Peace Signs, October 2009

October 20, 2009                                                Number 68

In this month's issue:
Bleeding hearts can't change the world • Susan Mark Landis
No question, I'm a bleeding heart. I feel hugely guilty about how good and easy my life is on a global scale. When I become aware of how rotten life is for someone else, I quickly give up something so they have enough and so I don't feel guilty.
Otterville • Merrill R. Miller
Not far enough • Tammy Alexander
The healing story in Matthew describes a woman who had suffered from hemorrhages for twelve years. Aside from her physical suffering, the woman was also likely a pariah in society, an outcast, unable to marry or have a family or be a part of community life.
A persistent faith • Max Erdiger
Mrs. Hai Khanjanta is a grandmother with a message for us. She does not share her message through words, but rather through her example.
"Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry?" • Brother James Dowd
Those of us in the Northern Hemisphere are well into the season of autumn, and along with the beautiful leaves and the crisp weather comes the harvest... All of us have much to be grateful for, not the least of which is the fact that we rarely, if ever, have to worry about having enough food on our tables.
Review of 'A Persistent Voice: Marian Franz and Conscientious Objection to Military Taxation' • Muriel T. Stackley
Review of 'Pray the Devil Back to Hell'
Public footpaths and dog-friendly pubs • Tom Beutel
My wife and I recently returned from a long-anticipated trip to England... As a sabbath from our busy lives it could not have been better. As a chance to see a different, beautiful, and historic land and meet some of its people, it surpassed our expectations.
Prayer based on the hymn
This month's prayer was written by Hilary Scarsella, AMBS student and member of the Iraq Christian Peacemaker Team.
Reader responses to our past issues

Prayers for Peacemakers: Give thanks for all those who build peace.

A prayer of thanksgiving for all those who build peace. For some it is by great acts of courage, for others by small acts of kindness. As we admire the Dalai Lama and other role models, let us remember that peace starts in our own hearts; "nonviolence is about becoming the change we wish to see in the world" (M.K Gandhi). Thanks be to God for helping all those who tackle this challenge.

MCC appeals for donations for Asia disasters

Mennonite Central Committee is appealing for an initial $100,000 to assist people in Asia whose homes and lives were devastated by recent earthquakes and flooding.

Two earthquakes struck the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, the first on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and the second on Thursday, Oct. 1. The earthquakes caused buildings to collapse and trapped thousands under rubble. On Friday, the United Nations reported that 1,100 people had died. Earlier in the week, Typhoon Ketsana in Southeast Asia caused heavy rainfall, widespread flooding and mudslides. Hundreds of people have died and at least 500,000 were displaced. Ketsana prompted the worst flooding in the northern Philippines in 40 years when it struck Saturday, Sept. 26, and then continued its deadly path across Southeast Asia. It battered central Vietnam with powerful winds and heavy rain and then weakened as it moved into Cambodia and Laos.

The $100,000 (USD) will be used to provide immediate shelter, food and other emergency supplies to people in Indonesia and the Philippines and to meet longer-term recovery needs in Vietnam. These are countries where MCC has workers or connections with Mennonite congregations.

• In Indonesia, the Mennonite Diakonial Service has sent an assessment team to the earthquake area. MCC anticipates requests for funding to provide emergency shelter and food. Mennonite Diakonial Service is the disaster response arm of the Gereja Kristen Muria Indonesia, the Muria Mennonite Synod.


• In the Philippines, MCC has started communication with the Integrated Mennonite Churches (IMC) to assess the needs. Next week, MCC will send Bruce Glick of Millersburg, Ohio, to the Philippines. Glick will work in cooperation with IMC and other organizations to develop an emergency response plan. MCC has not had a country program in the Philippines since 2005. However, Glick, who worked with MCC for 19 years, will return to the country where he served in 2004-2005.


• In Vietnam, MCC workers are assessing the need as they communicate with the Social Work Committee of the Vietnam Mennonite Church. MCC anticipates the need for recovery funds to help affected communities rebuild once the initial crisis passes.

MCC is also monitoring the ongoing needs of people in Cambodia and Laos who suffered damage from Ketsana.

Financial contributions may be made to any MCC office (designated for "Asia disasters") online at mcc.org/donate or by telephoning toll free:
In Canada: 1-888-622-6337
In the U.S.: 1-888-563-4676

Prayers for Peacemakers: Pray for the victims of natural disasters

Pray for the survivors of the natural disasters that occurred in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific this week. According to the UN, over 1,100 people died in the earthquake that struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and hundreds others died in the tsunami that hit Samoa. A typhoon wreaked havoc in the Philippines and Vietnam, and another is forecast for this weekend. May rescuers find the strength and resources to give aid in these desperate situations.

Peace Signs, September 2009

September 15, 2009                                                Number 67

In this month's issue:
Thriving takes time • Susan Mark Landis
A friend in his mid-20's made time to help us in the garden last week...
Otterville • Merrill R. Miller
Action alert: ACT for access • Susan Mark Landis
We provide suggestions for prayer, reflection and action on health care.
Action alert: Afghanistan
Congress, the Obama Administration and the military are considering significantly increasing U.S. troop numbers in Afghanistan. But we believe that troops do not bring security or peace.
Act for Peace in Uganda • Mary Stata
For the past two decades the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group has threatened communities in northern Uganda and across central Africa by brutally targeting civilians and abducting thousands of children. Even though the LRA is small in numbers (less than 1.500 members), their ruthless attacks have wreaked havoc on the region and caused massive internal displacement of civilians.
When victims become healers • Max Ediger
For those of us living half-a-world away it may be easy to pick up a good book or turn on a television show and pretend that the war in Viet Nam never happened, but for the people of Viet Nam, the reminders of those tragic years of unnecessary violence are always in front of them, not just in their memories but in the lives of the many people suffering the effects of unexploded ordnance and herbicide poisons.
The International Day of Peace • Brother James Dowd
Since the early 1980's, the United Nations has proclaimed September 21st as the International Day of Peace, and throughout the world various vigils, commemorations, rallies, festivals and other ways to mark the day have been held on or about that date. And so, once again, we find ourselves preparing for another Day of Peace with hope and expectation. Or do we?
Trusting God • Tom Beutel
Within the context of shalom--peace which permeates all of life and which is centered in well-being and right relationships--it is common to focus on nonviolence. There seem to be two somewhat mutually exclusive strains within this focus on nonviolence: nonresistance and nonviolent resistance.
Prayer based on the hymn
This month's prayer was written by Joel Beachy.

Dalai Lama in Montreal

The Maison de l’amitié is part of a planning committee organizing events associated with the visit of the Dalai Lama to Montreal, Oct. 2-4, 2009. MA will be having a booth at the Bell Centre during the event as well. For details see: Tools of Peace
The Dalai Lama will give a public talk in Montreal entitled "Educating the Heart: The Power of Compassion" at 14:30 on Oct. 3.