Compassion, Peace and Justice: Making God’s Community Livable For All
We invite you to watch this video and learn more about how the Compassion, Peace and Justice ministry works to reflect God’s intention for a just, peaceful, and compassionate world through it’s different programs and ministries.
Compassion, Peace and Justice
Sara Lisherness, Director
The Compassion, Peace and Justice ministry area helps Presbyterians respond to the needs of the world’s most vulnerable people, address injustice in all areas of life and advocate for peaceful solutions to conflict. This ministry area also provides disaster relief, direct service, capacity building and development assistance to marginalized communities nationally and around the world.
From the director
Greetings Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
This month's edition of the Compassion, Peace and Justice e-newsletter addresses the issue of gun violence and its impact on the country. As I prepare this message, I am reminded that it was a month ago this week that this nation suffered one of the most heartbreaking tragedies in the history of the United States. As most of us were busy preparing for the impending Christmas day, our focus on holiday preparations came to a screeching halt as we learned of the senseless violence committed in Newtown, Connecticut.
The reality is, more than 30,000 people in the United States are killed every year by gun violence; countless are wounded; the lives of individuals, families and communities changed forever. The disaster caused by gun violence is seen in almost every community. We may hear briefly about the victims and survivors of these shootings, but what happens after the media attention moves on and the wider public becomes numb to “just another shooting”?
In these times, perhaps the only thing that makes sense is to humble ourselves before God and pray for all whose lives have been lost or changed by this and other tragic acts of violence.
We can do more. I invite you to prayerfully consider some of the following steps in taking action to stem the tide of gun violence:
- Host a screening of the documentary TRIGGER: The Ripple Effect of Gun Violence followed by a conversation about gun violence. Consider inviting members of your community.
- Address the issue of gun violence in adult education classes and in worship.
- Seek out others in your congregation and your community to launch a movement to end gun violence.
Continue to pray without ceasing, for an end to gun violence, but especially for those whose lives have been permanently changed by this disaster.
Blessings,
Sara P. Lisherness
Subscribe to the Compassion, Peace and Justice e-newsletter to learn more about the work of its ministries.
Turning the Tables
a compassion, peace and justice big tent summit
August 1-3, 2013
“Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves…”
Matthew 21: 12-14
This hands-on conference will focus on food justice and how it relates to other broken systems in our society and will provide:
- Visits to local community gardens and environmental justice sites
- Community organizing training
- Creative worship service
- Interactive workshops
- Art and play
- Skills to take back home
Compassion, Peace and Justice Ministries
- Child Advocacy
- Enough for Everyone
- Environmental Ministries
- Fair Food
- Fair Trade
- Global Food Crisis
- Human Trafficking
- Joining Hands
- Mission Responsibility Through Investment
- Office of Public Witness
- PHEWA
- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
- Presbyterian Hunger Program
- Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations
- Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
- Public Education
- Self-Development of People (SDOP)
- Trigger: The Ripple Effect of Gun Violence
Comments
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Dear Sara...What address should I use to send you a free sample of my book, Courage to Think Differently with a preface by Walter Brueggemann and Foreword by Frances Moore Lappe? Thank you....George...author of Beyond Guilt that PCUSA bought 300 copies of years ago.
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"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven(Matt5:10) Peace and Justice to all have to be practiced irrespective of caste,color,creed,age and sex. I am glad I am serving the Peacemaking Committee of the Presbytery of Philadelphia.Together we can acheive many things for God and the people who are being persecuted in many countries in particular India,Pakistan,Bangladesh and other countries.We have to pray and fight for the injustice to these people around the world. God will definately lead in this battle against those who are working to supress,oppress the Christians all over the world. Everybodys should pray and uphold the Missionaries,Preachers,lay persons and Organizations involved, and working for Peace and Justice.