
Blessed are the Peacemakers
April 30, 2023
We believe that the gospel is about the redemption of people’s souls and bodies, as well as the redemption of political, economic, and ecological systems. And we have a small team of congregants who encourages and inspires us to live into that vision.
If you’re interested in learning more about we’ve been doing lately, please check out our current PeaceMatters newsletter.
If you have questions or would like to join our work, please contact our commission chair.
David Weaver-Zercher, a former associate pastor at Grantham Church and now a professor of American religious history at Messiah University, has researched and written about Brethren in Christ attitudes and actions regarding race during the Civil Rights Movement, from 1950-1975. The two-part series appeared in the December 2021 and April 2022 editions of Brethren in Christ History and Life, the journal of the Brethren in Christ Historical Society.
Our denomination can be proud that we spoke out against racism during those years, while at the same time lament the fact that we did not do enough and made decisions that in retrospect were ill-advised and perpetuated racist attitudes and stereotypes. Knowing this part of our denominational history can help us in our current efforts to pursue racial justice.
When we think about the need for peace, many of us understandably focus on distant violent campaigns such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But we are also called to be peacemakers in our local contexts and interpersonal encounters. Our speakers, Jim and Lorraine Amstutz, will help us consider how we can translate our peace theology into concrete actions in our daily lives and relationships. Jim will speak during the service, and then during our “Lunch & Learn” afterwards, Lorraine will lead “An Introduction to Cultural Intelligence and Practical Peacebuilding” in the fellowship hall.
Our goal for the ingathering offering is $5,000.
Check out some of our past sermon series and topics regarding peace and social justice.
April 30, 2023
May 1, 2022
April 24, 2022
January 31, 2021
January 24, 2021
January 17, 2021
January 10, 2021