Look for the Helpers

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers.  You will always find people who are helping.”  To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers….so many caring people in this world.       Fred Rogers

There is a tendency in our world  to say that times are becoming more and more violent and scary and after hearing the news from Boston yesterday, it is tough to dispute that, however, I am a Christian.  And as Christians, we can be a great example of positive thinking. 

The power of good to overcome evil is real.  Sometimes we have to look for it more carefully.  In the tragedy that occurred in Boston yesterday, throughout the afternoon, the common report across the news networks was of the bravery and unselfishness of the folks who decided to respond instead of run.  Soldiers who were in attendance to watch the race, went immediately to the local hospital to give blood.  They then returned to the area of the explosions to assist however they could.  Marathon runners reportedly ran a mile and a half further upon finishing the race so that they could donate blood.  Some runners helped to carry the wounded. These folks needed medical attention themselves after completing a marathon and literally went the extra mile.  Imagine if the report was “Two Explosions at the Boston Marathon, And no one responded.”

A few rotten individuals might have tried to hurt the crowds at the Boston Marathon, but a multitude of people came to help.  I am sure a scientist might try to prove away God’s presence in this story by telling us that it is the “benevolent gene” that causes us to help a stranger in a time of need, but I think I know better. I think this is God’s presence and God’s goodness at work.  Just think of a tragedy that happened in our lifetime and you’ll see more goodness in the response.  This is goodness overcoming evil.

Peace Pilgrim

Peace Pilgrim

 

A Small Woman with a Large Message

 

Peace Pilgrim was the name taken by Mildred Norman Ryder from Egg Harbor City, New Jersey.  In 1938, after walking in the woods all night praying to God, asking to be used in some way, she decided to begin giving, rather than getting.  On January 1, 1953, when she was 44 and had already been on a 15-year spiritual journey, she began her first real walk for peace.  She was to engage in 6 more walks, traveling over 25,000 miles across America and Canada, penniless and without an organization backing her.  By the 1960’s and 70’s, her work for peace was becoming a more popular concept.  As the demand for her to take speaking engagements increased, she spent fewer and fewer nights along the roadside. Peace Pilgrim began to accept rides in order to get to those engagements.  But she always returned to the spot where she had been picked up to continue her walk.  After accepting one of those rides, she was killed in a head-on collision on July 7, 1981.  For 28 years she was known for being a spiritual teacher, a non-violence advocate and a peace prophet.  Her message was always: “Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love.”

 

Let’s continue to think about traveling for peace.  But fast-forward with me to the fall of 2012.  A young man named Paul, son of Dale and Debbie Ziegler, sadly died an untimely death in an auto/bike accident.  He was a student at McPherson College, a lover of Camp Swatara and a peace advocate.  And he had a dream of accomplishing a 3000-mile bike ride to raise money for On Earth Peace.  To honor his memory and fulfill that dream, Brethren churches, colleges and camps are taking on that 3,000-mile challenge in his memory.

 

Paul’s home camp is Camp Swatara and on April 27^th that camp will be sponsoring a number of bike rides and walks for all interests and ability levels.  The Peace and Justice Committee of the District encourages you to participate in this challenge.  Peace Pilgrim walked over 25,000 miles.  How far will you walk – or ride - or sponsor someone else to do so – on April 27^th?

 

Marilyn Baker, Peace Action Team member

Palmyra CoB

                                     

WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR OTHERS?

It is not necessary to elaborate or try to make more profound the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  This question that he posed is simple and provocative on its own.  Surely Reverend King learned to love and care for others through the teachings of Jesus Christ.  So this blog entry is just a simple reminder that on Monday, January 21, 2013, the United States  will honor the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. by celebrating a National Day of Service.  What service will you offer?  It is a simple challenge that we should look for more than this one day per year.  If you do something in the way of service on January 21, make it a meaningful experience and share it with other people so that they might consider doing something for others as well. And if you feel inspired, read some of the speeches and writings of this good man as they will certainly change the way you think about your neighbor and your community.

