TPPC Peace Group

Peace Logos from the Presbyterian Church The TPPC Peace Group meets every third Thursday for food and fellowship, from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. For location, watch the church bulletin or call the church office.

Each meeting includes:

Sharing a potluck meal - to enjoy each others' company
Time for meditation and reflection - to ground ourselves in the Spirit
A discussion of a substantive issue related to peacemaking - to grow in our understanding of the issues that foster or undermine peace in our world
A discussion of how we might act in response to what we have learned - to act on our beliefs
Child care -- so that all can participate

Anywhere from 8-15 people come to the meetings and many more people support the programs aimed at obtaining peace on all scales.

We consider peace to be more than the absence of armed conflict. Peace requires respect for others, cultural tolerance, acknowledgement of differences and respect for territorial boundaries.

We strive to become voices and witnesses for peace by

learning about peace through study, prayer, dialogue and reflection;
focusing on peace-related concerns of interest to our congregation;
educating our congregation and community about peace and justice issues;
encouraging engagement in active non-violent direct actions;
enabling persons of the congregation and community to grow as peacemakers.

Here are a few of the issues we are involved in:

Campaign Against Torture -
"Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person." The use of torture accompanies most conflicts and the issue is particularly important in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and the Middle East conflicts. The United States has used torture in the war against terrorism. We believe that there can be no exceptions to the prohibition on using torture in investigations. The Session of TPPC is a signatory of the Statement of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.

Christian Peacemaker Teams -
In May 2006, Diana Zimmerman, of CPT, and a colleague, met with the TPPC Peace Group to discuss the work of CPT in Palestine, and particularly with At-Tuwani, a Palestinian village with which our church is linked through the Campaign for Secure Dwellings. Diana talked with us about the observer role of Christian Peacekeeper Teams. They witness and record the interactions between Israeli settlers and Palestinians. They do not take an activist stand. The actions they have witnessed included harassment of Palestinian children on their way to school, destruction of olive groves, and deprivation of water. They have kept in touch with us through emails.

This page will contain news and upcoming activities of the TPPC Peace Group. An information sheet with peacemaking opportunities at TPPC is available on this website. For more information, contact the group through swac@takomaparkpc.org.

TPPC Celebrate International Day of Peace with a Peace Vigil

TPPC held a peace vigil to commemorate International Day of Peace on September 21. Prayer was held in the chapel from 7 AM to 7 PM, and various peace-related activites were held in Sunday School as well as in worship.

For more information on the International Day of Peace, access the website at http://internationaldayofpeace.org/about/background.html

Peacemaking Opportunity Grants

In the past six months, the Peacemaking Opportunity Grants have assisted three members of our community to gain valuable peacemaking skills and walk in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world.

One member spent seventeen days, May 10-27, as part of a pilgrimage of 16 Presbyterians from all over the U.S., traveling to Jordan, Palestine, and Israel. This study tour was conducted in association with the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, an organization affiliated with our mainline Presbyterian Church (USA).
Another spent thee month of April in Colombia as a part of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship's Accompaniment Program This program sends teams of two to Barranquilla for a month to act as 'international eyes' for the Presbyterian Church of Colombia's human rights work. The violence and greed of the 400-year war in Colombia created the second largest population of displaced persons in the world, 4 million after Sudan's 5.8 million.
A third participated in the 6th annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days Conference. The conference was held in Alexandria, VAA, from March 7 – 10. Participants receive training on how to do advocacy, and learned about current U.S. policy related to social & environmental justice issues, both foreign and domestic. The sessions focused on how policy changes can work toward justice and peace in the world

This year's grants were small as funds were limited, but our three recipients were grateful for the support. We hope to be able to provide more such opportunities in the coming year, and we urge you to give generously to the special offering on October 5th.

Pray with Iraqi Christians

Every day at noon ET

All members, neighbors and friends of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are encouraged to join in prayer with our sisters and brothers in Christ in Iraq each day at noon ET. This invitation to prayer comes from the Office of the Middle East, the new Iraq Network and the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.

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