Peacemaking Weekend
 

October 5-7, 2007

     A Weekend of “Re-imagining Peace”   The goal was to engage congregation members and the community at large in efforts to understand the importance of moving, through individual and collective initiatives, beyond the violence that characterizes so much of local and global life. And it was very successful.

   “The very word peace has become so politicized and captive to partisan language that we have lost the understanding of peace as a legitimate and achievable way to live and a framework for decision making,” .  “This weekend is a first step in reframing the conversation about peace as a possibility that can transform individual lives as well as addressing the larger issues of community and global violence,”  Rev. Mary Gaut                            

     The culmination of the weekend was the dedication of a Peace Pole near the Providence Road entrance to the church property, at 12:30 PM on Sunday, October 7.This followed the worship service which was attended by both church members and  others interested in peace. A wreath was placed at its base.

 The six sided pole bears the phrase “May peace prevail on earth” in 12 different languages, including Arabic and American Sign Language. Most of the languages represent a connection to the country of birth or ancestry of members of the congregation.  The hope is that it will serve as a visible symbol, for all those who regularly travel past the church, that the human longing for peace must inform all we do.

      The weekend kicked off on Friday night, Oct. 5, at 8 PM with a CONCERT BY WALT MICHAEL AND COMPANY, playing to a packed house.  Lincoln Center has described singer and multi-instrumentalist Walt Michael as “one of the most innovative and expressive of traditional musicians.”  Considered to be a virtuoso of tremendous influence in the revival of the hammered dulcimer, Walt’s wide repertoire ranges from Southern Appalachian, to Celtic, to breath-taking original compositions.  His composition, “Snowblind,” was commissioned for the closing ceremonies  of  the  13^th Winter Olympic Games and he and his ensemble have played
venues  as  diverse  as  the Tonight Show, A Prairie Home Companion, The White House, and   numerous   music  festivals  abroad.  His passion is the ability of music to transcend differences and stir up new visions for human community.    It is based at  McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland (where Michael is artist in residence) and  draws artists  and  musicians  from  around  the  world.      

    A very interesting interactive workshop, Peacemaking in Real Life,  was held Sunday morning at 9:15- 10:30, led by Charles Collyer and Pamela Zappardino, co-founders and directors of the Ira and Mary Zepp Center for Nonviolence and Peace Education.  They work with groups as diverse as community groups to businesses and corporations seeking new, healthier, methods of interpersonal interaction.  Charlie teaches at the University of Rhode Island, where he co-founded the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies. Pam, a photographer and art critic, is the president of PlanWorks Consulting, is a nonviolence educator.