Living the Believers’ Calling – peace cranes

Here's a way congregations can celebrate 30 years of peacemaking:

Learn how to fold peace cranes. Incorporate this symbol into worship. See how Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA and Ridgewood Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood, NY used peace cranes. The crane is a symbol of good fortune and longevity in Japan. There is a legend that anyone folding 1,000 paper cranes is granted a wish. Sadako Sasaki was two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. She developed leukemia that became critical by 1954. Sadako began folding cranes. According to one version of the story, she did not complete the 1,000 cranes and her friends made the final cranes. Another report states that she made the 1,000 cranes herself. In either case, Sadako died in 1955. The folded crane has become a symbol for peace.

Thirty years ago the 192nd General Assembly (1980) of the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. adopted Peacemaking: The Believers' Calling. This statement affirmed that peacemaking is central to the gospel message and to living as disciples of Jesus. It affirmed past and ongoing Presbyterian peacemaking efforts and called for a renewed emphasis on peacemaking. Since 1980, individual Presbyterians, congregations, middle governing bodies, and General Assembly programs have engaged in amazing peacemaking ministries in the name of Jesus Christ. In this 30th anniversary year the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program suggests 30 ways congregations can celebrate ministries past and present and look forward to new adventures following Christ, who is our peace.

Tell the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program how you are celebrating the anniversary.

Your gifts to the Peacemaking Offering help the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program support Presbyterians in ministries seeking peace and pursuing justice.