PEACE: Morton Grove Community Peace Vigil

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Tuesday, June 1, 2016

PEACE: Morton Grove Community Peace Vigil

Tonight was the night. The night of the Peace Vigil.

I was in fear of no one showing up, especially with the downpour and otherwise heavy rain that fell several times in the last week! Thankfully, we were able to change the venue to inside the Morton Grove Civic Center (from outside and behind the Center). The grassy area was still very soggy. I can just imagine what that might have looked like with all those people tramping on the grass. Churning the grass into mud. I shudder at the thought.

I especially would like to thank Ralph, the Village Administrator. Such kindness. He assisted me with so much in the past few weeks. Also Paul, the director of Public Works, and the several other Village employees who helped. Not to forget Mayor DiMaria, who was wonderful enough to open the Peace Vigil and welcome everyone who attended.

And Janine, Dilnaz, Jill, and Donelle. Appreciate all the encouragement, support, and downright coordination that happened over these past few weeks.

Right now, the Peace Vigil is a bit of a blur. I will probably run through it in my head a number of times, and critique it over the next few days. Right now, it is enough to say that the Peace Vigil accomplished its purpose wonderfully. It was a simple event. Janine, Dilnaz and I wanted to get some of the diverse people in our community together, think about peace and harmony, and seek to continue the conversation of peace. And, we did. It happened.

Morton Grove and its surrounding communities are indeed quite diverse. Culturally, ethnically, in terms of religion, and in several other ways. Great opportunity to embody the melting pot that is the United States.

The choir, the conversation, the community—all marvelous. Thank you to all who attended.

Dear God, thanks for a spirit of openness, of encouragement, and of friendship that was here in this Peace Vigil tonight. Thank You for assisting me in organizing and coordination. I am grateful, thankful, and humbled at the marvelous response and participation.

Bless all who attended, and give their families and loved ones comfort.

@chaplaineliza

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Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza  And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

PEACE: Feeling Safe, Being Safe

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Sunday, April10, 2016

PEACE: Feeling Safe, Being Safe

Today I will share some special personal definitions of PEACE. These definitions came from an opportunity to visit the Muslim Community Center last Sunday afternoon.

The president of the Sunday school reminded the gathered crowd that I was there to ask the simple question “What is PEACE, to you?”

First, Taqeer’s personal definition: “PEACE is inside, at first, in your heart.”

When I asked if I could know more about that definition, Taqeer said, peace gets planted inside you. After that, then you give peace to others.

Then, Zaineb. Her personal definition: “PEACE is being/feeling safe, and equality.”

I was very much moved by what she told me. First, she mentioned her definition. I asked for further words to describe It was then that I felt such compassion. She had such challenges! Being born into a refugee camp, she had such memories. Frightened, feeling helpless and powerless, anger, despair. Zaineb and I embraced. I felt my heart overflow with such compassion for her.

Thanks to God that Zaineb is here in this country, now. Be truly present to her and her loved ones as she journeys along her path. Thanks for Taqeer and his family, too. We praise You for openness and for welcoming such a spectrum of difference, diversity and ability.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza  And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

(Thanks to everyone at the Muslim Community Center in Morton Grove, for making this week f personal definitions of PEACE possible.)

PEACE – Centered in the Holy

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Monday, March 21, 2016

PEACE – Centered in the Holy

I am fascinated at how many variations people come up with. In terms of personal definitions of PEACE, that is.

(Reminder: not to worry! I will continue with posting of definitions of PEACE from the young people at St. Viator’s High School right after Easter!)

Some days ago, I attended a United Church of Christ ministerial meeting here in the Chicago area at the beginning of March. I asked a number of my fellow clergy “What does PEACE mean to you?”

The Reverend Sally Iberg came up with this personal definition of PEACE: “PEACE is centered in the Holy.”

Short, succinct. To the point.

I do not know Sally Iberg well. Her definition intrigued me at the time, and still interests me greatly. I haven’t had the time to connect with her to find out more about her definition. (Which intrigues me even further.)  When she speaks of the Holy, I know she refers to God. Yet, she refers to even more than God. (As most people think of God.)

I think of the astounding holiness of God. The Holy, indeed! When an individual is centered on God, of course there will be peace within. But, that’s not all. No! “The Holy” is a much more expansive concept of God. Yes, all-powerful and all-knowing. All-loving and, yes. PEACEFUL. Peace, like God’s peace. Peace, like the peace that passes all understanding, or Jesus’s peace—not as the world gives peace.

Oh, Holy One, thank You for Sally’s wonderful definition. It certainly sparked some pondering and meditation, as I took time and reflected. Dear God, especially in this Holy Week, help me keep Holiness before me. Help me ponder Your peace and holiness.

@chaplaineliza

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Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza  And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

A Sustainable PEACE for All

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Saturday, March 19, 2016

A Sustainable PEACE for All

I am taking a break from my posting of personal definitions of PEACE from St. Viator’s High School. Going back some days, I had the opportunity to hear Rev. Terry Gallagher speak at a ministerial meeting here in the Chicago area at the beginning of March. This personal definition of PEACE is more political than many of the other definitions I have heard, so far. (Just letting people know.)

Terry is some speaker. Trained as a chemical engineer, he came to the ministry late. Went to seminary in his fifties, and now serves as a United Church of Christ minister. He is also the Chair of the Environmental Task Force of the Illinois Conference of the UCC. He knows what effects various chemicals have on the earth, the plant life, the water, the animals—everything.

He shared a specific situation involving a group of indigenous people in Latin America and mining practices of a foreign company who owned the mine outside their village. How the mining company kept gradually poisoning not only the miners, but also their families. And, the air, the water, the plant life, the animals, and the general state of public health for the whole area around the mine.

Terry broadened his talk to cover God’s Creation, how it was created as very good, and how humans are to be stewards of the earth. And, finished up with a whole list of excellent—and simple!—ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. Ways to educate, and to facilitate learning in large groups.

I asked Terry for his personal definition of PEACE. He was intrigued, and told me he would like to think about it. Several days later, he sent me an email with this excellent definition. Terry said: PEACE is the just sustainable access to the life systems of God’s Good Creation for all creatures now present and for eons yet to come.

He also sent me an impactful photo along with the email. I was also intrigued, and asked where it was taken. His response: “It was taken several years ago in front of the White House as part of the protest against building the Tars Sands Oil pipeline known as the Keystone XL. 1073 of us got arrested over a 10 day period, and that was a significant factor in the stoppage of this particularly obscene destruction of Creation.”

Terry, God bless you for your work. God bless you for your tireless commitment to the betterment of the planet. Even though different people have deeply held political stands on some of these issues, still. Dear God, thank You for Terry’s integrity and strong love for Your creation.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er