Caption: An image of Samuel Sarpiya, as well as his book The Highest of All Mountains. 

Written by Matt Guynn, Church and Community Group Director of Organizing

We are also pleased to welcome Samuel Sarpiya for our 15th OEP Community Meetup on September 17. Samuel first connected with OEP as part of Peace Day-inspired organizing in 2009, when he was planting a church in Rockford, IL.  Samuel will draw from his peacemaking and ministry experiences in Nigeria, South Africa, Hawaii, Illinois, and now Quebec. He recently published the book, The Highest of All Mountains: A Guide for Christians Seeking Peace and Becoming Peacemakers.  Samuel will share from his journey as a nonviolent practitioner, about the book, and respond to any questions about nonviolence as a way of life. More info and registration here. 

About the novel: This book is for people who believe that the gospel is a message of peace and this gospel of peace is relevant for our time. Peacemaking is a core part of our Christian discipleship just as we learn how to pray, just as we learn how to love our neighbors, just as we learn how to feed the hungry. We can also learn how to be peacemakers. This book will serve as a guide that will offer a scriptural guide with practical stories and applications. Readers will be challenged by Scripture to take the call to peacemaking into their communities.

(Source for painting)

Caption: A painting with a sprouting seed being the main focus. 

Written by Matt Guynn, Church and Community Group Director of Organizing

This is the 15th year that On Earth Peace has invited congregations and community groups to participate in the International Day of Peace (September 21).  This year we offer “Seeds of Peace,” a reflective meditation or prayer for use in personal meditation or congregational worship. Congregations are invited to incorporate this prayer into services on Sunday, September 19, or Sunday, September 26.  Please let us know how you use it by writing to [email protected].  You can find the prayer here.

On Earth Peace invites individuals to use this prayer sometime in September, or congregations to incorporate this meditative prayer time in their services on Sunday, September 19, or Sunday, September 26.  Feel free to change "us" for "me" depending on context. 

(Source for painting)

Illustration by Neil Jamieson for TIME

Caption: An artist's rendition of several Olympians competing in their respective sports for the 2020 Summer Olympics. 

Written by Cheylyn Grant, Racial Justice Organizer

Every four years my family and I, along with millions of other families, huddle around the TV to watch the Olympics. During the summer however, the TV is not on. Instead of watching the sports we admire, like soccer, skateboarding, or gymnastics, we do it ourselves and cheer for one another. We set the stage like any other sporting event: rules with an objective, consequences for rules being broken, along with winners and losers. That is what we would call a “fair game." 

Caption: Information of the event is shown, along with an image of a dove holding an olive branch to it's right. 

An event hosted by Beaverton Rotary Club Peace Builders Committee

Presented by Adam Vogal, President of the Oregon Peace Institute, this film tells the story of nonviolence, the greatest overlooked resource in human experience. Revealing the convergence of modern science and the world's great wisdom traditions, the film explores the important role that nonviolence plays in the wider struggle to develop a 'new story' of human nature, contrary to the 'old story' that scarcity, competition, and violence are inevitable. Rather, the universe is conscious and purposeful; we are spiritual beings, and cooperation and collaboration are our natural way of interacting.