Monday, January 14, 2008

Peace Is Here and Now

We embrace this year, and every year, as a year of peace. Peace does exist, because it exists in our hearts and minds. It exists in our relationships with our family, friends and those we work with. It exists because we make the choice, again and again and again, to speak peace and feel peace.

We joyfully join with many other churches, leaders, organizations and people all over the world in the “Season for Nonviolence.” In doing so we commit to our community and to the world to mature in our ability to choose love and create peace.

There is peace on earth, and it has begun with us.
—Reverend David McArthur

Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances. —Mohandas Gandhi

Non-violence, which is the quality of the heart, cannot come by an appeal to the brain. —Mohandas Gandhi

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. —Martin Luther King Jr.

We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. —Martin Luther King Jr.

"A Season for Nonviolence", January 30 - April 4, is a national 64-day educational, media, and grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and our communities. Inspired by the 50th and 30th memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this international event honors their vision for an empowered, nonviolent world.

Joint Statement for Peace, issued by Unity and Association of Unity Churches:

"Unity stands for peace in the presence of conflict; for love in the presence of hatred; for forgiveness in the presence of injury. Unity honors the many names for God, the many paths to God, the many ways to worship God; for there is only one power and presence of God and that God loves each one of us equally. It is therefore the position of The International Association of Unity Churches and Unity to urge all nations, their leaders, and their people to turn to God by whatever the name for guidance during these challenging times and pursue peace, not war, for this is what honors the God of all our faith traditions. Unity stands for peace in our lifetime."