August 15, 2008

ELGIN, IL – On Earth Peace is inviting Church of the Brethren congregations and members to observe the International Day of Prayer for Peace on Sept. 21. On Earth Peace is a peacemaking and peace education agency of the Church of the Brethren.

So far, the agency reports that more than 90 congregations and Brethren organizations have committed to holding prayer vigils on or around that date. The number includes communities across the US and in two other countries, reports coordinator Michael Colvin.

"The goal of the campaign is to help congregations be able to respond to local violence issues in their communities with positive action," Colvin said. "Participating congregations are being encouraged to build new and deeper relationships with people in their communities while gathering information about what violence is affecting them."

The On Earth Peace website for the International Day of Prayer for Peace is greatly improved over last year, Colvin reported. Many new resources are offered, including a three-minute video prepared by pastor Larry O'Neill of Skippack Church of the Brethren in Collegeville, Pa., and a news clip about the 2007 International Day of Prayer for Peace event planned by Harrisburg (Pa.) First Church of the Brethren. A Community Violence Survey is available, and participating groups may register at the site as well.

Go to http://onearthpeace.org/prayforpeace/index.html, to access the website. For more information contact Michael Colvin, On Earth Peace International Day of Prayer for Peace Coordinator, at mcolvin.oep@gmail.com or 626-921-4712 or see his blogspot at http://mocolvin.blogspot.com/.

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 more than 125,000 members across the United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service