While many Presbyterian churches choose a local agency or develop a program for peace with their 25% of the Peace and Global Witness Offering, this year our Mission Team has decided to send our portion of the offering to the PCUSA to help with the suffering in Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Offering will be matched up to $400 with a Peace Fellowship matching contribution. While we can make financial contributions to help ease the suffering of others, here and abroad, there are also many other ways that we can help move toward peace. Many of our church members volunteer at various nonprofit service agencies (North Helpline, Sand Point Housing, homeless shelters, Mary’s Place and other shelters for victims of domestic violence, etc.) to help ease the suffering of others. These gifts of time and talents are precious!
During my preparations for “A Season of Peace”, as developed by the PCUSA, (the month before the Peace and Global Witness Offering), I reflected on how there is so much peace that is needed throughout the world, and especially here in the U.S. during our negative political campaign season. I began to wonder how to deal with it and to balance it all. Prayers of Peace, came to my mind – prayers to balance the negative energy of politics, racism, terrorism, too much discussion of terrorism. I felt moved to ask if we could have prayer sessions at church during the next month, to gather together and pray and meditate for peace, for kindness toward each other, for calm, for reason, and for anything that moves us toward peace.
While we can all pray for peace individually, anywhere, anytime, I am moved to offer times during the next month to come together and pray either separately or together, just to be together and create a calm, welcoming setting for prayer and meditation. Please join us as we come together for peace. The times the sanctuary will be open are listed below. If you have other times that work better for you, or that you would like to offer, please contact me (cillpierce@gmail.com; 206-778-4184). Whether one or two gather, or more, prayer always helps. Please join us for whatever time your schedule allows, staying the whole time period is not necessary. If you can’t join at any of these times, please join us individually on your own, and pray for peace. Some of the sessions will have soft music, if those attending want that. Prayers may be spoken aloud or silently. It will be whatever those in attendance are moved to do.
Peace be with you!
Cil and the members of Peace Fellowship
Prayer Session schedule in the Sanctuary:
*Friday, October 7…………….5:45 – 6:20 PM
*Sunday, October 9…………..12:15 – 12:30 PM
Tuesday, October 11………. 6:45 – 7:30 AM
Friday, October 14…………..5:30 – 6:00 PM
Wednesday, October 19 ………1:30 – 2:00 PM
Sunday, October 23…………..11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Wednesday, October 26………..6:45 – 7:30 AM
Wednesday, October 26………..1:30 – 2:00 PM
Friday, October 28…………5:45 – 6:20 PM Sunday,
October 30………….11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
*Contemplative harp music. Other sessions will also have music.
