 August 2005
American Friends Service Committee Peacework Magazine Sara Burke, Jaime Lederer Pat Farren, Founding Editor 2161 Massachusetts Ave. Telephone number: Fax number:
pwork@igc.org Peacework has been published monthly since 1972, intended to serve as a source of dependable information to those who strive for peace and justice and are committed to furthering the nonviolent social change necessary to achieve them. Rooted in Quaker values and informed by AFSC experience and initiatives, Peacework offers a forum for organizers, fostering coalition-building and teaching the methods and strategies that work in the global and local community. Peacework seeks to serve as an incubator for social transformation, introducing a younger generation to a deeper analysis of problems and issues, reminding and re-inspiring long-term activists, encouraging the generations to listen to each other, and creating space for the voices of the disenfranchised. Editorial material in Peacework is published under a Creative Commons Views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of the AFSC. |
October Surprise: A Call to Share Sacred Seasons This Call was initiated by the Tent of Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah. For more information and action suggestions, see www.tentofabraham.org. The Call has been endorsed by the National Council of Churches, the Islamic Society of North America, Pax Christi, the Shalom Center, the Jewish Committee for Isaiah's Vision, and many other groups. During October 2005, a confluence of sacred moments in many different traditions invites us to eat together, walk together, learn together, pray alongside each other, listen to each other, and work together for peace, justice, human rights, and the healing of our wounded earth. The sacred Muslim lunar month of Ramadan and the sacred Jewish lunar month of Tishrei (which includes the High Holy Days) both begin October 3-4; October 4 is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi; and October 2 is a worldwide (Protestant/Orthodox) Communion Sunday. The confluence of these four sacred seasons will recur in 2006 and 2007. We call on all communities of faith and ethics to observe a nationwide Fast for Reflection, Repentance, Reconciliation, and Renewal, from sunrise to sunset on October 13. That day is for Muslims one of the fast days of Ramadan, and for Jews the fast day of Yom Kippur. Just as Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah welcomed into their tent thirsty travelers from all four directions, we welcome to this Fast not only those of the three Abrahamic traditions but all who thirst for a world made whole. We encourage those who join in this Fast to dedicate their prayers and their intention to serve the God who calls us to seek peace, feed the poor, and heal the earth. Then we must take visible steps in the world to heed God's call.
We urge those of all traditions to begin now,
in our own cities and neighborhoods as well as nationally and
internationally, to plan with each other how to use God's October
Surprise of these sacred dates to heed the call of the Holy One
that we live in peace, together. 
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