Hello, Friends!
On Sunday, October 10, 1999, four of us met again at 5 PM to pray for peace in the world on Independence Mall. How peaceful a time it was! Many tourists, many pictures taken, and, still, a purity in the air, a rising of the heart, a lovingness that seemed to permeate us all and follow those few who approached us or just looked and went away. One adolescent girl was very interested in what we were doing, asked questions and eventually grabbed a sign, standing with us for a little while. Her family took it as a unique photo opportunity, for several of them then took turns holding signs and having their pictures taken with us. I (Jorge) have been a tourist who, like them, has wanted to capture all around me. Me at the center. I thought of us, humans, being capable of standing by the side of Jesus crucified to take a photo home to show and tell. Enveloped in the tenderness of prayer I was reminded of the story of the two robbers crucified along side with Jesus and how the saving grace of love reached at least one of them: the Spirit can use any situation to reach us, to change us. Who knows, maybe the Spirit was using us right there to bring people closer to the real center of our lives, God, and to God's love and peace...
George Willoughby, from Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, wrote: "(We'll) be bound for the clean prairie air of Kansas and be away for two weeks. Will hold you and others in the Light each Sunday evening. Carry on. Small acts are hardly revolutionary, but they sometimes do lead the way to deep and lasting change."
On our last report I wrote a short note on the struggle of one indigenous people in Colombia, the U'wa. Several times I have been blessed this week with the presence and the words of indigenous women from different countries of Latin America. With quiet or overflowing passion they have brought to us their plight for peace and for justice. They have spoken about their people being killed by military, para-military and guerrilla forces, their villages and crops being destroyed by the U.S. sponsored war on drugs. They have asked us, please, to do something about it. Thank you to those who responded to the note on the U'wa. Thank you for your prayers. If you would like to know more about the testimonies and the struggles of these peoples, please let me know.
Friends who have been participating in the prayer vigils are exploring how we will continue during the winter months and after daylight savings time ends. We are considering having a meeting for worship on Sunday, Oct. 24, after the prayer vigil to collectively seek divine guidance around the issue. If you are interested, please contact us.
Blessings,
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.
Jorge and Marcelle
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM