Hello, dear Friends!
While Marcelle continues on a retreat, Kaki Sjoggren, a member of our North Philadelphia Quaker community, has volunteered to write an account of our prayer vigil. Here it goes:
The Prayer Vigil for Peace of Sunday, September 19, 1999
Seven of us gathered for this vigil. The weather was practically perfect, lending to the enjoyment of witnessing for peace...
I heard an old song, "Let Peace Begin with Me," play in my mind. My friend, George Gottschalk sang it frequently in his beautiful tenor voice, before he died of complications due to AIDS. I think of him as a hidden victim of violence, just as the children caught in the middle of war are obvious victims. I pray for the ceasing of the violence, discrimination and bias against gays and other unpopular minorities.
My heart soared at the vigil as a man, from the African American minority, seized the occasion to take one of our signs and stand with us "for a little minute." Another African American man seemed to understand immediately what we were doing, took a copy of our literature, waved it at tourists and declared that this was something they should read! I then thought of previous leadings to take the vigil to 7th and Race, where the new Federal prison has been built across from the Afro-American History Museum. Some kind of cruel irony!
Lastly, I delighted at the passing by of old and young: first, the same 4’8" gray-haired lady returning from work in her blue smock, as usual, walking briskly and barely turning her head, but waving her hand vigorously in approval; a 7 year old Latino girl who slowly and carefully read every sign loudly and proudly; and, finally, the 8 or 9 year old girl in pink dress and socks, and patent leather shoes, who, while being pulled along by a seemingly oblivious grandmother, dug her feet and took us in like she might the cover of a fascinating storybook.
My friends in the recovery community remind me that "God is good …all the time!" S/He continues to be good to us at the Vigil.
George Willoughby, from Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, writes: "I followed your advice in report 24, if you can't come to the peace vigil then do it at home. So I did last Sunday. While the spirit desired to be at the Bell, the body said no. So I followed the spirit 'in spirit' and listened to the body, but in spirit was with you all at the Bell. Let us see what prevails this First Day."
We continue to be nourished by your encouragement and solidarity. Thank you for your messages and for joining us in prayer (public or not) wherever you are. Praying for peace in the world, letting the searching Light spot my inner wars, I (Jorge) have been struck by the apparent calm in our midst, as the horrors of the Balkans subside. East Timor is grieving, Colombia bleeds, the great, terrible war against the poor of the world rages on, but many of us seem to be falling back into cozy sleep. God, help us!
I would like to say good bye with a quotation that a fellow participant in our prayer vigils shared with me this week: "By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Gal. 5:22-3). — Something that I myself need to be open to and learn to live by.
Please, join us. For more information, contact AmigoJorge@aol.com.
Jorge
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