On Friday evening, March 19 we ended a chapter in our church’s life by formally ending our monthly peace vigil. We trust that God will be leading us into a new kind of witness for peace and justice, especially in this time when wars and “rumors of wars” permeate our world.
New Hope’s first Peace Vigil was initiated by Pastor Bob Campbell in 2003 before the War on Iraq began. It was held outdoors to be a witness to the community. Chris Pearson, conference staff person for Social Justice Concerns, was a guest speaker for the first of many vigils to be held over the next seven years. A variety of guest speakers have come to share their par- ticular concerns for peace with justice in our world, including our Bishop Hee Soo Jung.
Each month, the gathered peacemakers sang old familiar peace songs from days gone by, and new songs from The Faith We Sing. Candle lighting and sharing prayers for peace in conflict torn coun- tries around the world, our neighbor-hoods and in our own hearts became a ritual for those who were “regulars,” including several persons from the community.
On Friday, March 19th, a newspaper article titled “Seven Years Later” was on display for our last Peace Vigil. A peace banner created by Chris Prochenski was hung, depicting a dove holding a branch of peace symbols from religions worldwide. New Hope is a peace church and will continue to focus on peace with justice. Things we can do as individuals that we shared were: to stand against un- just wars; to be supportive of parents in raising their children nonviolently; to teach children to find peaceful solutions to conflict; to promote conscientious objection as honorable; and to speak boldly against the vocation of warriors.
May Peace Prevail on Earth
