October 21 Peace Liturgy at White House
Dear friends,
On March 16, 2007, thousands of people joined a powerful witness for peace that began in worship at the Washington National Cathedral and culminated in the arrests of dozens of activists in front of the White House later that evening. Last month, we renewed that witness in Washington with a liturgy of peacemaking in front of the White House.
The witness continues on October 21, with a peacemaking liturgy at 5:00 p.m. in Lafayette Park in front of the White House. Recalling the Biblical prophet Habakkuk’s words that “the very stones will cry out,” the service on the 21st will include the laying of stones at the gates to the White House representing the Iraq War dead. This prophetic gesture was a powerful part of the September event, and will be continued in October as we join our voices to those of peacemakers across the nation in a continuous witness in churches and public spaces, insisting that the occupation of Iraq must end.
The White House witness is being convened by a group of metro-DC area clergy and laity in response to the call to commitment from the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq. The witness will continue on the third Sunday of each month until the war ends. We invite you to share this invitation with your faith community, and post copies of the attached flyer wherever possible.
We call on faithful peacemakers across the region to join us in this witness. If you attended the September witness, we challenge you to invite five friends to join you at the witness in October.
We also need your financial support to cover the administrative costs of continuing this witness. To support the witness, please send a contribution to the attention of Gene Betit at Our Lady Queen of Peace, 2700 South 19th Street, Arlington, VA 22204, made out to “Our Lady Queen of Peace,” and designated to “Christian Peace Witness for Iraq.” All funds will be used to offset direct costs of the witness (park permits, copying, sound equipment rental). Any leftover funds will be contributed to the national Christian Peace Witness for Iraq for the planned national spring witness.
The voices of the dead have been silenced; the stones themselves will bear witness. Habakkuk’s words admonish the faithful to “make the vision plain.” Nothing can be plainer nor more urgent than the call to end the occupation in Iraq now.
Shalom,
The Rev. Madeleine Beard
Deacon, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Highland, MD
Deacon Gene Betit
Social Justice Minister, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Arlington, VA
The Rev. Dr. David Ensign
Pastor, Clarendon Presbyterian Church, Arlington, VA
The Rev. Mary Ganz
Minister of Community Building, Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, Arlington, VA
Elder Paul Verduin
Rockville United Church, Rockville, MD
