wfn.org | Info on Services, Most May 27, Nationwide for All Iraq War Dead

["Carol Fouke" <cfouke@ncccusa.org>]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCC, FAITH GROUPS NATIONWIDE HOST MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR IRAQ WAR DEAD
Most Services Scheduled for Thursday, May 27

May 26, 2004, NEW YORK, N.Y. - As the Memorial Day weekend approaches, the
National Council of Churches USA along with faith groups around the country
are planning interfaith services - 26, at latest count, including two that
took place earlier in May - of prayer and remembrance for all those who have
died in the war in Iraq. 

The "lead" service sponsored by the NCC is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, May
27, at National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle, Washington, D.C. 
Flowers will represent the more than 800 Americans and thousands of others
who have died in the conflict.	At the end of the service, people will carry
flowers outdoors to the church's steps for a closing hymn and benediction. 
Then they will place the flowers in nearby Thomas Circle as a makeshift
memorial.

Other services include:

Palo Alto, Calif., 6 p.m., May 27, Palo Alto City Hall Plaza, 250 Hamilton -
a vigil for peace will be followed by a procession on University Avenue, led
by an Earth Flag carried by Muslim, Jewish and Christian youth.  The
procession will include a coffin with a U.S. flag, a coffin with a flag of
Iraq and one unmarked coffin in black.	Contact: Diana Gibson,
650-569-3416/650-322-6991 Details on Web: www.multifaithpeace.org  

Tampa, Fla., 7 p.m., May 27, Wyndham Harbour Island Hotel, 725 S. Harbour
Island Boulevard.  This service is being held as part of the "Come to the
Feast" biennial young adult ministry gathering convened by the National
Council of Churches.  Contact Garland Pierce, 813-229-5000

Columbia, S.C., 7 p.m., May 27, Masjid as-Salaam, 5119 Monticello Road.  This
service is sponsored by Partners in Dialogue in cooperation with Masjid
as-Salaam (led by Imam Omar Shaheed).  Contact: Prof. Carl Evans 803-777-4522
(O)

While the National Council of Churches opposed the war and continues to
express grave concerns about the U.S. government's Iraq policy, "the hope is
to encourage people in the faith community who supported the war and those
who opposed it to pray, reflect and work for peace in this troubled time,"
said the Rev. Dr. Robert W. Edgar, NCC General Secretary, New York.

Participants will mourn all who have died in the Iraq conflict, including
members of the U.S. military and all of the other soldiers, reporters and
non-military personnel who have lost their lives, along with thousands of
innocent Iraqi civilians caught in the crossfire.

"We believe that all are precious in the eyes of a loving God," said Dr.
Edgar.

Many of the interfaith services across the United States are using resources
from the National Council of Churches, available on the NCCbs Web site at:
www.ncccusa.org/memorialday2004/

A list of services known to date follows.  Check the NCC's Web site for
updates at http://www.ncccusa.org/memorialday2004/memorialdayservices.html

-end-

ARIZONA
Phoenix, Ariz., 6:00 p.m., May 27
The Arizona Interfaith Movement will host a special Interfaith Peace Memorial
Service in Patriots Park, Washington & Central, downtown Phoenix.
For details, contact: Paul Eppinger, 602-992-0510

CALIFORNIA
Pasadena, Calif., May 27
All Saints' Episcopal Church
Contact: Tom Ferguson, 626-796-7374

Palo Alto, Calif.  6 p.m., May 27
Palo Alto City Hall Plaza, 250 Hamilton
Vigil for Peace, followed by a procession on University Ave (which will be
closed) led by an Earth flag carried by Muslim, Jewish and Christian youth, a
coffin with a U.S. flag, a coffin with a flag of Iraq, and one unmarked
coffin in black. 
Contact: Diana Gibson, 650-569-3416/650-322-6991 Details on Web:
www.multifaithpeace.org  

Presidio, Calif., 1 p.m. May 31
Main Post Chapel
Contact: Paul Chaffee 
 
FLORIDA
Tampa, Fla., 7 p.m., May 27
Wyndham Harbour Island Hotel, 
725 S. Harbour Island Boulevard, 
part of the "Come to the Feast" gathering of young adults convened by the
NCC.
Contact Garland Pierce, 813-229-5000
 
HAWAII
Honolulu, Hawaii, 6:30 p.m. May 27
Harris United Methodist Church, 20 S Vineyard Blvd
Contact: The Rev. Gary Barbaree  808-536-9602.

