| REGARDING KOSOVO: PYM Statement on Violence in Yugoslavia Independence Mall Vigil for Peace AFSC Efforts · Information Links |
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Yesterday, Sunday, May 23, eleven of us gathered at Independence Mall for our weekly prayer vigil. This was our smallest gathering to date, but a hardy group considering the torrential downpour that occurred shortly before our starting time.
As usual, many passers-by read our signs and waved or smiled or nodded to indicate their agreement or approval. Some said, "Thanks," while many tourists photographed or videotaped our silent gathering.
In contrast, one passer-by in a car shouted at us: "Get a life!" This comment sparked many reflections. For one of us, it brought to mind the Biblical passage in which God says: "I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death" (Jeremiah 21: 8). In that moment, to publically stand in silent prayer for peace was to make the choice of Life over the way of death. A feeling came that recalled what Jesus said to the woman at the well: "The water that I give them will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life."
The other was struck by the appropriateness of the insult: we are, indeed, called to get a life—a Life in the spirit, an awakening to the rigors and the joys of discipleship, and a transforming response to the violence and war that soaks our culture, our economy and our relationships.
As we closed the gathering, a Friend who had joined us for the first time said she had never been to a meeting for worship for protest before. Another Friend said that the first meetings for worship that he ever attended were held at a weekly vigil during the Viet Nam war—a vigil that was maintained for ten years.
Our vigils are indeed a protest against the war and bombing in Yugoslavia, but we call them prayer vigils because they are more than a protest against what we believe to be wrong. We are seeking God's help to stop that violence. We hope they are also a witness to another way, the way of a God-centered life. They are a testimony to a belief that the answer to war and violence is peace. We hope our prayer vigils will raise at least a question: What if we really choose Life and set the way of peace at the core of our individual and national lives?
We are grateful to all those who have responded to our reports with comments, questions, thanks, poetry, information, and words of solidarity. Many have told us that they join us in prayer though not in body.
For information about the vigils, held each Sunday at 5 pm on Market St. between 5th and 6th, please contact Marcelle or Jorge 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