| REGARDING KOSOVO: PYM Statement on Violence in Yugoslavia Independence Mall Vigil for Peace AFSC Efforts · Information Links |
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Dear Friends:
A group of sixteen to twenty Friends met again last Sunday, May 16, at 5:00 PM, to pray for peace in the Balkans, and to witness our solidarity with the victims of violence there and our reliance in the Spirit of peace to address conflict. As usual, we met on Independence Mall, across the street from the Liberty Bell.
I, Jorge, have felt moved to share with you what these vigils mean to me. I have hesitated, partly wondering whether this is the right channel to do so. With Marcelle's encouragement, I'll share a little.
As I pray, I am present to my fear of disapproval and my disappointment at Friends' apparent lack of a united, strong, radical opposition to the military assault on Yougoslavia perpetrated by the US and NATO. I am present also to my alienation from others, those perpetrating violence and those suffering it. In the corners of my soul, a painful question lurks as to whether God is really here to bring us peace. I pray for faith, faithfulness and love.
I am particulaly haunted by a question that some Friends and other persons generally ask: If not the bombing, what? There is another question that seems to lay behind the first: Where were you before the bombing?
However I might attempt to answer these questions, I feel compelled to acknowledge their rightness. They bring me back to the realization of both my own participation in the generation of the violence now unleashed in the Balkans and other parts of the world, and my utter impotence to do anything meaningful to leash it. May I at least cease my participation in generating that violence? Even this I feel I cannot do without God's help. The need for me to accept my total dependence in God's mercy and to radically change my ways to align them with the ways of God, this is what much of my prayer is about. I also pray that we all might be opened to this grace.
Henry Beck, a faithful attender from Gwynedd Meeting, shared with us his report, where he celebrates the presence of George Willoughby among us. In it he also suggest that those who want to see what other Friends are doing visit the Canadian Peace Web Page: Kosova / Kosovo: Friends Respond- http://www.web.net/~peaceweb/komain.html.
Washington area Quakers are doing a silent vigil on the east steps of the US Capitol building each Wednesday from 5-7 PM, and are also inviting others to join them. For more information, you might contact Errol Hess, errol@kitenet.net.
Our prayer vigils in Philadelphia continue: the need remains and we continue to feel led. If you want to join us and pray on Independence Mall or wherever you might be, we encourage you to do so. God willing, we will meet again this coming Sunday at 5:00 PM, across the street from the Liberty Bell.
If you have any questions, please contact us at cityquake@aol.com.
Love,
Jorge and Marcelle
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE
Independence Mall Vigil for PeacePlease join us at our weekly prayer vigils for peace in the world, held in front of the Liberty Bell on Market St. between 5th and 6th, every Sunday from 4 to 5 PM. For more information, contact cityquake@aol.com.
In our reports, participants share their experiences of the prayer vigils and explore beliefs related to their participation. Reports reflect the experience of each author and do not necessarily represent the beliefs or practice of all vigil participants. We welcome your responses, which are forwarded to the individual authors (when possible). We sometimes include part of a response in a future report, unless you ask us not to.
It is meaningful to us that you share in the vigils by reading these reports and in other ways, such as joining us in prayer.
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM