Peace Out: Week Twelve

Rev. Brad Landry, quoting Rev. Tim Schenck, this week: "We're officially in that little known season of the church year known as 'I'll deal with that after Easter'." Says Brad, "He's not wrong." I am acutely aware of the truth of that, since I am frequently a last minute requested addition to a church's already very busy Lent leading into Holy Week season. I am hearing, "Can you wait to come here until after Easter?" For the moment, I'm not sorry for the seasonally imposed short break from my impromptu visitations, as I still have a lot to learn about my job as Executive Director of EPF, and we have some other priorities that need to be elevated to the top of the list.

First and foremost at the moment is our first Year of Action event for 2019 -- our Remember and Renew Event in Denver, CO commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the Columbine massacre. I've been promoting this pilgrimage in my weekly blog, but I am taking this opportunity to highlight it and to invite you to consider coming. Many of you, like me, are deeply concerned about the overwhelming incidence of gun deaths and injuries in our culture. Our events the weekend of April 26-28 are in large measure a chance to educate ourselves about how we can be effective advocates in favor of gun control (there, I said it) as much as to grieve those killed and injured at Columbine High School and in the outrageously frequent killings and woundings before and since. The links to our event are below in this email. A trip to Denver is a chance to take active measures to do something about gun violence on both the grass roots and the national level. Join us, and help make gun violence a thing of the past.

Other priorities for me include bringing our website current, encouraging our Peace Partner parishes and chapters to plan action events to mark our 80th anniversary, continuing to schedule visitations around the country, and looking for fresh ways to find resources to enable us to do the work we are called to do. Got ideas? Let me hear them! epfactnow

I am looking forward to our other 80th anniversary events, including our participation in the commemoration of Jonathan Daniels and the Martyrs of Alabama, along with a pilgrimage to the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Alabama. I hope the Alabama trip will include an evening event at my home parish of St. Andrew's, Birmingham, to recruit peace partner parishes in the Diocese of Alabama. As well, I am eager to attend the Province V Big Provincial Gathering in Michigan, our PIN trip to Palestine in October, and EPF's 80th anniversary celebration around November 11. Is your Diocese having some event for which you wish EPF to have a presence? Let me know and maybe I or an NEC member can attend.

For the hanged and beaten.
For the shot, drowned, and burned.
For the tortured, tormented, and terrorized.
For the abandoned by the rule of law.
We will remember.

With hope because hopelessness is the enemy of justice.
With courage because peace requires bravery.
With persistence because justice is a constant struggle.
With faith because we shall overcome.

Our upcoming schedule:

April 8: St. Thomas of Canterbury, Albuquerque, NM
April 14: St. Bede's, Santa Fe, NM
April 21: St. Joseph's, Lakewood, CO
April 26-28:Columbine Commemoration and Colorado EPF Chapter visitation
St.Timothy's, Centennial, CO
May 6: Calvary, Memphis, TN (tentative)
May 14: St. Ann's, Nashville, TN
May 16: St. John's, Knoxville, TN
June 19: Juneteenth event with Fellowship of Reconciliation, location TBD
June 27-29: Washington, DC "Love God, Love Neighbor: Advocacy in Action"
July 12-13:Big Provincial Gathering, Province V, Kalamazoo, MI
August 8: St. Andrew's, Birmingham, AL
August 9-10 Commemoration of Jonathan Daniels and the Martyrs of Alabama
Visit to Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and
Justice, Montgomery and Hayneville, AL
Sept. 4: Bp. Paul Jones feast day, location TBD
Oct 13-24 Palestine
Nov. 11: EPF 80th Anniversary!

REGISTRATION FOR COLUMBINE

PILGRIMAGE EXTENDED TO APRIL 8!

