Every day between the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks and the International Day of Peace on September 21, join us in participating in an activity to create peace -- within yourself or in the world at large. You could:
1. Write a letter in favor of peace to your Congressman / the President
2. Join a peace organization or volunteer at an organization you already belong to
3. Create inner peace: Meditate for half an hour
4. Forgive a friend or family member who has angered you
5. Forgive yourself
6. Give money to a peace organization
7. Write a poem about peace
8. Read a book or article about the effects of war or a solution to a world conflict
9. Attend a peace demonstration or a lecture about an international ‘hot spot’
10. Fast for a day and remember those suffering the effects of war and occupation
The Peace and Justice Committee of the Unitarian Church of Evanston invites you to choose one of these suggested activities (or create your own) as we commemorate the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept 11.
ReplyDeleteLet us know what you've learned and experienced as together we each strive to heal and grow and strengthen our commitment to peace.
I, like all of us, remember the pain of 9/11/2001. It was a day of such human tragedy.
ReplyDeleteOf the remembrances on this 10th anniversary, one of the most poignant is from a religion reporter Tim Townsend: As people jumped from the Towers to escape the flames, "In the final seconds of life, by holding hands, a simple act of love, they denied evil."
The solution to these acts of evil, per Imam Rauf, founder of Cordoba Initiative, "the Coalition of the Moderates must work together - different religions not just in toleration of each other, but in acceptance of each other."
How true.
The 9/11 Walk and Talk was such an opportunity to learn about each other and remove the barriers that keep us from accepting each other. May we build upon this.
In peace,
Mary Dudek
I participated in the Walk ‘n Talk along Dodge Ave in Evanston from Dar-Us –Sunnnah Masjid to Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation sponsored by PeaceAble Cities Evanston and local faith communities. The walk was a nice opportunity to talk with other people. We were encourage along the way to "Change" the people who we were talking/walking with. This got us talking to a range of people I had not meet previously. We asked each other why we at the walk? What we have done since 9/11 .....
ReplyDeleteWill come to to the movie on Sept 21 at UCE.
With the invasion of NATO into Libia
The Peace and Justice Committee of the Unitarian Church of Evanston is applying for recognition as a UU Peace Advocacy Congregation. We have participated in numerous activities to bring greater peace and understanding to our congregation, our neighborhood, our nation, and the world. The activities we've worked on are as follows:
ReplyDeleteInternational Peace
• Organized 2010 International Day of Peace celebration, including a local folk singer, Dances of Universal Peace, amd Prayers for peace, read from various religious traditions
• In October, 2010 sponsored a series of adult education classes focused on implementing the UUA Peacemaking Statement of Conscience
o Sharon Welch from Meadville-Lombard spoke on peacemaking and peacekeeping
o Ron Glossup of Southern Illinois Univ spoke on international peace.
o Prior to adoption of the SOC, another series of classes was held to discuss various aspects of the proposal and vote on it
• Sponsored a presentation at our church in May, 2011 where Kathy Kelly, a member of the Christian Peacemakers Team, provided an update on the conditions in Afghanistan after her visit there.
Personal, Domestic, Congregational Peace
• Participated with other local faith communities in a march on September 11, 2011 from a local mosque to a Jewish congregation meeting place. The “Walk ‘n Talk” encouraged participants to talk with folks they might not otherwise know as they completed the 2.5 mile walk
• Organized Ten Days of Peace event between Sept 11 and Sept 21 (Int’l Day of Peace), 2011
o Ten different events were suggested for the ten days – including meditating, writing a poem, lobbying a congressman, and forgiving someone
o Participants were encouraged to blog about their experiences at the web-site UCEPeace.blogspot.com
• Emphasized civility and respect for all members of the congregation through adoption of a congregation-wide Covenant of Engagement.
• We work to end institutional violence by supporting the Chicago Legal Action for Incarcerated Mothers (CLAIM).
Peace Lobbying, Activism
• We are members of the North Shore Peace Initiative which lobbies local congressmen in support of peace
o Each month the coalition organizes a peace vigil in downtown Evanston and members participate in the vigils
o The coalition also supports the radio program “Democracy Now “on a local station and it sponsored a showing of the film “Countdown to Zero“ on nuclear disarmament.
• We have circulated sample letters and collected signatures in support of a prompt end to the war in Iraq and a reduction in military spending
Military Personnel Support
• On Feb 6,2011 the UCE choir along with the choirs from three other local churches held a choir festival with proceeds to support the Iraq Afghanistan Veteran’s Association (IAVA)
• Helped to found the UU Great Lakes Ministry at the Naval base in Waukegan, Illinois
• Other activities we have participated in regarding the military include a showing of “Ground Truth“ and a talk by an Iraqi War veteran. We presented a program on draft registration and alternatives at the 2009 YRUU conference, and a booklet describing various church members’ war experiences was prepared and distributed in 2008.