Swords into plowshares
About this blog
Swords into Plowshares is the blog of the Peacemaking Program and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations of the Presbyterian Mission Agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Seeking peace. Striving for justice. Together.
Recent posts
- Summer 2013 intern at the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations – Onaje Crawford
- Remarks by Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis, U.S. Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs at the United Nations, at a Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict, June 17, 2013
- Together, We Have the Power to Protect the Ocean
- 1 is too many
- A prayer for World Refugee Day
Categories
- Peace (531)
- United Nations (516)
- Prayer (471)
- Human Rights (424)
- Justice (391)
- View all categories →
Archives
Posts with tag: peacemaking offering
September 9, 2012Season of Peace Begins September 9
A Season of Peace begins September 9 as a 4-week pilgrimage designed to deepen the pursuit of peace in congregations, small groups, families, and individuals. Subscribe to the daily peace reflections and download the two new resources: an Intergenerational Peace Fair and "The Things That Make For Peace," a 5-week adult Bible study.
A Season of Peace will engage your imagination and offer opportunities for you to live more fully into your calling as a peacemaker. It is for the curious and the jaded; the beginner and the experienced peace seeker. Spend a new season with Jesus, the peacemaker, and ...
September 29, 2011
Prayer of Confession for World Communion Sunday
Merciful God, in your loving presence we confess our sins. God of the universe, we have not always acted in ways that enhance life for our communities, our world, or our environment. We have forgotten to honor the sacredness and grandeur of your creation. Our fears and our selfishness have prevented us from seeing others as your children. Restore us, O God of life. May your Spirit sweep over us as it swept over the waters on that first day of creation, calling forth life from the void. Birth in us a spirit of love, compassion, and courage that your ...
September 28, 2010
World Communion Sunday liturgy on peacemaking and responding to the Gulf Coast Oil Spill
Here is a worship resource to approach World Communion Sunday through the lens of Making Peace with God's Earth. World Communion Sunday Liturgy for October 3, 2010 Prepared by Teresa Stricklen, associate for worship, Office of Theology and Worship, PC(USA)...
September 24, 2010
World Communion Day Collect
O great rejected stone, you who are the cornerstone of our hope, be not to us a stumbling block, but build us up into a household of justice and peace. Guide us by your law and fill us with your...
September 23, 2010
A prayer for World Communion Sunday
O God of majesty, as we gather today to worship you, disquiet us and your whole creation with your peacemaking Holy Spirit quietly insisting, “Know justice, know peace.” As your Son broke bread and gave it to thousands, so call...
September 22, 2010
A prayer for the day for World Communion Sunday
O Creator God, as we gather to worship you on this day, let your Holy Spirit fall upon this community of faith. As we celebrate and partake in Communion with other believers, we ask that you may fill us with...
September 17, 2010
Which piece of peace?
by Karen Maurer Which piece of peace will you work on? Thirty years ago, the Presbyterian Church identified peacemaking as the believers' calling, emphasizing the connection between peace and justice. In August of 2010 at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico...
September 17, 2010
A special gift to the Peacemaking Offering
2010 is the thirtieth anniversary of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and the Peacemaking Offering, following the adoption by the General Assembly of Peacemaking: The Believers’ Calling, which called for a new emphasis on peacemaking across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This...
August 25, 2010
Thirty
The planning team and leadership team for the 2010 Presbyterian Peacemaking Seminar gathered for worship this morning. The seminar is being held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Peacemaking: The Believers' Calling, the General Assembly statement that called the Presbyterian...
August 2, 2010
Help create a Presbyterian peacemaking time line
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Peacemaking: The Believers' Calling - the statement of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that called for a renewed commitment to Peacemaking and created the Peacemaking Offering and the Presbyterian Peacemaking...
June 26, 2010
2010 Advent Devotion book now availble
Order now! Proclaiming the Good News of God's Peace: Advent Devotions 2010 is now available. This booklet, published by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, provides a devotion for each day of the Advent season. It is designed to help individuals, households,...
May 17, 2010
Living the Believers’ Calling – a peace blessing bowl
Here's a way congregations can celebrate 30 years of peacemaking: Create a peace blessing bowl for the congregation. Find, make, or purchase a medium-sized bowl. Place small stones in the bowl. Near the bowl place small pieces of paper and...
May 14, 2010
Living the Believers’ Calling – respond to the HIV/AIDS pandemic
Here's a way congregations can celebrate 30 years of peacemaking: Choose a Sunday near World AIDS Day (December 1) to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. Have a special intergenerational church school class that encourages the whole church to learn more and...
May 13, 2010
Living the Believers’ Calling – celebrate World Communion Sunday
Here's a way congregations can celebrate 30 years of peacemaking: Lift up peacemaking ministries on World Communion Sunday and encourage expanded peacemaking efforts. Use cloths from around the world on the communion table; use breads from around the world such...
