|
It has been two years since the beginning of the Iraq War. The war rages on and our troops continue to serve in Iraq. We are in the middle of the Decade to Overcome Violence (2001-2010), a decade that the World Council of Churches has designated for church communities to work towards peace and reconciliation.
United Methodist Women have carried out a prayer campaign since the Lenten Season of 2003, the start of the Iraq War. At the beginning of this third year, we call on the whole church to keep the faith and continue actions of prayers for peace.
As violence continues across the globe, let us pray for an end to this current war and a curb on any future war locally or globally. When we pray for and stand for peace, we pray and stand against all conditions, mentalities, and institutions that breed and nurture war and injustice.
During Lent and Easter 2003, we prayed for peace and presented prayers on cards to the White House after the initial invasion of Iraq. In 2004, we kept our faith and continued our prayers; in the summer, a prayer-for-peace postcard campaign was carried out in the Regional and Conference Schools of Christian Mission, and the cards were sent to the members of Foreign Affairs in Congress. Lent and Easter 2005 are approaching. Peace is still out there, waiting for us to live it.
Here are a few things you can do:
• Log your prayers for peace at http://gbgm-umc.org/prayers/.
Hold a peace vigil in your own community or local/district unit calling for peace in the world and an end to the war in Iraq.
• Send your stories about the peace vigil to the Women’s Division, Office of Community Action, 475 Riverside Dr.,
Room 1502, New York, NY 10115; e-mail SLee@gbgm-umc.org. Your stories, prayers, and the event details will be sent to lawmakers and media to show that there’s still peace to be won.
• Write about your events for peace in your district/confer- ence newsletters.
Date posted:
Mar 04, 2005
|
