Congregational Peace and Justice Groups
ST. JOSEPH CHURCH
Lakewood
Our Peace and Justice Community first organized in the spring of 2005. We meet regularly the third Sunday of each month (after our 10:30 service). Our meetings include prayer, study/discussion and planning for action/events. General goals we have set forth for group include:
• Education for ourselves and for the larger congregation by ongoing book studies, videos, speakers, etc.
• Support for the national and newly formed Colorado chapter of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship.
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•Work with our youth group by periodically providing a program (and dinner) at their regular evening meetings.
Contact Chairperson: Marsha McCleary
St. Joseph Episcopal Church
11202 W. Jewell Ave.
Lakewood, CO 80232
Phone: 303-985-7170
“OJOS DE PAZ” LAKE COUNTY GROUP ON NONVIOLENCE
St. George’s Episcopal Church, Leadville
We are a small, diverse group that has experienced violence and abuse in a variety of ways; the seeds of fear and anger have affected each of us. Because our values are often contrary to those of our government and to much of our culture, our life experiences have brought us together in working to establish a culture of peace. These efforts go beyond living lives of nonviolence. Some of us have grown in life by relating with people who in various ways are different from the dominant culture. We see acts of violence, including those as horrible as that of 9-11-01, as opportunities for peacemaking, not revenge. We feel the art of making peace begins from within. It also depends on grass roots movements. We are part of that movement.
We are a group that pursues the cause of peace in large part by supporting one another, as well as by seeking to do the same with our local community, especially regarding those positive programs already in place. We are discovering who we are by sharing our personal stories with each other. In so doing, we have discovered the significance of active listening and cherishing everyone’s story. We see how necessary it is to engage in story-telling as a step in the peacemaking process. This is how we gain empathy and understanding, without which there can be no peace.
We value inclusiveness, that all individuals and groups of people, including those who do not share this value, should be given equal rights and opportunities, that all human beings and the environment are sacred. We respect all religious faiths and those without a faith. Our stories, as well as the workshop in which we participated in February, have revealed that abuse and violence have many faces, sometimes rather subtle, including being excluded or not being heard.
We are a group that sees violence growing at an alarming rate in this shrinking world, including violence to the very environment upon which we depend. However, we are also keenly aware of our own internal tendencies toward violence, wishing to move toward a space where that does not occur. We wish to establish healing relationships, both within ourselves and with the community and world of which we are a part. In so doing, we recognize it is easy to fall into a trap of self-righteousness. Thus, we strive to be a group that is always humble, open-minded and open to criticism. We want to avoid a good vs. evil, or right vs. wrong, mentality.
We are a group with an intuitive sense of justice that receives fulfillment by serving others and working for peace. We recognize there is a relationship between justice and peacemaking. We realize the complexity of peacemaking and the importance of seeing the bigger picture in life, of thinking holistically (seeing relationships), structurally (ex, unjust trade practices causing international tension), and globally, as well as seeking peace within ourselves and with others. We see peacemaking as a continued, educational process. It is the way, not the end.
Contact: Peter Moller
719-486-3480
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If you have a peace and justice oriented group in your parish and would like to be listed here, please send us a short description and contact information.
If your parish is planning a peace/justice event, please let us know and we will include it on this page.
