Friends #2
Hello, again. I’ve decided to try to write short updates of my peacemaking work every two-three weeks, as a way of keeping friends like you informed. If at any point you need to use the delete button because you are overwhelmed with e-mail, rest assured I will not be offended; I use it a lot myself. So, you can expect to receive a letter like this every few weeks.
One thing that stands out for me lately is how central the teaching “ to love our enemies” is to peacemaking and the teachings of Jesus. This has led me to put George Bush and each of his cabinet members on my prayer list. Praying for them has been transforming me so that I can see them more as brothers and sisters and less as the evil opposition, as I previously have often seen them.
Along with this has come the insight that we really all have the same goal in mind--peace--though we differ on the means. This has led me to think that there might be a space in which we can be in solidarity with each other. The answer I’ve come up with is in our concern particularly for US troops and their kids, moms, and dads. So I now have a sign at the vigil and a name tag that says, “Mourning: Suffering, US Troops & Families .“ This has worked to remind myself and, hopefully, others that we need to love and not to hate persons serving in the military.
Taking up this peacemaking calling has felt risky at times. It's not a normal vocation. When people ask me what I do, it feels a little strange to answer, " I do peacemaking. " Sometimes I have doubts about it. However, I’ve sensed a real confirmation in the ways in which the Lord seems to have given me support through so many people and particularly those at Plow Creek. Here are some of the activities friends are doing or have offered to do: website designing, editing my writings, sign making, and giving financial support. Many of these services have been offered without my asking. I've been especially blessed by my long time El Salvadoran friends, the Sosa’s, raising $300 for my work.
My mentors have given me encouragement and practical help in fostering dialogue to the follow up to the “ Is War the Answer?” seminar. Open Space, which I learned about through a fellow trainee in CPT. It feels like a Godsend in facilitating this dialog. When I explained Open Space format to the committee, all of whom I did not know very well, only one person was skeptical about the idea. In the end, even that person really supported the idea. Another shared that although he does not share my pacifist stand, he was so enthused about the Dialog meeting that he did a lot of extra publicity on his own. It feels so good to me to have the different positions represented on the Committee. Having a way for people of differing positions to have a safe space to express their views with others is peacemaking. We have lived in the same community for a long time and not talked to each other about these important issues.
Please pray for the dialog for this Sunday 1:30-5:30. Included is a a copy of the announcement for the dialog.
Blessings to you, Jim
"War? Peace? What do we do now?" Dialog
The public is invited to come and continue the dialog on the issues of war and peace on the afternoon of February 23 at the Evangelical Covenant Church in
Princeton, IL. While this topic was opened through presentations on January 24th & 25th, at the "Blessed are the Peacemakers seminar", this meeting will be an open forum. In this forum, the participants set the agenda by raising topics of concern to be discussed. The theme for this day will be "War? Peace? What are we to do now?" After the collection of discussion topics in regard to this theme, participants are invited to enter into discussion groups of their interest. No Groups are
assigned and participants are encouraged to move freely between groups.
Our hope is that this will create opportunities where people can express and exchange ideas and hopefully will be a time when people of different positions
can speak freely and really listen to each other. We anticipate good dialog and shared learning.
Key points of the discussions will be recorded and reported to all participants. Those with note-taking or laptop transcription skills are invited to share
their talents, bring what you need for this. Doors will open at 1:30 pm on the 23rd. There will be a brief explanation of the meeting format. The public is invited to come and go throughout the afternoon as their schedules and interest allow. The sessions will end by 5:30 pm.
Questions? Dialog planning Committee: Rick Fandel 875 2615, Steve Gunning 875 4706, Jim Fitz 646 4672, Phil Kauffman 646 4889
Could you announce this among friends and in your churches, etc.. and mark your calenders
Hope to maybe see you there, Jim Fitz
Hello, again. I’ve decided to try to write short updates of my peacemaking work every two-three weeks, as a way of keeping friends like you informed. If at any point you need to use the delete button because you are overwhelmed with e-mail, rest assured I will not be offended; I use it a lot myself. So, you can expect to receive a letter like this every few weeks.
One thing that stands out for me lately is how central the teaching “ to love our enemies” is to peacemaking and the teachings of Jesus. This has led me to put George Bush and each of his cabinet members on my prayer list. Praying for them has been transforming me so that I can see them more as brothers and sisters and less as the evil opposition, as I previously have often seen them.
Along with this has come the insight that we really all have the same goal in mind--peace--though we differ on the means. This has led me to think that there might be a space in which we can be in solidarity with each other. The answer I’ve come up with is in our concern particularly for US troops and their kids, moms, and dads. So I now have a sign at the vigil and a name tag that says, “Mourning: Suffering, US Troops & Families .“ This has worked to remind myself and, hopefully, others that we need to love and not to hate persons serving in the military.
Taking up this peacemaking calling has felt risky at times. It's not a normal vocation. When people ask me what I do, it feels a little strange to answer, " I do peacemaking. " Sometimes I have doubts about it. However, I’ve sensed a real confirmation in the ways in which the Lord seems to have given me support through so many people and particularly those at Plow Creek. Here are some of the activities friends are doing or have offered to do: website designing, editing my writings, sign making, and giving financial support. Many of these services have been offered without my asking. I've been especially blessed by my long time El Salvadoran friends, the Sosa’s, raising $300 for my work.
My mentors have given me encouragement and practical help in fostering dialogue to the follow up to the “ Is War the Answer?” seminar. Open Space, which I learned about through a fellow trainee in CPT. It feels like a Godsend in facilitating this dialog. When I explained Open Space format to the committee, all of whom I did not know very well, only one person was skeptical about the idea. In the end, even that person really supported the idea. Another shared that although he does not share my pacifist stand, he was so enthused about the Dialog meeting that he did a lot of extra publicity on his own. It feels so good to me to have the different positions represented on the Committee. Having a way for people of differing positions to have a safe space to express their views with others is peacemaking. We have lived in the same community for a long time and not talked to each other about these important issues.
Please pray for the dialog for this Sunday 1:30-5:30. Included is a a copy of the announcement for the dialog.
Blessings to you, Jim
"War? Peace? What do we do now?" Dialog
The public is invited to come and continue the dialog on the issues of war and peace on the afternoon of February 23 at the Evangelical Covenant Church in
Princeton, IL. While this topic was opened through presentations on January 24th & 25th, at the "Blessed are the Peacemakers seminar", this meeting will be an open forum. In this forum, the participants set the agenda by raising topics of concern to be discussed. The theme for this day will be "War? Peace? What are we to do now?" After the collection of discussion topics in regard to this theme, participants are invited to enter into discussion groups of their interest. No Groups are
assigned and participants are encouraged to move freely between groups.
Our hope is that this will create opportunities where people can express and exchange ideas and hopefully will be a time when people of different positions
can speak freely and really listen to each other. We anticipate good dialog and shared learning.
Key points of the discussions will be recorded and reported to all participants. Those with note-taking or laptop transcription skills are invited to share
their talents, bring what you need for this. Doors will open at 1:30 pm on the 23rd. There will be a brief explanation of the meeting format. The public is invited to come and go throughout the afternoon as their schedules and interest allow. The sessions will end by 5:30 pm.
Questions? Dialog planning Committee: Rick Fandel 875 2615, Steve Gunning 875 4706, Jim Fitz 646 4672, Phil Kauffman 646 4889
Could you announce this among friends and in your churches, etc.. and mark your calenders
Hope to maybe see you there, Jim Fitz
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