Keith Graber Miller Lecture at Elizabethtown College - October 23, 2012

Keith Graber Miller presents “Transformations in 20th-Century Mennonite Peacemaking,” a talk about J.R. Burkholder’s influence as an ethicist, church leader, and social change agent, on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m., at Elizabethtown College’s Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies. Burkholder will attend and offer comments after the lecture. Copies of Prophetic Peacemaking: Selected Writings of J. R. Burkholder, the 2012 Brown Book Award winner edited by Graber Miller, will be available for sale and signing following the program. For more information, contact the Young Center at 717-361-1470 or visit www.etown.edu/youngctr.

Thank you.

Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies

Elizabethtown College

Going to the Garden

Fall is here and many of us are reaping the rewards of a Summer of hard work in the garden.

For myself, the primary reward is in the work and planning of gardening.  Spending a hot and sunny afternoon in the garden is one of my favorite hobbies and there are few places where I'd rather be. However as I plan and prepare meals for my family, I find new appreciation for my garden.  Our harvest has provided homemade spaghetti sauce and salsa, vegetable soup, wonderful salads and pumpkin pie...all made from vegetables grown just 35 feet from my back door.  I know these home grown vegetables are free from pesticides and man-made fertilizers and they help to reduce our weekly grocery bill.

In the latest publication (Sept. 19, 2012) of "Called to Witness", a Brethren Peace Witness Ministries Newsletter published by Nate Hosler, Advocacy Officer and Ecumenical Peace Coordinator for the Church of the Brethren, you will find some good information on the subject of Peace and Justice.  Included in this issue is an article entitled "Going to the Garden" which encourages congregations to think about ways in which they may help to provide food to the hungry through nutrition education, environmental stewardship or possibly by organizing a community garden. 
I encourage you to read this newsletter and act to help the hungry in this world.  The following is an excerpt from the original article by Nate Hosler.

WAYS THAT YOU CAN ACT:
Contact Advocacy and Peace Witness Ministries to make a suggestion on potential projects or to express interest in beginning or expanding a community garden project at your church.

Suggest people who have skills that would support this work.  Write to suggest online or published resources that you have gained in similar work.

Write to let us know about an existing project.  We are interested in learning from stories and insights you have gained in similar work.

Contact information for Nathan Hosler
E-mail:  nhosler@brethren.org
Phone:  (202) 481-6943

Postal Mail:
110 Maryland Ave.  NE, Suite 108
Washington, DC 20002

History of “My 2¢ Worth”

History of “My 2¢ Worth”

In 1983, Church of the Brethren General Board staff challenged the denomination to raise $1,000,000 for hunger relief in the Horn of Africa through “2¢ a meal clubs.” Labels for soup cans were designed to encourage people to collect 2¢ per meal per person per day. The denomination met and superseded this challenge. This effort gave rise to a “My 2¢ Worth” concept, which has become a main source of funding for the Global Food Crisis Fund. Since 1983, the Global Food Crisis Fund has dispersed more than $5,000,000 in grants for food-related relief and development projects all over the globe.

To request “My 2¢ Worth” labels or envelopes, contact

Global Food Crisis Fund Manager, Jeff Boshart:

jboshart@brethren.org (847) - 429 - 4332

Resources for Conflict Resolution

Is your congregation a family? 

Sisters and Brothers, supporting and loving each other? 

Brothers and Sisters, disagreeing and occasionally in conflict with each other?

Do you need resources which will assist with the resolution of those conflicts?  To locate them you need look no further than our own Bethany Seminary website.  There you will find three webinars prepared by Stan Dueck and Celia Cook Huffman. 

Part One “Understanding Patterns of Congregational Conflict.”  

Part Two “Strategies for Responding to Congregational Conflict.”

Part Three “Take Charge. Resolve the Conflict.”

Why not access this site and their expertise as you seek to minister to those congregations or individuals desiring the peace of God in their corporate or personal lives?

To do so:

Go to www.bethanyseminary.edu 

Go to Resources.  

Go to Webcast Vault.

Scroll down to Developing Conflict Healthy Congregations.

Click on Read More and View the Recordings.

Questions?  Please contact a member of the District Peace and Justice Committee.