ILLINOIS
Rockford, Ill., 6 p.m. May 27
Puri Peace Plaza
(Rain Location: Grace United Methodist Church)
Contact: Stanley E. Campbell, 815-964-7111
 
INDIANA
Batesville, Ind., 6 p.m. May 27
St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church 
Contact: Pastor David J. Smith

IOWA
Des Moines, Iowa, Noon May 27
St. John's Lutheran Church (Downtown)
Contact: Chester Guinn	
 
LOUISIANA
New Orleans, La., 2:30 p.m. May 30
Full Gospel Church of God in Christ
1031 N. Claiborne Ave.
Ecumenical Pastoral Letter on Iraq will be read as part of this Ecumenical
Pentecost Day Celebration
Contact: Rev. Dr. William Mackintosh, 504-899-2200
 
MASSACHUSETTS
Sherborn, Mass., 6 p.m. May 27 
Peace Abbey, 2 N. Main St. 
Contact: Dot Walsh 508-655-2143 

MICHIGAN
Grand Rapids, Mich., 7:30 p.m., May 27
Trinity United Methodist Church, 1100 Lake Dr. 
Contact: Kennetha Bigham-Tsai  616-456-7260
Detroit, Mich.
Contact: Rev Rich Peacock
Lansing, Mich.
Contact : Rev. Robert Roth 

MINNESOTA
Duluth, Minn., 6:00 p.m., May 27th 
St Mary's Orthodox Catholic Church, 
(A Syro-Russian Orthodox Catholic Church)
5907 Grand Avenue 
Contact: Father Timothy Kjera, 218-624-0202
 
OHIO
Columbus, Ohio, 12 Noon, Tuesday, May 25
Main Metropolitan Library Downtown Auditorium
Contact: Tarunjit Singh Butalia, 614-688-0770

OREGON
Astoria, Oregon, Monday, 6:30 p.m. May 31
First Congregational Church, Alameda St. 
Contact: Tom Chatterton 503-738-3183
 
PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia, Pa., 7:30 p.m. May 27
First United Methodist Church of Germantown,
6023 Germantown Avenue
Contact: Melody Porter, 215-438-3677

Ft. Washington, Pa., May 27
St. Thomas Whitmarsh
Bethlehem Pike and Camp Hill Road
Contact: Rev. Marek Zabriskie
 
PUERTO RICO
San Juan, Puerto Rico, 10:00 a.m., May 31
Interfaith Gathering for Peace and Remembrance at Union Church, Puntas las
Marias
Contact: mlmcc@juno.com

SOUTH CAROLINA
Columbia, SC,  7 p.m., May 27
Masjid as-Salaam, 5119 Monticello Road
Sponsored by Partners in Dialogue 
in cooperation with Masjid as-Salaam (led by Imam Omar Shaheed)
Contact: Prof. Carl Evans 803-777-4522 (O)
 
VIRGINIA
Williamsburg, Va., 6 p.m., May 27
Williamsburg United Methodist Church, 
with potluck & discussion to follow
Contact Stephen Houseworth
Details are available at www.cf4p.org 

WISCONSIN
Milwaukee, Wis., 7 p.m. May 27
Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 
3022 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Contact: Marcus White 414-276-9050

Earlier Events
Providence, R.I., 7:00 p.m. May 13
First Baptist Church in America
Contact: Rev. Jim Miller

National Council of Churches USA Media Contacts: 
Leslie Tune: 202-544-2350 x11; ltune@ncccusa.org
Carol Fouke, 212-870-2252; cfouke@ncccusa.org

National Council of Churches USA
475 Riverside Dr, New York
New York 10115-0050
www.ncccusa.org