I have a copy of a record by Donald Swann called A Crack in Time, a Concert in Search of Peace and produced by FoR in about 1973. I was also at a concert he did. I was getting it out as I am doing a talk on music for peace as I wanted to give an alternative to WW1 ‘celebrations’, to my local music group. I will try and get it put on cd unless you it has already been done.
Fifty years ago when I was a freshman at Kansas University I encountered a charismatic Quaker who was leading a FoR chapter on campus. He introduced me to the philosophy of non-violence, taught and trained me in its precepts and techniques, and encouraged me to participate in several on-going campaigns: the first was off campus and involved a protest to integrate the Lawrence, Kansas downtown public swimming pool, and the second consisted of a series of teach-ins and protests against the Vietnam war. That was the beginning of my activism and commitment “for justice, peace and democracy now”, which I have sustained for more than 50 years. I have worked with many different organizations over the years, but not FoR since my undergraduate days. so I thought about time to touch base via the newsletter.
What an excellent story and thank you for getting in touch – it’s great to hear from people who’ve been involved and are committed to nonviolence. Did you say that you receive our newsletter?
I am an Anglican – having worked for the United Nations – and favour use of UN Peacekeeping military forces in areas of conflict. I have also served in the Armed Services. Does this preclude me from FOR membership? Please e-mail response.
Very many thanks.
GOD BLESS ALL PACIFISTS AND CHRISTIAN PEACE MAKERS.
I have been a christian pacifist all my adult life,42 years.
I would like to make contact with other like -minded peace people.
MANY BLESSINGS.
Hi there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after checking through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back frequently! kfcbfdbbcdfg
Hi Chris
Thank you for your thought provoking reflection and suggestions. One or two more thoughts…
To be peacemakers is such an important calling but it is not high on our church calandars’ list of priorities. I wonder if we are better to go for time bound commiments to pray and act for peace in our churches. In other words, rather than a slot each week, we adopt the fairtrade model and go for a ‘peacemakers fortnight’. This could be in February to include Valentine’s Day. (Desmond Tutu proposed Valentine’s day be put to better purpose as a day of peace.)
We also needs lots more creative resources to use in our ‘Sunday schools’., Messy Church, all age services so peacemaking is not so cerebral but feeds body, mind and soul and changes us.
Hi Barbara and Chris,
The Peace Education Network have recently produced this resource pack aimed at primary age children https://www.quaker.org.uk/teach-peace-pack – thought it might be useful. In some countries/cultures valentines day is already more about friendship and peace. Also how about focusing on Peace Day in September? Pax Christi’s Peace Sunday works well too – in January picking up on the Pope’s New Year peace message.
It is wrong on every level and totally ridiculous that any Christian Church shod allow ARMS DEALING to be carried out in their buildings – CHRIST IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE!
We Quakers in Needham Market have a silent Peace Vigil at room 4 Christchurch, ( United Reformed Church ) Needham Market. Suffolk.
from 10am until 12.00 midday.
Hi, I would like to join but am having trouble with the forms and donation process. I have seen a message saying I need to verify my email but haven’t received the email to verify. Despite the problems I’m keen to sign up and make a donation. I’m in the UK East Midlands. Are there any groups local to me? I’m active in my local church and would like to hear about resources you can offer for promotion of peace.
Thanks
Peter
Hi Peter, thanks for your comment. I’m not sure what the verification thing is about – I thought it just asks for two digits at the bottom of the form? Sorry about that, will email you now and join you up that way.
Cheers!
Very interested in joining, & getting involved, but don’t currently use debit/credit card. Would be keen to set up direct debit/standing order- is this possible please? Many thanks
Recently FOR USA has changed their focus to domestic issues and has decided not to publish articles about Syria / Bahrain. When I started with them 3 years ago I did so knowing that I would primarily be working on the Syrian prisoners of conscience page forusa.org/content/syrian-political-prisoners. I would like to still contribute to FOR by writing for IFOR.I am still well connected with the activist and specialist in and out of Syria and Bahrain. Please tell me what I can do to contribute.
It’s not exactly a ‘prayer for peace’ so much as a ‘scripture for peacemakers’ – I wrote it as part of a sermon and it proved very popular so CPT picked it up.
I also have a copy of the DONALD SWANN album. I have never seen it before, im surprised how good the album is. Are you still after a copy of it?
Kind regards
Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words
in your article seem to be running off the screen in Chrome.
I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but
I figured I’d post to let you know. The layout look great though!
Hope you get the problem resolved soon. Cheers
I have a copy of a record by Donald Swann called A Crack in Time, a Concert in Search of Peace and produced by FoR in about 1973. I was also at a concert he did. I was getting it out as I am doing a talk on music for peace as I wanted to give an alternative to WW1 ‘celebrations’, to my local music group. I will try and get it put on cd unless you it has already been done.
Oh how wonderful! Yes please, I’ll email you about this post-haste.
Would love to contribute to peacemakers publication by providing information when asked
Fifty years ago when I was a freshman at Kansas University I encountered a charismatic Quaker who was leading a FoR chapter on campus. He introduced me to the philosophy of non-violence, taught and trained me in its precepts and techniques, and encouraged me to participate in several on-going campaigns: the first was off campus and involved a protest to integrate the Lawrence, Kansas downtown public swimming pool, and the second consisted of a series of teach-ins and protests against the Vietnam war. That was the beginning of my activism and commitment “for justice, peace and democracy now”, which I have sustained for more than 50 years. I have worked with many different organizations over the years, but not FoR since my undergraduate days. so I thought about time to touch base via the newsletter.
What an excellent story and thank you for getting in touch – it’s great to hear from people who’ve been involved and are committed to nonviolence. Did you say that you receive our newsletter?
Hi Emma,
I’d like to become a member.
Many thanks,
Geraldine
Is there a local group in Reading, Berkshire?
Not currently, but there is one starting in Oxford – please do come to that one! More details to follow.
I am an Anglican – having worked for the United Nations – and favour use of UN Peacekeeping military forces in areas of conflict. I have also served in the Armed Services. Does this preclude me from FOR membership? Please e-mail response.
Very many thanks.
Hi,
I’d like to come along to the meeting this Thursday.
Thank you!
Rachael
Wonderful, see you there! Thanks for the RSVP.
GOD BLESS ALL PACIFISTS AND CHRISTIAN PEACE MAKERS.
I have been a christian pacifist all my adult life,42 years.
I would like to make contact with other like -minded peace people.
MANY BLESSINGS.
Hi there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after checking through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back frequently! kfcbfdbbcdfg
Hi Chris
Thank you for your thought provoking reflection and suggestions. One or two more thoughts…
To be peacemakers is such an important calling but it is not high on our church calandars’ list of priorities. I wonder if we are better to go for time bound commiments to pray and act for peace in our churches. In other words, rather than a slot each week, we adopt the fairtrade model and go for a ‘peacemakers fortnight’. This could be in February to include Valentine’s Day. (Desmond Tutu proposed Valentine’s day be put to better purpose as a day of peace.)
We also needs lots more creative resources to use in our ‘Sunday schools’., Messy Church, all age services so peacemaking is not so cerebral but feeds body, mind and soul and changes us.
Hi Barbara and Chris,
The Peace Education Network have recently produced this resource pack aimed at primary age children https://www.quaker.org.uk/teach-peace-pack – thought it might be useful. In some countries/cultures valentines day is already more about friendship and peace. Also how about focusing on Peace Day in September? Pax Christi’s Peace Sunday works well too – in January picking up on the Pope’s New Year peace message.
Done
It is wrong on every level and totally ridiculous that any Christian Church shod allow ARMS DEALING to be carried out in their buildings – CHRIST IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE!
We Quakers in Needham Market have a silent Peace Vigil at room 4 Christchurch, ( United Reformed Church ) Needham Market. Suffolk.
from 10am until 12.00 midday.
Hi, I would like to join but am having trouble with the forms and donation process. I have seen a message saying I need to verify my email but haven’t received the email to verify. Despite the problems I’m keen to sign up and make a donation. I’m in the UK East Midlands. Are there any groups local to me? I’m active in my local church and would like to hear about resources you can offer for promotion of peace.
Thanks
Peter
Hi Peter, thanks for your comment. I’m not sure what the verification thing is about – I thought it just asks for two digits at the bottom of the form? Sorry about that, will email you now and join you up that way.
Cheers!
An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a colleague who had been doing a little research on this.
And he in fact bought me dinner due to the fact that I discovered it for him…
lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!!
But yeah, thanx for spending the time to talk about
this topic here on your website.
Hey,
Very interested in joining, & getting involved, but don’t currently use debit/credit card. Would be keen to set up direct debit/standing order- is this possible please? Many thanks
Certainly, thank you for asking. There is a standing order form on our website at https://for.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/FoR-Standing-Order-Form.pdf which can be printed out and sent to us.
Recently FOR USA has changed their focus to domestic issues and has decided not to publish articles about Syria / Bahrain. When I started with them 3 years ago I did so knowing that I would primarily be working on the Syrian prisoners of conscience page forusa.org/content/syrian-political-prisoners. I would like to still contribute to FOR by writing for IFOR.I am still well connected with the activist and specialist in and out of Syria and Bahrain. Please tell me what I can do to contribute.
Maureen McDonald
1-941-421-2394
nothing just to say thanks to the Almighty god for this opportunity
Thank you for taking a stand against War
It’s not exactly a ‘prayer for peace’ so much as a ‘scripture for peacemakers’ – I wrote it as part of a sermon and it proved very popular so CPT picked it up.
http://www.cpt.org/cptnet/2016/02/01/1-corinthians-13-cpters
Are there any groups running in Portsmouth, England?
I also have a copy of the DONALD SWANN album. I have never seen it before, im surprised how good the album is. Are you still after a copy of it?
Kind regards
Dave
Is there a local group in Leicester, or the East Midlands?
Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words
in your article seem to be running off the screen in Chrome.
I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but
I figured I’d post to let you know. The layout look great though!
Hope you get the problem resolved soon. Cheers