Second Week of Advent, Dec. 4-10 |
Thursday, December 1, 2022 |
Greetings of peace!
As we turn our calendars to this last month of the year and we stand upon the cusp of the second week of Advent, we hope you're finding the resources on our Advent 2022 resource page helpful in your observance of the season. Below you'll find, in anticipation of the second week of Advent, Dec. 4-10, resources you might consider for prayer, study and action next week or anytime throughout Advent. Today's PSA draws from our Bread Not Stones campaign, continuing to build on the momentum created this year from the time we released our Bread Not Stones statement at the beginning of Lent through the workshop and Bread Not Stones action at the Pentagon during August's national conference through the days of action in late-September when over 25 actions were undertaken by local groups and state/regional chapters in 18 different states in hopes of redirecting funds from the military budget to programs that address human needs, climate change, racial justice and more. |
I also wanted to call your attention to the Virtual Delegation of Roses tomorrow, Dec. 2 at 7pm ET, that LCWR and SHARE are sponsoring. It is an opportunity to virtually join their in-person delegation of approximately 50 people in El Salvador and Honduras to remember the 42nd anniversary of the martyrdom of the four U.S. Churchwomen. To confirm your participation in the live event or to receive the recording, fill out this form to register.
We hope you feel the solidarity of Pax Christi USA members, friends and partners around the world as you undertake praying, studying and acting for peace with justice during Advent. We thank you for your witness and your support!
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In peace,
Johnny Zokovitch
Executive Director, Pax Christi USA
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Give us bread, not stones
An Advent prayer service for conversion and grace (adapted)
by Tom Cordaro, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
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NOTE: This short prayer service can be conducted at the dinner table, around the Christmas tree, with the lighting of the candles on your Advent wreath, with family, small groups, your church community, etc. |
LEADER: Jesus tells us that if we had the faith of a mustard seed, we could move mountains (Mt 17:20). This Advent, we come before God realizing that the mountain that needs to be moved is us. We do not petition God to do things for us; we pray that God empowers us to act as we are called to do.
READER ONE: Source of Our Salvation, give us the courage to reject the idols of guns and bombs; that falsely promise salvation and safety, but only bring death and destruction: we pray…
ALL: Give us bread, not stones.
READER TWO: Creator of the Cosmos, you made us stewards of this garden called Earth, to care for every creature and protect all the elements of water, earth, and sky that make life possible. Help us to reject the notion that we are separate from creation and give us the wisdom and will to nurture all life: we pray…
ALL: Give us bread, not stones.
READER ONE: Mother of All Humanity, you made us different sizes, colors, genders, and ethnicities that we might learn to love and celebrate your divinity in our diversity. Give us the clarity of perception, to see one another as sisters and brothers. Give us an unwavering conviction to protect and love one another. We pray...
ALL: Give us bread, not stones.
READER TWO: God of Plenty, you created a world of abundance and instructed us to share the riches of this world with one another. Give us your spirit of justice, that we may never grow tired in our efforts to protect the dignity of all, we pray…
ALL: Give us bread, not stones.
READER ONE: Healer of All the Nations, this Advent we await your son who comes to heal the body and soul of all who suffer; without cost and without favor. Grant us the virtue of compassion for all those in need of healthcare, and give us the persistence to continue the work of making healing available to all, we pray…
ALL: Give us bread, not stones.
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>> Join us each Monday evening in Advent over Zoom from 8:30-9pm for an Advent evening prayer service with Pax Christi USA members from around the nation. Click here to register.
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Reed/Inhofe Amendment would open floodgates of war
by Medea Benjamin and Nicholas J.S. Davies
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If the powerful leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senators Jack Reed (D) and Jim Inhofe (R), have their way, Congress will soon invoke wartime emergency powers to build up even greater stockpiles of Pentagon weapons. The amendment is supposedly designed to facilitate replenishing the weapons the United States has sent to Ukraine, but a look at the wish list contemplated in this amendment reveals a different story.
Reed and Inhofe’s idea is to tuck their wartime amendment into the FY2023 National Defense Appropriation Act (NDAA) that will be passed during the lameduck session before the end of the year. The amendment sailed through the Armed Services Committee in mid-October and, if it becomes law, the Department of Defense will be allowed to lock in multi-year contracts and award non-competitive contracts to arms manufacturers for Ukraine-related weapons.
If the Reed/Inhofe amendment is really aimed at replenishing the Pentagon’s supplies, then why do the quantities in its wish list vastly surpass those sent to Ukraine?...
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This Advent, help us build (bake?!) a better world |
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Pope Francis calls us to “a dignified existence…protecting and regenerating the natural world.” To live this life, he says we must “redesign the economy,” redirecting money spent on war to programs that make for peace. |
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Bread Not Stones isn’t just about eliminating nuclear weapons, beating our swords into plowshares, and slashing our disastrous military budget (although it is about all of those things!) It is about building a better world.
That’s why we’re adding something fun to this campaign! You can download here a recipe card (like the one pictured to the right) where you can hand-write your favorite bread (or cake, or pie, or scone—you get the idea!) recipe for a “Bread Not Stones” cookbook we’ll be compiling in the coming year! You can submit your recipe by filling out the recipe card and sending it to the national office (Pax Christi USA, attn: BNS recipe, 415 Michigan Ave NE, Suite 240, Washington, D.C. 20017) or go to bit.ly/paxrecipe online and use the form there.
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>> Start planning vigils and actions for the Feast of the Holy Innocents on Dec. 28th with tie-ins to the Bread Not Stones campaign. Pax Christi local groups have long observed the Feast of the Holy Innocents as a day of mourning and action on behalf of all those who have suffered at the hands of violence and war. Use elements of the toolkit created for the Bread Not Stones Days of Action back in September and adapt them for your own event on December 28. Click here to find the toolkit.
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>> On Sat., Dec. 17, all young adults are invited to join the Pax Christi Young Adult Caucus for a mini-Advent retreat online. Join PCYAC for prayer & faith-sharing as we ask, how are we being called to claim responsibility for our beloved neighbor this Advent? Young adult leaders will share reflections on the path of migrants, immigrants, refugees, asylum-seekers, & the global family of dreamers who leave everything they've known to take a walk of faith. To register, complete this brief form by Dec. 5. Questions, please reach out to the PCYAC leadership team at PCYAC@PaxChristiUSA.org.
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A special Advent message from Martin Sheen
If you can make a special contribution to our
close out our 50th anniversary in a strong position,
we'd be so grateful! Just click on the donation button
to the right to give securely & quickly online. Thanks!!
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Pax Christi USA
Weaving Threads of Peace for 50 Years
202-635-2741 | 415 Michigan Ave NE, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20017
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