80 pray for peace

By JOHN KLINE
THE GOSHEN NEWS

September 22, 2008 11:10 am

— MIDDLEBURY, Ind. — Nearly 80 people walked, prayed and spoke for peace in the world Sunday night.
The third annual Celebration for the International Day of Prayer for Peace was held in Middlebury’s Memorial Park after participants walked there from their churches.
Hosted by historical peace churches, the event began at 7:40 p.m. with candlelight processions to the park from each of the four participating churches: First Mennonite, Pleasant Oaks Mennonite, Bonneyville Mennonite, and Middlebury Church of the Brethren.
Perfect weather and a gentle breeze greeted the nearly 80 attendees of the vigil, which featured local musical talent, prayers led by various community and church members, and a presentation by the event’s guest speaker, Goshen College History Professor John Roth.
Roth, who serves as both director of the Mennonite Historical Library and editor of the Mennonite Quarterly Review, spoke on the need to stand firm when the temptation to “tune out” from all the violence and hate in the world begins to take hold.
“Many of us gather this evening with a heavy heart,” Roth said, noting that the current war in Iraq is nearing it’s fifth year with no clear ending in sight, and the amount of casualties on all sides continues to rise, along with the nearly $800 billion already spent in its name.
Despite such statistics, Roth reminded those in attendance Sunday that even if the war ended today, there would still be a reason to gather and pray for peace, as countries such as Zambia, Burma, Chechnya and many others around the world still deal with violence and death on a daily basis.
Also present at Sunday’s vigil was event coordinator and founder Linda Pieri, who said she began the event three years ago after becoming disillusioned with the apathy being expressed by many local churches in the face of the continuing war in Iraq.
“I’m a strong advocate for peace, and I go to a Mennonite church, so I was saddened when I saw the pacifists churches weren’t speaking out when it came to the war,” Pieri said. “So I spoke to my pastor at the First Mennonite Church, and he suggested this event.”
As for the date of the event, Sept. 21, Pieri noted how in 1981 the United Nations established that date as the International Day of Peace, which was later expanded by the World Council of Churches in 2004 to be known as an International day of Prayer for Peace.
“This is an event that the world is starting to follow more and more, and that’s what we chose to do — pray with the world,” Pieri said.
Pamela Yoder, of Goshen, was one of the night’s attendees.
“I think it’s definitely important for us to be praying for peace amidst a lot of struggles in the world, and to join our voices with others who are praying throughout the world for peace,” Yoder said. “I think we all need to be a part of something like this.”
Linda Young, of Middlebury, agreed.
“I go to the First Mennonite Church of Middlebury, and I came because I would like for there to be peace in the world, and this is the place that we can all get together and pray for that goal,” Young said. “It’s a wonderful thing, to be a part of something involving so many different churches, and different denominations, and really be able to put aside our differences and come together for peace.”