I know that you also struggle with how to make the season meaningful while acting on your values of peacemaking. Our challenge is that we each have to find our own balance. This issue provides resources and ideas for a meaningful Christmas, with a specific eye toward hunger worldwide….

Peace and Justice Gifts

Be creative!

o Personalized mix CDs are always hits!

o Make a video of interview/s with family members talking about their childhood, memories of a specific person, etc.

o Pass along your favorite books to people you know would like them too.

Repaint, refurbish, or decorate used pieces of furniture, picture frames, and other items.

Buy fair trade!

o Lutheran World Relief recommends fair trade: www.equalexchange.com

o Ten Thousand Villages indigenous crafts: thousandvillages.com

o SERRV International: www.serrv.org

o PEOPLink grassroots, handmade gifts: peopleink.org/EN/O.html

o Fair Trade Federation: fairtradefederation.org

Give your time!

o Give a monthly lunch/coffee/pizza date to a friend or relative.

o Give vouchers for hours of your time doing yard work, giving massage, tutoring, babysitting, cleaning or running errands.

o Volunteer together at a soup kitchen or shelter.

Resources for Simplicity

Websites

o Alternatives for Simple Living: www.simpleliving.org

o Center for the New American Dream www.newdream.org

o LPF Peace Points: http://www.lutheranpeace.orgBooks

o Simple Living, Compassionate Life, Michael Schut, ed.

o Unfettered Hope: A Call to Faithful Living in an Affluent Society, Marva Dawn.

o Unplug the Christmas Machine, Jo Robinson and Jean Staeheli.

o Simplify and Celebrate, Michael Crosby, Joan Chittister, and other writers.

Scripture and Quotes

o Parable of the rich fool, Luke 12:13-21, also Deut. 24:14-15, Matthew 6:20-34, John 6:12, Acts 4:32-35, I Timothy 6:6-10

o “Justice is sorting out what belongs to whom and returning it to them.” Walter Brueggemanno “Here [in the West] you have a different kind of poverty, a poverty of the spirit, of loneliness, of being unwanted. And that is the worst disease in the world today.” Mother Teresa

Current News

Africa: rainwater collectionIn Zimbabwe, people collect rainwater to ease water shortages in their city.

World: food stocks dwindle The United Nations warns that our food supply is rapidly dwindling and food prices will continue to rise.

US: farm bill disappointsThe Senate approved a farm bill that continues to subsidize wealthy landowners at the expense of conservation, nutrition, and equity.

WA: farming on roofsAt Start Now Farms, folks grow enough produce on their lot and roofs to feed themselves and to sell at a local farmers’ market.

Youth Organizing

Sharing food, breaking laws- Members of Food Not Bombs share food with hungry people in Orlando’s public parks.

Students against hunger-National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness educates, trains, and organizes national student campaigns.

Christian witness for Iraq- National interfaith movement of peace witness against the Iraq war. Local actions across the nation.

Upcoming Events

Global Day of Action- The 2008 World Social Forum will be a week of creative, independent activities worldwide, with actions on January 26, 2008.

Breaking Out! - 2008LSM’s alternative spring break of theological reflection, discussion, and service around poverty and injustice. March 2-7 or 9-14, 2008.

Peace Prize Forum- 20th annual peace conference- a weekend of speakers, workshops, and networking. Look for LPF! March 7-8, Moorhead, MN.

Youth & Arts in Columbia- Share skills and learn with youth-led peace and justice organizations in Columbia as part of this delegation. March 22-30, 2008.

Peacemaker Training- Challenge yourself, gain knowledge and build community with otherdynamic youth organizers! Start thinking now about summer…

Join the Network!

See www.lutheranpeace.org

To get this newsletter in full color with links, contact Monica: lpfyouth@gmail.com

Lutheran Peace Fellowship 1710 11th Avenue Seattle, WA 98122 Phone: (206) 720-0313