We’ve Got Work to Do!
A MultiGenerational Collaboration of Faith & Action
As people of faith, we embrace Martin Luther King’s legacy of hope for a beloved community in which we live together in peace and safety. We unite to bring God’s vision of a peaceable kingdom, that we might end the violence killing our families, our friends, and our neighbors.  We resist the effects of racism and poverty against which Martin Luther King struggled, and apathy in the face of an epidemic of violence that took over 400 lives last year in Philadelphia alone.   Fear, closed doors, and separation will not end this epidemic.  We must come together and in a bold movement of faith and action to do something to make a real difference.   We act to end the violence, beginning with a focus on ending gun violence in the greater Philadelphia area.

The Invitation:
Faith communities in the greater Philadelphia area — city and suburb, rich and poor, young and old, are invited to come together this fall:
To participate in a project to bring together urban and suburban faith communities, from all religions and denominations, to learn from each other, discover our diversity and common ground, and develop the ideas and networks necessary to take effective action to reduce the gun violence in our city.
To join with over 500 faith-based activists for peace and social justice from across the nation, and nearly 1000 others from Philadelphia area congregations on January 17, 2009 to worship together and witness to the power of faith in action. 
To create positive energy, take positive action, and make positive change!

The Commitment:
3 adults and three youth/young adults from each of 3 faith communities
Come together for at least 3 meetings, October – December 2008
Engage in dialogue, shared learning, creative expression, and action planning
Host others from partner churches and faith-based activists from the national Peace Gathering for a morning of programming and prayer on January 17, 2009

The Resources:
Training for program facilitators
Informational materials on gun violence
Guidelines for dialogue and fall program planning
Speakers, materials and program ideas for January
Support for youth-initiated creative projects such as short videos, music production, etc.

The Worship & Witness:
In the afternoon, participants from all partner congregations and will come together to raise our hands, our hearts and our voices in worship and song.  We’ll hear from inspirational preachers and teachers, and we’ll take our witness to the street in support of grassroots, faith-based engagement in building peace in our communities.

A joint effort of the Church of the Brethren,
Mennonite Church USA and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
Of the Religious Society of Friends.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 13-17, 2009

Strengthening our witness and work for peace in the world by inspiring hope, raising voices and taking action.

Please direct inquiries to:
saturday@peacegathering2009.org
267-519-5302

Will You Join a Faith-Based Effort to Fight Violence?

We invite Philadelphia area faith communities in the city and suburbs, rich and poor, young and old—
to come together on January 17, 2009 and witness the power of faith in action! On January 17, 2009 there will be atleast 1,000 youth and youth groups/organizations meeting at 10 church locations around the Philadelphia for worship and workshops on gun violence, before coming together for the public witness.  Here youth will exhibit the songs, raps, posters, signs, spoken word,etc. for the whole world to see, hear and feel.

We’re looking for a few youth organizations and 1,000 youth to get involved with this Peace effort that I have a hand in leading, along with the Church of the Brethren, Mennonite Church USA, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (Quakers) and 30 local faith communities.  We are planning on a public witness event on Saturday, January 17, 2009 and I need the youth, young adults & adults, from all over the Tri-State Area, who listen to the HIP-HOP, RNB & Gospel Radio Stations, attend our Universities, Public/Parochial/Charter and Private Schools to be part of this event. 

Our belief: 
As people of faith…
We embrace Dr. Martin Luther King’s hope for peace and safety in our communities.
We resist apathy to this epidemic of violence, because fear, closed doors, and separation will not end it. 
We unite to bring God’s vision of a peaceable kingdom, without the violent loss of 400 lives in Philadelphia alone last year.

Join with other Philadelphia area faith communities as we gather in houses of worship for prayer, education and discussion, raise our hearts and voices in worship and song, hear from inspirational preachers and teachers and take action.

We’ll walk together to a rally in front of a local gun store notorious for selling guns used to threaten, wound and kill. Together we’ll call for retailers of firearms to adopt a sensible Code of Conduct to dramatically reduce the illegal trafficking of handguns.  This is the same code that has been adopted by Wal-Mart, America’s top gun seller.

We’ve Got Work To Do! Won’t you join us?
 
For more information or to register call (267) 519-5302.