UNITED FOR PEACE

On the church bulletin board we see 'United for Peace' and it should call each of us to an action. Here is a story of some United Church people's action to a lady that lives a life of peace and finds peace in the global community.

In 2006 three couples from Brookfield, Nova Scotia achieved a life dream and went to ALASKA. They flew part way, rented a van and drove to ALASKA!!! Myrna and Gorden Matheson, Ruth and Winn Matheson and Donna and Gab Matheson (three brothers and their wives), that is a great story but there is more. On their way they met ROSIE!! Who is Rosie and what is she doing?

- MEET ROSIE - Rosie left Wales in October 2003 to run around the world. And she is!!! She hauls this yellow cart called "ICEBIRD" and it acts as her home away from home, offering her shelter, rest, food, comfort, etc. She sleeps on the side of the road, a women alone, in all kinds of weather. She did this in many countries where didn't speak the language or in Russia while being followed by a pack of wolves. So she 'lives with respect in creation' and peace is with her.

The following pictures are from her visit to Nova Scotia where she met the Matheson family again.
The Matheson Family found Rosie on the Trans Canada hwy just entering Nova Scotia. How are you?? Both ways - remember it has been approximately 1.5 yrs. Next question - how can we help you? They passed Rosie hand warmers and raisons. Friendship is wonderful. Friendship is the bases of PEACE.

Ruth Matheson and friends organized a Rosie Party and welcomed her to the community. 60 people gathered on a cold stormy evening to meet Rosie and hear her wonderful story. They fed her, offered her shelter, kindness and hospitality. They enabled a doctor's appointment, long distance calls, shopping, transportation, etc. This is one example of United Church people in action - they included all faiths but they provided the leadership.
Rosie's last stop in North America was right here in Truro, Nova Scotia. She was surrounded by loving people who cared for her and were inspired by her run to create awareness for cancer and orphans in Russia.

We saw Rosie's run as proof that peace is possible. If each of us does our part to live in peace, to pray for peace, and example peace as we relate to each other - that will be a good start!!!!

LEARNING

Peace is not the absence of war.
Dr. Ursula Franklin*
Certainly there is more to peace than the absence of wars in our own country. For me, the most appropriate definition of peace is the absence of fear; it is the daily reality of the biblical promise, "Fear not". [pg.69]
The definition of peace as the absence of fear illustrates that the central element needed to bring peace on all levels and to reduce fear is justice. Bertrand Russell defined the indivisibility of peace in his statement that "the price of peace is the happiness of our enemies", and added that he was not at all sure that humanity was prepared to pay that price. The second component of a commitment to peace is a rejection of the use of fear as an instrument of policy. [pg.70]
Louis Mumford in The Condition of Man (NY:Harcourt Brace, 1944, pg. 162) wrote that "Between the thirteenth and the nineteenth centuries one may sum up the changes in the moral climate by saying that the seven deadly sins became the seven cardinal virtues ... avarice ceased to be a sin, the minutes attention to the care of worldly goods, the holding of pennies, the unwillingness to spend one's surplus on others -- all these habits were useful for capital saving. Greed, gluttony, avarice, envy and luxury were constant incentives to industry." [pg.71]
Peace is the absence of fear. Peace is in the message of the angel to the shepherds in Bethlehem, "Be not afraid." ... Consequently, peace is not the absence of war -- peace is the absence of fear. This again links peace tightly to justice, because it is only in the presence of peace and justice that fear can be absent. Justice, in both the temporal and the spiritual sense, is a guarantee against the arbitrariness of power that is the source of so much justifiable fear. [pg. 76]


*from The Ursula Franklin Reader: Pacifism as a Map (Toronto: Between the Lines, 2006)

The youth of Trinity United Church proudly carried the UNITED for PEACE banner in the Village Christmas Parade. The parade reflects a spirit of celebration and it was great to hear the crowd cheer as they read the strong statement on the banner.

Bill Casey, M.P. and Maurice Henri, a photographer from Moncton, discussed his work with 'Cameras for Healing' in Sierra Leone. Maurice and his team of five volunteers travelled to Sierra Leone in 2006 and worked with child soldiers and their victims to begin the healing process. Maurice has a wonderful power point presentation that tells the story in a powerful manner. Bringing them together to:
- tell their stories
- take pictures of beautiful things
- begin to understand and forgive
- to try to find love
- to seek peace
In 45 minutes he shares the sadness and joys of his work. Changing broken lives. Working together for a positive change. Building capisity to move on.

After 12 years of war the country of Sierra Leone was left devastated. They made the decision to move forward by developing a "Culture of Peace". Maurice and his team have planned to cotinue their work for four more years and will return in Feb 2007 for the second year.

HOSPITALITY

Here is another idea - for an open face sandwiches made from white bread use the cookie cutter to cut out a peace dove. Spread with cream cheese, use a cherry for the eye and a pickle for the twig, cut in the correct size. Please feed the birds with the scrap of bread ( we live with respect in creation. )

DECORATIONS

Knox's United Church in Brookfield, Nova Scotia included the 'peace doce' in their Cristmas decorations. Every pew displays garland, ribbon and a peace dove.

On November 4th the River Hebert United Church was decorated for the launch of "United for Peace" on Peace Sunday. The special speaker, Maurice Henri, told his story of 'Cameras for Healing'. He and his team used photography to build forgiveness between child soldiers and the people they had harmed. Sierra Leone was the place where child soldiers began. After 12 years of war this country has chosen not to retaliate but to foster a 'culture of peace'.

We chose to use the cookie cutter pattern and simple drew and cut out white paper peace doves. People signed their names on each dove and we decorated the church as shown above. This is a very easy and inexpensive way to decorate. We used blue ribbon, however it would be beautiful if you used ribbon of the Mission and Service colours. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.