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October 26, 2001
 Re:
MCCO Peace packet:
At Such a Time as This:
Anabaptists in Colombia and Canada Respond to God's Call for Peace in Colombia
To: Pastors and Peace Sunday Planning committees
What does it mean to celebrate Peace Sunday only two months after September
11 -- a day that many claim has changed the world? What would Jesus do in the
troubled autumn of 2001? Can we still use this year's MCC Peace Packet in such
a way that acknowledges the current state of the world while still focusing on
the situation in Colombia? Yes! You can use the MCC Peace Packet as a resource
for your Peace Sunday celebrations in November, even in the aftermath of September
11.
The same realities of violence and injustice exist both in the Colombian context
and in the global armed conflict that is now developing. Perhaps more importantly,
the same Spirit that animates our response to the violence in Colombia can also
inspire us to find creative and non-violent responses to the new "war on
terrorism."
The point is not to downplay the significance of September 11I; rather, it
is to acknowledge that terrorism and its root causes are "mirrored"
in other parts of the world. It is to acknowledge that the "war on terrorism"
is not really a new kind of war (as the media would have us believe) because similar
"search and destroy" methods have been used throughout the world, always
with long-lasting harmful effects.
In Colombia, the current "war on drugs" bears striking resemblance
to the war on terrorism - instead of dropping bombs, the planes are dumping tonnes
of poisonous herbicides on the Colombian land and people. Instead of firing missiles,
some Canadian companies are destroying the lives of Colombian people by forcing
them off their land to build large hydroelectric or mining projects. These are
just a few examples of how we can make connections between the "war on terrorism"
and the violence in Colombia.
In a letter to the Mennonite Church of the United States, Ricardo Esquivia
(director of JustaPaz -- Colombian peace organization) writes the following words:
"I think that this [terrorist act of September 11] brings us closer together.
Now that you, too, have experienced pain and fear, it's not necessary for you
to imagine what it's like to live with insecurity." Colombians have been
living in a war zone for decades - now in some way we as North Americans have
a new perspective on the realities of war and destruction. Our experiences since
September 11 can therefore add new meaning to our Peace Sunday worship.
So while we encourage you to maintain the Colombia-Canada connection as the
primary theme for your Peace Sunday celebrations, we recognize that the current
war against Afghanistan also will be weighing heavily on peoples' hearts and minds.
Here are some specific ideas for modifying and/or augmenting your Peace Sunday
celebrations to include a response to the current war on terrorism:
- Worship service - In the "introduction to the Peace Sunday theme,"
include a brief explanation of why the events since September 11 are related to
the situation in Colombia.
Continue with the worship service as suggested in the Packet, then make a transition
by using the Sunday School time to discuss connections between Colombia and the
"war on terrorism".
- The Prayers of the Faithful project -- many churches in Canada will be participating
in this special project on or around November 11, and we encourage you to maintain
this element within your Peace Sunday worship service. Encourage people to write
their prayers and messages to Colombia with sensitivity -- i.e. even though as
Canadians we have been affected by September 11, we cannot really say, "I
know how you feel."
- Canadian connection - Part of the focus of the Peace Packet is helping Canadians
understand how their Canadian government and Canadian corporations are implicated
in the violence in Colombia. In a similar way, your congregation may want to talk
about how Canada is involved in the current military offensive.
- Learning from the Colombian church - Many people ask the question: "How
can we respond to terrorism with non-violence? Won't that just allow the terrorists
to continue what they're doing?" We shouldn't evade the hard questions, but
we should also look for wisdom and experience from those who have already struggled
with these questions for a long time. The Peace Packet contains stories of people
who have looked for non-violent ways of responding to the terrorism and violence
in Colombia. We can learn from them. See Ricardo Esquivia's complete letter at:
Canadian
Mennonite, October 8, 2001, page 13, or www.mennolink.org/peace/sept11esquivia.html
- Letter-writing -- In addition to providing copies of the sample letters in
the Peace Packet, also provide copies of another letter that calls for peace and
justice in the war on terrorism.
Contact peacepacket@mennonitecc.on.ca
for samples.
- MCC materials - MCC has been preparing various worship materials and other
action suggestions for congregations wanting to respond to the events of September
11. You may want to incorporate some of these materials into your Peace Sunday
activities. Look for these materials on MCC's web site (www.mcc.org)
or call your nearest MCC office.
At such a time as this, may God be with you in your preparations for Peace
Sunday. Through the coming weeks ... and through the confusion and loss of these
times ... may your church find ways of worshipping and acting together that point
toward God. May your Peace Sunday activities become a living witness to the message
of our Lord Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace.
Blessings!
Sincerely,
Matthew Bailey-Dick, Compiler of the MCCO Peace Packet 2001
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