On Earth Peace - An agency rooted in the Church of the Brethren

Midway into its campaign for the International Day of Prayer for Peace on September 21, 2010, On Earth Peace has launched a drive between now and August 2, 2010 to increase by 25 the number of faith & community groups that are conducting public vigils, community events that involve two or more congregations and groups. Groups signing up during the drive will receive additional support and training for local participants. Find more information about the drive here.

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Just Released: "River's Gonna Rise Up" - the 2010 IDPP Campaign Video

This is the official video for the On Earth Peace 2010 campaign for the International Day of Prayer for Peace. The video was produced by Kay Guyer, a freshman at Manchester College, Manchester, IN, with original music composed by composer-songwriter Shawn Kirchner, and sung by Shawn Kirchner and Ryan Harrison.

Please feel free to download the video or to use it in public gatherings as you wish. This video is our gift to you.

IDPP 2010 Campaign: "A Future and a Hope"

On Earth Peace’s scriptural focus for 2010-2011 comes from Jeremiah 29 (4-7, 10-11), NKJV:

4 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. 7And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace. 10 For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. 11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah speaks to the Jewish people in exile, with words of hope and encouragement for a community that feels bereft in Babylon. Although many readers of this blog are not in literal exile, feeling bereft is not out of order for anyone rooted in God’s call for radical love and obedience. We, too, are in exile from God’s realm of grace, justice, peace—from God’s intended wholeness for humanity. Where in the world are we?

On Earth Peace Board Plans for Future with Hope

(March 22, 2010) – During their spring meeting, the On Earth Peace board of directors discussed ways the organization is continuing to help youth, children, families, congregations, and community leaders to work toward a more peaceful and hopeful future.

The biannual gathering took place on March 19-20, 2010, at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. Major items of business included revisions to the organization’s bylaws (which will be presented for approval at On Earth Peace’s breakfast at Annual Conference) and updates on expansions for the Agape-Satyagraha, Ministry of Reconciliation, and International Day of Prayer for Peace programs.

In addition, On Earth Peace board and staff members participated in a three-hour session on the elimination of institutional racism, led by Valentina Satvedi, MCC Anti-Racism Program Director. Elimination of racism is an issue the On Earth Peace board and staff are committed to addressing – both within and outside of the organization.

The board also welcomed new board member Louise Knight of Mechanicsburg, Pa. On Earth Peace continues to conduct discussion and decision-making by consensus, led by board chair Madalyn Metzger.

Samuel Sarpiya, Rockford, IL Community Church pastor and church planter, joins On Earth Peace staff

Samuel Kefas Sarpiya has been hired to a six-month contract as part-time nonviolence organizer for On Earth Peace. His responsibilities include community organizing in Rockford, IL, and nonviolence leadership coaching for congregations and community groups around the country. “Samuel is expanding On Earth Peace’s capacity, so we can work more intensively with local violence reduction and peacebuilding projects. His organizing in Rockford is a model we’d like others to know about, and we’re excited to support it,” reported On Earth Peace program director Matt Guynn.

Sarpiya is the coordinating organizer for Rockford Partners for Excellence, a group formed in November 2009, which addresses issues of poverty and racism through creative community leadership. The group formed in the aftermath of a police shooting in August 2009.

Sarpiya continues his work as a church planter in the Illinois/Wisconsin District of the Church of the Brethren, planting the Rockford Community Church, a multicultural, peace-centered congregation that Samuel initiated in April 2009.

Sarpiya previously served as a missionary with Youth With A Mission (YWAM University of the Nations) and Urban Frontiers Mission. In YWAM, he served as Course Facilitator, Community Development Program Coordinator, Computer System Administrator and Delegate to the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), as well as the UN Council on Indigenous Peoples Affairs. With Urban Frontiers Mission, Samuel served as Evangelism & Missions Director, helping to pioneer different urban ministries all over West Africa. Samuel is a Nigerian-born South African national. He lives in Rockford, IL, with his wife and three daughters.

Susquehanna Song and Story Fest 2010
"Standing Up With Jesus"

Camp Swatara, Lebanon, PA
June 27-July 3, 2010

On Earth Peace is co-sponsoring its fourteenth annual Song & Story Fest, a family camp where everyone is family! It will be held at Camp Swatara, at the foot of beautiful Blue Mountain in northwestern Berks County, Pennsylvania, at the eastern edge of the Appalachians.

As differences and dissension roil the church, it seems like a good time to focus on our founder, Jesus. Though conflicting views of who he was abound, what he taught and lived are less in dispute. The Brethren have always taken these latter questions very seriously and have tried to follow Jesus’ way of living: peacefully, simply, and together. At least we used to. It’s time for us to turn again to Jesus, to stand up with him for the poor, oppressed, and excluded and against the religious , political, and economic authorities who would kill the spirit along with the body and the planet. So come and join us in this Fest to strengthen your resolve, clarify your faith, and practice “standing up with Jesus!”

This is the fourteenth summer in a row for these Song and Story Fests and is our first venture into the great state of Pennsylvania, heartland of the Church of the Brethren.

The Fest will begin on Sunday evening June 27 with supper at 5:30 pm, an opening campfire, and some music and dancing.

Just Released: "River's Gonna Rise Up" - the 2010 IDPP Campaign Video

IDPP 2010 Campaign: "A Future and a Hope"

Camp Swatara, Lebanon, PA June 27-July 3, 2010

Other News & Events

Camp Swatara, Lebanon, PA
June 27-July 3, 2010