International Peacemaker Inspires Peacemaking Offering Banner

The Rev. Susan Barnes’ banner served as the art for the 2007 Peacemaking Offering poster. Photo by R. Todd Morris.

“And the leaves of the tree ...” (Revelation 22:2)

What would a world living out the peace of God look like? In John’s vision of the new Jerusalem, recorded in Revelation 21 and 22, one image of such a world is the tree of life with leaves that are for the healing of the nations. This image serves as the theme for the 2007 Peacemaking Offering.

The Rev. Susan Barnes, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Baker City, Oregon, created the quilt used as the Peacemaking Offering art this year. She writes:

“Lei Garcia, an International Peacemaker from the Philippines, came to our church two years ago. She observed that we all have a concrete image of violence, but usually have abstract ideas about peace. She challenged us to have concrete images of peace. Hers is of a child playing outside. The land is safe to play in; there are no land mines around, no pollution, no fighting nearby, no wild or feral animals to harm the child. It means there is an adult nearby, making sure the child is safe. The child has enough food and water to have energy to play, has not been conscripted into the army, is not a child laborer, and does not need to be the primary caregiver for the younger children in the household.”

In making the quilt for the Peacemaking Offering, Susan introduced that image of peace — a child playing outside — into the image of the tree of life from Revelation. For some of the “healing leaves,” Susan used fabrics showing faces of children that are based on drawings by patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.