April 28, 2010
Living the Believers’ Calling – help children learn about Sudan
Here's a way congregations can celebrate 30 years of peacemaking: Use Piece Work/Peace Work: Working Together for Peace and Sudan with elementary children from Grades 1-6. It includes four sessions, one intergenerational session and a resource section with stories of...
April 27, 2010
Living the Believers’ Calling – teach confirmands about peace
Here's a way congregations can celebrate 30 years of peacemaking Focus at least one session of the confirmation program on peace. Help confirmands learn more about peacemaking through doing. This could involve a service project or an advocacy effort such...
April 26, 2010
Live the Believers' Calling - peace facts - peace actions
Celebrate 30 years of peacemaking Start a monthly peace report in the church newsletter or bulletin. Include a “peace fact” that tells something interesting about peacemaking in the congregation, community, nation, or world. Add a “peace action” that highlights a...
April 22, 2010
Live the Believers' Calling - Study
Celebrate thirty years of peacemaking Use resources from the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program in an adult education class. Find a resource list of print materials as well as online resources. Thirty years ago the 192nd General Assembly (1980) of the United...
April 20, 2010
Live the Believers' Calling - Pray
Celebrate thirty years of peacemaking Pray for joys and concerns that relate to peacemaking in corporate worship services. Encourage congregants to remember those joys and concerns in their daily prayers. Ask different individuals to select the joys and concerns each...
April 4, 2010
Peacemaking Offering
I spotted this poster on a door in Pital Presbyterian Church. Pital is the one rural church in the Presbytery of the North Coast in Colombia. The Peacemaking Offering supports the work of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and peacemaking efforts...
March 23, 2010
30 ideas for 30 years
Download 30 Ways to Mark 30 Years to find 30 ideas to celebrate 30 years of peacemaking. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Peacemaking: The Believers’ Calling, the General Assembly statement that called for a new emphasis on peacemaking...
March 22, 2010
Celebrate 30 years of peacemaking!
Give thanks for peacemakers and peacemaking ministries past, present and future! 2010 marks the 30th anniversary of Peacemaking: The Believers’ Calling, icon the General Assembly statement that called for a new emphasis on peacemaking across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and...
January 26, 2010
Peacemaking in Congregations
Peacemaking in Congregations is one of the enewsletters published by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. It comes out about every other week and contains ideas for ways that congregations can implement the Commitment to Peacemaking. Subscribe online or by sending us...
October 11, 2009
Vinita in Nebraska
The travels of Dr. Vinita Eusebius, International Peacemaker from India, took her to Nebraska. Vinita interacted with members of the confirmation class at Panama Presbyterian Church (Panama, NE) in the Presbytery of Homestead. Vinita is the national chairperson of the...
October 9, 2009
Wide awake in Seattle
Lamiel Phiri's itinerary included a visit to the Presbytery of Seattle. While there, he visited with members of Wedgewood Presbyterian Church. Lamiel works with Christian Care Zimbabwe, a non-governmental organization of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, involves humanitarian and development...
October 2, 2009
Peacemaking Offering
This Sunday, many Presbyterian congregations will receive the Peacemaking Offering which supports peacemaking ministries across the church, including the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. Not going to be in a Presbyterian congregation on Sunday? No problem, you can give online! Presbyterians will...
September 30, 2009
Peace be with you
Here again is the video that promotes the Peacemaking Offering. A litany based on the video is available. Download Peace Be with You Litany [PDF]. It appears below the video. It may be adapted for use when the Peacemaking Offering...
September 29, 2009
World Communion Sunday, II
Here are two prayers for World Communion Sunday from the 2008 worship resource [PDF] provided by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. Prayer of the Day O God of majesty, as we gather today to worship you, disquiet us and your whole...
September 29, 2009
How will your congregation use its share?
Congregations that receive the Peacemaking Offering are encouraged to keep 25% of the offering for use in peacemaking ministries of their choice. These funds are used in many creative ways by different congregations. Ministries supported by the Peacemaking Offering include:...
August 25, 2009
Peace be with you
Check out this video about peacemaking, the Peacemaking Offering, and the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. The Peacemaking Offering supports ministries of peacemaking on all levels of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
October 2, 2008
The Peacemaking Offering and the Presbyterian Hurricane Response
As congregations celebrate World Communion Sunday and receive the Peacemaking Offering, we are mindful of those in our communities who are in need of God’s healing and reconciling peace. Likewise, we are mindful of those who we may never see,...
October 2, 2008
Peacemaking Offering - World Communion Sunday
World Communion Sunday — observed on October 5 of this year — is a time for Christians from around the world to break the bread of life and bless the cup of salvation in remembrance of the life, death and...