Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service -- Aug. 30, 2007 Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, News Director 800-323-8039 ext. 260 -- cobnews@brethren.org
MORE THAN 50 CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
CONGREGATIONS TO OBSERVE DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE
(Aug. 30, 2007) Elgin, IL -- As of Aug. 24, 54 congregations or colleges associated with the Church of the Brethren are planning a time of prayer on or near Friday, Sept. 21, to mark the International Day of Prayer for Peace.
The Brethren Witness/Washington Office and On Earth Peace, a Church of the Brethren agency, are encouraging congregations and faith communities to hold public prayer events. The day of prayer is connected with the World Council of Churches' Decade to Overcome Violence.
In addition to the more than 50 congregations and organizations taking part, "We are also very excited to learn that our sisters and brothers in the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria, are planning to participate," said On Earth Peace. In addition, the Brethren Witness/Washington Office is hosting a delegation of people from five continents, through the World Council of Churches. The office will be taking the group around the east coast, including a stop in "Amish country," and ending up in New York City on Sept. 21 to be part of the United Nation's service of prayer for peace.
Following are some examples of peace events being planned by congregations:
--Skippack Church of the Brethren in Philadelphia, Pa., is installing a peace pole on Sept. 21.
--Una Nueva Vida en Cristo church in Floyd, Va., is planning Bible study and prayer about the importance of peace in our world and our responsibility as Christians to achieve peace.
--Lower Miami Church of the Brethren in Dayton, Ohio, is planning an all-day prayer vigil, ending with a prayer service the evening of Sept. 21. Neighbor churches will be invited.
--Children at Beaver Dam Church of the Brethren in Union Bridge, Md., will pray for peace in conjunction with an "On Earth Pizza" event.
--Springfield (Ill.) First Church of the Brethren is co-sponsoring an interfaith worship event on Thursday evening, Sept. 20; a Rally for Peace on Sept. 21 at the Illinois State Capitol; and a 7 a.m. prayer service at the church's peace pole on Sept. 21.
A networking call is offered for those congregations planning events, on Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. eastern time. The call facilitator is Matt Guynn, coordinator of peace witness for On Earth Peace. To register contact Mimi Copp, organizer for the International Day of Prayer for Peace in the Church of the Brethren, at 260-479-5087 or miminski@gmail.com.
For the list of Church of the Brethren congregations planning peace events, and a link to resources in English and Spanish, go to www.brethren.org/oepa/programs/peace-witness/prayforpeace.html.
The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts almost 130,000 members across the United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.
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For more information contact:
Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford Director of News Services Church of the Brethren General Board 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120 800-323-8039 ext. 260 cobnews@brethren.org
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