Brethren are called to prayer for Christian Peace Witness for Iraq.

Two Church of the Brethren agencies are calling for prayer for peace by Church of the Brethren congregations and members, in conjunction with the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq on March 7. The General Board has joined with On Earth Peace to issue invitations to prayer.

On Earth Peace has circulated a call for prayer from Phil Lersch of the Action for Peace Team, a committee of the Church of the Brethren’s Atlantic Southeast District. "During your faith community's times of worship this weekend, please consider praying for those traveling and participating in the events," said Matt Guynn, coordinator of peace witness for On Earth Peace.

"Please pray for the effectiveness of the Interfaith Peace Witness in Washington, D.C. on Friday, March 7, especially at 12 noon," wrote Lersch in his call for prayer. "Sponsored by Interfaith Peace Partnership, people of all faith traditions from across the United States will gather at noon in temples, mosques, synagogues, and churches in the US capital to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to justice and to the sacredness of human life, knowing that the world cries out for a common voice for peace from across religious traditions and paths. Following worship, participants will process to a jointly planned interfaith event near the Capitol Building."

Washington City Church of the Brethren (337 N. Carolina Ave. SE) is one of the locations that will host an Interfaith Peace Witness worship service at noon on March 7. The preacher for the service at the Church of the Brethren will be J. Daryl Byler, a Mennonite minister and a Mennonite Central Committee Regional Representative for Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, and Iran. Church of the Brethren member Cliff Kindy, who has been working in Iraq with Christian Peacemaker Teams, will be a speaker at the service at Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church (201 4th St. SE).

On Earth Peace is providing two workshops during the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, as part of its Welcome Home Project. The workshop titled "Healing the Troops" will be offered on Thursday, March 6, at 6:30-9 p.m., and on Friday, March 7, at 8:30-11 a.m., at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. Leaders are Dale Posthumus of University Park Church of the Brethren in Hyattsville, Md.; Mel Menker of Oak Park Church of the Brethren in Oakland, Md.; Doris Abdullah of First Church of the Brethren in Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Dennis O’Connor from Point Man International Ministries.

The Brethren Witness/Washington Office will host Brethren members and groups that travel to Washington, D.C., for the events. Contact the office at 800-785-3246 or washington_office_gb@brethren.org.

The Church of the Brethren General Board will hold special times of prayer for peace during its spring meetings, which also take place the weekend of March 7-10 in Elgin, Ill. "I would like to get the word out and call for a time of prayer this Sunday by our churches," announced Stanley J. Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board. He also is sending a letter of support to the organizers of the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, giving encouragement from the Church of the Brethren and issuing a pastoral call for an end to the violence in Iraq.

Visit the website of the Christian Peace Witness in Iraq to learn more about activities in Washington, and opportunities for others to hold worship services and prayer vigils in local communities: www.christianpeacewitness.org.

Source: 3/3/2008 Newsline Extra