Sample Letter on Africom
Click here to view a sample letter on limiting militarism in Africa.
Abundant Life Sunday: Trade for the Common Good
April 25 marked the final Sunday in the MCC Washington Office’s year-long campaign, Abundant Life: Economic Justice for All. Congregations throughout the United States participated in the campaign through prayer, worship, education and advocacy focused on trade that is fair and just.
Some of the participating congregations included Jubilee Mennonite Church (Bellefontaine, Ohio), Prairie Lake Covenant Church (Chetek, Wis.), Living Hope Fellowship (Ithaca, N.Y.) and Seattle Mennonite Church.
Cluster Bomb Advocacy
First Mennonite Church (Hutchinson, Kan.) recently asked their Members of Congress to stop the indiscriminate maiming and killing caused by U.S. cluster bomb munitions. After a mid-week presentation on cluster bombs from Titus Peachey, Director of Peace Education for MCC U.S., congregants signed and sent 60 postcards to Congress asking that they co-sponsor the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act (S. 416/H.R. 981). Cluster bombs were also the focus of an article in the congregation’s newsletter.
Cluster bombs have poor targeting mechanisms, cover a wide land area and often fail to detonate on impact. Consequently, unintended people are killed or maimed by the bombs long after they have been dropped. The bombs have been used in over 20 countries and often affect a community for more than one generation. For more information visit: clusterbombs.mcc.org.
Days of Prayer and Action for Peace in Colombia
New Hope Fellowship (Alexandria, Va.), Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship (New York, N.Y.), and Circle of Mercy Congregation (Asheville, N.C.) were among dozens of churches that observed the Days of Prayer and Action for Peace in Colombia in April.
New Hope Fellowship member Nancy Sharpe wrote, “I think the event was well received… the kids really enjoyed connecting on the subject… by decorating the frames for the portraits [of Colombians displaced by the violence]. [They] learned about how Jesus, Mary and Joseph were displaced to Egypt because King Herod was killing all the baby boys.”
Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship prayed for Colombia during their worship service. Additionally, congregation members made portraits for the Face the Displaced campaign. “Old and young enjoyed making the posters,” wrote Pastor Sylvia Shirk Charles. She noted that MMF did a three-week series focused on Colombia, starting with Days of Prayer and Action and continuing with two other MCC-promoted campaigns, focused on trade and immigration.
The Walker Wilson family, Susanne, Greg, and their two sons, are members of Circle of Mercy Congregation and are also currently serving a three-year assignment with MCC in Colombia. Ken Sehested, co-pastor of Circle of Mercy, wrote that the congregation marked Days of Prayer and Action by reading a meditation by Susanne Walker Wilson on their work in Colombia.
They then signed letters to President Obama seeking justice for the people of Colombia, including ending military aid and increasing aid for internally displaced persons (see a version of the letter to Congress at the link below). “Each of our members also has a copy of one of the photos of displaced persons at home [posted] wherever they might see it often. On Pentecost Sunday we’ll have everyone bring them back to worship for a special ritual of remembrance.”
The focus of Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia was on ending all military aid to Colombia, and prioritizing instead social and humanitarian funding for Colombians displaced by the civil war. Specifically, it highlighted H. Res. 1224, introduced by Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) to honor the work of Colombia’s Constitutional Court on behalf of internally displaced Colombians.
For more information on the campaign or to see a sample letter to Congress, visit washington.mcc.org/days.