Plan to Walk In Love with EPF this month! The weekend after Easter (April 26-28), we will make a pilgrimage to Columbine, Colorado to commemorate the horrible school massacre which happened there twenty years ago, and will rededicate ourselves to eradicating gun violence in America. We will partner with advocates against all forms of gun violence, which includes the daily loss of lives in communities across the country due to domestic violence, urban violence, workplace violence, mass killings, suicide and accidental shootings. Preaching on the Sunday of our commemoration will be Lutheran pastor Don Marxhzausen, who was forced out as pastor of his congregation when he dared eulogize, humanize and preside over the funeral of one of the young gunmen. I hope if any of you are able, you will join us in Columbine for what we hope will be a transformative remembrance.

Details and registration at https://give.classy.org/epfcolumbine.

COLUMBINE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Friday, April 26
1:00-3:00pm

Iliff School of Theology
2323 E. Iliff
Denver, CO
(paid parking available in south lot B)

Chapel presentation with audience dialogue to include seminarians, faculty, and interested public focusing on underlying causes contributing to violence in contemporary culture.

Panelists include:
The Rev. Kym Lucas, bishop-elect of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado
The Rev. Jasper Peters, pastor of Belong Church, United Methodist
The Rev. Dr. Jennifer Leath, Asst. Prof. of Religion and Social Justice

3:00-5:00pm

Viewing of Bowling for Columbine, the 2002 documentary film written and directed by Michael Moore will be shown for any wishing to remain in the Chapel

Saturday, April 27
11am-1pm

St. Timothy Episcopal Church
1401 E. Dry Creek Rd
Centennial, CO

Over 12 organizations involved in national and local efforts to address gun violence prevention will present their mission and opportunities for participation. Catered lunch provided with RSVP to frbobdav

1-3:30pm

St. Timothy Episcopal Church
1401 E. Dry Creek Rd
Centennial, CO

Educational and Policy Workshops on topics ranging from history of gun violence and gun laws in Colorado; organizing the faith community around gun violence prevention; public health implications of gun violence; keeping kids safe from guns; gun violence contributing to suicide and domestic violence; communicating with others on gun violence prevention.

Workshops will repeat twice from 1:15-2:15, 2:30-3:30 for opportunity to hear two topics

4-5:30pm

Columbine Memorial
Clement Park
7306 W. Bowles Ave
Littleton, CO

Enter park from Pierce Ave between Bowles and Coal Mine, driving west to parking lot closest to memorial (within softball field complex). Take walk path approximately ¼ mile to memorial. During vigil narrators will lead participants in remembrance of the students and teacher memorialized through readings and responses. Opportunity for quiet reflection and hearing readings of hope and inspiration will mark the time of vigil.

6:00-8:00pm

Columbine Unitarian Universalist Church
6724 S. Webster
Littleton, CO
(1/2 mile south of Vigil)

A simple meal will be provided by members of the church during which vigil participants will be invited to reflect on the impact of the vigil, the events of the day and group sharing around hope for a more peaceful future. Music and facilitation will be offered for participants.

Sunday, April 28
10- 11:30am

St. Timothy Episcopal Church
1401 E. Dry Creek Rd
Centennial, CO

Morning worship service to include speaker, the Rev. Don Marxhausen, Lutheran pastor who presided over one of the funerals of a Columbine student and his personal story as a result.

4-5:30pm

St. Andrew United Methodist Church
9203 S. University Blvd
Highlands Ranch, CO

A Service of Remembrance and Renewal to offer personal stories from those impacted by gun violence, grounding the faith response to gun violence within the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition, and inspiring participants with hope and renewal through music and worship.

See you in Denver!

Until next time, power to the peaceful!

Melanie

• Give to EPF
• Offers of hospitality always welcome!
• Suggestions of icons of social justice, landmarks or museums she must see.
• Driveway for parking "Miranda", her home on wheels. (Home or church parking lot welcome)
• Offer of laundry facilities.
• Suggestions of coffee shops, eateries, and sports bars she should visit.
• Identify best walks and hikes in your neighborhood.
• Invite her to church!
• Prayers for safe travel.
• Favorite camp sites (with dump station, preferred).
• Visits with your pets -- she is feeling deprived!
• Home baked goodies (only if you are baking, anyway).
• Make time to see her and introduce her around!
• Favorite sites for photo ops.