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In remembrance of the estimated more than 44 million non-combatant innocents who died in armed conflicts around the world in the last 50 years, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, located a block off The Circle at the intersection of East Pine and Academy Streets in Georgetown, conducted a worship. “Although it is not possible to determine with absolute precision the many costs of war, economic, human, or environmental, we have adopted this ‘working estimate’ from available recent research,” explains Reverend Earl Beshears, rector of St. Paul’s.
Sponsored by the Delaware Chapter of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship (EPF), the worship, called Witness for the Innocents, included participants lighting 44 candles, one for each million killed since World War II.
One of the participants, Joe Holler spoke about the innocent victims of war who died on the sidelines, the wounded, the orphaned, the widows, the children and the countless families of different faiths and nations whose lives were forever changed and his experience traveling to Vietnam to visit the site where his best friend and brother-in-law was killed in an ambush forty years ago. “My goals in traveling to Vietnam were: To honor our country’s men and women who served, to honor the people of Vietnam and all who were touched by the war, to understand how Vietnam is developing, and to deepen my world view. What I experienced in Vietnam was beautiful, compelling, transforming, and enriching. It affirmed my optimistic view that the world is good because its people are good and that the problems of the world are the difficult pieces in a large puzzle. My view is hopeful even when the human capacity for evil explodes. I believe that the Human Spirit, expressed through our great wisdom traditions, is, fundamentally, an expression of what is or can be good,” explained Mr. Holler, as he recalled the spirit of the Vietnamese people, their hospitality, and their continued suffering from munitions the United States left behind.
As a tangible reminder of the costs of war, church members began collecting 44 million pennies that eventually will be donated to agencies specializing in relieving civilian war suffering.
“My dream,” continues Reverend Earl Beshears, who is also EPF co-chair and a Vietnam veteran, “is that this annual worship will be adopted everywhere by all faith groups in order to help these innocent people and their families and to be visible reminder of the costs of war.”
The Delaware Chapter of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship is one of 71 chapters across the United States connecting all who seek a deliberate response to local and global injustices and strive to be peacemakers. Chapters sponsor prayer and public witness events, and organize and implement service projects to raise awareness, and take action for peace and justice. Although the principles of the Delaware chapter are based on the Christian faith, the chapter welcomes participation from people of all faiths.
The Delaware chapter, which includes members from Maryland, meets the first Saturday of the month at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Several activities are planned for the next few months. For more information about the chapter, call the church at (302) 856-2894 or find more information online at www.stpaulsgeorgetown.org. For more information about the national organization based in Chicago, Illinois, call (312) 922-8628 or online at www.epfnatioal.org.
About St. Paul’s Episcopal Church:
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is located at Academy and East Pine Streets in Georgetown. Sunday worship is at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday school is at 9:30 a.m. Saint Paul’s mission is to respond to God’s call by providing an inviting, welcoming, and nurturing community for all to worship God; to encourage and support lay ministries, and to proclaim the Good News of God’s love through word and deed. For more information, visit www.stpaulsgeorgetown.org or contact the church at (302) 856-2894 or by email to rector@stpaulsgeorgetown.org.
11/11/2008
Remember Noncombatant Innocents
by The Rev. Earl D. Beshears
Delaware Chapter of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship Remembers Noncombatant Innocents
As Veterans Day approaches many parades and speeches are planned across the United States honoring all those, living and dead, who served with the U.S. armed forces. Memorial Day remembers those who died in uniform serving our country. Of special significance is the annual ceremony where the president or his representative places a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Ceremony in Arlington, Virginia. .In remembrance of the estimated more than 44 million non-combatant innocents who died in armed conflicts around the world in the last 50 years, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, located a block off The Circle at the intersection of East Pine and Academy Streets in Georgetown, conducted a worship. “Although it is not possible to determine with absolute precision the many costs of war, economic, human, or environmental, we have adopted this ‘working estimate’ from available recent research,” explains Reverend Earl Beshears, rector of St. Paul’s.
Sponsored by the Delaware Chapter of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship (EPF), the worship, called Witness for the Innocents, included participants lighting 44 candles, one for each million killed since World War II.
One of the participants, Joe Holler spoke about the innocent victims of war who died on the sidelines, the wounded, the orphaned, the widows, the children and the countless families of different faiths and nations whose lives were forever changed and his experience traveling to Vietnam to visit the site where his best friend and brother-in-law was killed in an ambush forty years ago. “My goals in traveling to Vietnam were: To honor our country’s men and women who served, to honor the people of Vietnam and all who were touched by the war, to understand how Vietnam is developing, and to deepen my world view. What I experienced in Vietnam was beautiful, compelling, transforming, and enriching. It affirmed my optimistic view that the world is good because its people are good and that the problems of the world are the difficult pieces in a large puzzle. My view is hopeful even when the human capacity for evil explodes. I believe that the Human Spirit, expressed through our great wisdom traditions, is, fundamentally, an expression of what is or can be good,” explained Mr. Holler, as he recalled the spirit of the Vietnamese people, their hospitality, and their continued suffering from munitions the United States left behind.
As a tangible reminder of the costs of war, church members began collecting 44 million pennies that eventually will be donated to agencies specializing in relieving civilian war suffering.
“My dream,” continues Reverend Earl Beshears, who is also EPF co-chair and a Vietnam veteran, “is that this annual worship will be adopted everywhere by all faith groups in order to help these innocent people and their families and to be visible reminder of the costs of war.”
The Delaware Chapter of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship is one of 71 chapters across the United States connecting all who seek a deliberate response to local and global injustices and strive to be peacemakers. Chapters sponsor prayer and public witness events, and organize and implement service projects to raise awareness, and take action for peace and justice. Although the principles of the Delaware chapter are based on the Christian faith, the chapter welcomes participation from people of all faiths.
The Delaware chapter, which includes members from Maryland, meets the first Saturday of the month at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Several activities are planned for the next few months. For more information about the chapter, call the church at (302) 856-2894 or find more information online at www.stpaulsgeorgetown.org. For more information about the national organization based in Chicago, Illinois, call (312) 922-8628 or online at www.epfnatioal.org.
About St. Paul’s Episcopal Church:
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is located at Academy and East Pine Streets in Georgetown. Sunday worship is at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday school is at 9:30 a.m. Saint Paul’s mission is to respond to God’s call by providing an inviting, welcoming, and nurturing community for all to worship God; to encourage and support lay ministries, and to proclaim the Good News of God’s love through word and deed. For more information, visit www.stpaulsgeorgetown.org or contact the church at (302) 856-2894 or by email to rector@stpaulsgeorgetown.org.
