|
|
|
Recent Events
Following in the Footsteps of Francis and
Clare
Gandhi & Jesus: The saving power of nonviolence A talk and discussion by Dr. Terry Rynne April 26, 2011 Gandhi
heavily influenced by Sermon on the Mount By
Linda Harvey A
powerful message of “Gandhi and Jesus: The Saving Power of
Nonviolence” was given by Dr. Terrence Rynne at the Lexington
Theological Seminary on April 26 to a packed audience in Fellowship
Hall. The
lecture was sponsored by the Franciscan Peace Center and the Hindu
community of Bharatitya Temple & Cultural Center. “Gandhi
spent his whole life demonstrating that the Sermon on the Mount could
be eminently practical politics,” said Rynne, the author of a book
with the same title as his presentation. He is founder of Marquette
University Center for Peacemaking in Milwaukee, WI, and a teacher in
peace studies. “Gandhi
came to call nonviolence as ‘satyagraha’ meaning firmness of
truth; applying principles of nonviolence and self-suffering to the
struggle of masses against the forces of oppression and violence.
Civil disobedience is a part of this. Not only is it a commitment to
nonviolence but it also is a desire to win over the opponent and
transform the situation,” he explained. “A
term associated with satyagraha is ‘ahimsa’ which is the refusal
to do harm and is a force pitted against violence. It is a way to be
strong and brave. It is not passive but assertive,” emphasized Rynne. Gandhi
said, “Ahimsa involves trust in the goodness of the opponent, and
love toward those who hate you, and is the means to resolve the
conflict. It is the greatest force because it appeals to the heart of
the opponent, not merely the intellect.” “Gandhi
appreciated the teachings of Jesus, especially about the Kingdom of
God and the Sermon on the Mount. Nonviolence was shown when Jesus
walked in the middle of the stoning mob and said,'if there is one
among you without sin than cast the first stone,’” said Rynne. “Jesus
dying on the cross was an important symbol to Gandhi of nonviolence
and self-suffering. Jesus was the prince of ‘satyagraha’ and a man
of action,” said Rynne. “Love of enemy is perhaps the most
distinctive message of Christianity offered to humankind, reversing
centuries of tit-for tat notions of retributive justice.” The
best way to get nonviolence into the mainstream is to tell the real
life success stories. One
story Rynne gave at his presentation happened in the Philippines, when
President Marcos Ferdinand abdicated power. The people placed a rosary
around the military tanks and formed a cross on the ground for
airplanes to see from overhead. “In
1986, Cardinal Jaime Sin, the Catholic archbishop of Manila, invited
three long-time students of Gandhain nonviolence—Richard Deats and
Hilda and Jean Goss-Mayr to the Philippines to train people in
nonviolence. They trained thousands who in turn trained many
others,” Rynne describes in his book. “When the decisive election
was held, half a million poll watchers were ready for action. When
Marcos called on the army to kill Defense Minister Jean Ponce Enrile
and General Fidel Ramos for formulating a revolt, one million people
responded to Cardinal Sin’s call to nonviolently defend them and
their followers." On
February 25, he requested safe passage for his family to leave the
Philippines. “To
do violence with anyone is to do violence with self. Truth is not
through thinking but action, “ concluded Rynne. “Nonviolence is a
way of salvation and can be redemptive.” (This
article was originally published in CrossRoads, the newspaper of the
Diocese of Lexington.)
October
4, 2010 VENDORS AA
Small Animal Emergency Service Grr
Midwest Wolf
Run Wildlife Refuge DOOR PRIZES Digital
photo frame—from AA Small Animal Emergency Service Brian
and Joann Aylward A
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO Earth
Day at McConnell Springs http://www.mcconnellsprings.org/ A tour
of McConnell Springs set in motion the Earth Day celebration. The tour
included McConnell Spring’s new Storm Wetland Pond that covers many
facets of water quality education. Moving
into the Ann
Quinn, OSF, an Sister
Ann led participants in hands-on activities that teach ways to get
beyond ecophobia (fear of ecological problems and natural world). If
we want children to flourish, we need to give them time to connect
with nature and love the Earth before we ask them to save it. —David Sobel, educator, Beyond Ecophobia: Reclaiming the Heart in Nature Education
FrancisFest 2009: Pathways to Peace – A Review The
Lexington-based Franciscan Peace Center, in conjunction with Clinton
Franciscans (Iowa), CKCPJ "Voices for Peace and Justice",
One World Films, UK Newman Foundation, and The Interfaith Alliance of
the Bluegrass, celebrated its 5th annual FrancisFest with a 5-event Pathways
to Peace series that embodied a variety of genres: live theatre,
documentary film, dance, live presentations and discussions. On
October 1 a production of Still Point Theatre Collective in October
2 featured a film documentary at the Lexington Public Library Theatre
entitled Pray the Devil Back to Hell. While conflict and
disagreement among people of different faiths often dominate world
headlines, this 60 min. film documentary details the success of an
unlikely interfaith alliance between Muslim and Christian women in
resolving the Liberian conflict via nonviolent and peaceful protest.
Their work led to the election of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as (NOTE: this documentary film is available for
checkout at the Lexington Public Library). At
the Unitarian Universalist Church on October 3, people gathered for an
afternoon of Dances of Universal Peace facilitated by Fran
Belvin and accompanied by guitarist Nathan Wilson and drummer Jerry
Moody. Building on the work begun by Samuel L. Lewis in the 1960s, the
Dances promote peace and integration within individuals and
understanding and connection within groups worldwide. The Dances are
simple, joyous, multi-cultural circle dances for all ages. Samuel
Lewis believed that when people "eat, dance and pray
together", the world finds peace. In
the evening of October 3 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, a film was
shown on the life of Francis of Assisi entitled Reluctant Saint.
Here is a Francis who transcends the cherished image of the peaceful
lover of nature, the legend of a man who lived in a world much like
our own, filled with violence and upheaval. Filmed entirely on
location in The
culminating event held on October 4, the Feast of St. Francis, began
with a PBS documentary entitled Beyond Our Differences. The
film shows how people of different faiths can work together to solve
critical global problems. (NOTE: this documentary film is available for
checkout at the Lexington Public Library). Creating
Spiritual Paths to Peace,
a presentation by Rev. Bob Silvanik, followed the film and explored
ideas and plans for peace-action via Interfaith Spiritual Communities.
The core premise of his presentation is that peace is far too
important an undertaking to be left to worldly institutions. Finally,
the Charter for Compassion, a project by Karen Armstrong, was
introduced and a follow-up gathering for its unveiling scheduled for
Sunday, November 15,
"Revolution
of the Heart: The
Spiritual Journey of Dorothy Day" A
"Revolution
of the Heart: The Spiritual Journey of Dorothy Day"
is a monologue performed by Mary Alice Pratt, Coordinator of Social
Justice Ministry at As
a Donovan scholar, Mary Alice Pratt attended Lexington
Theological Seminary, graduating in 2004. She had always been
interested in drama and, looking for lighter study after several years
of intense study of theology, she began Donovan classes as an acting
student. A long time admirer of Dorothy Day, she began developing a
monologue telling the story of Dorothy's journey to the Catholic
Worker. She first performed the monologue at Lexington Theological
Seminary and later at several churches. The monologue, Mary Alice
says, is always a work in progress. Ginny
Ramsey, Co-Director of the Catholic Action Center (CAC), a service
organization based on the Catholic Worker movement, will present the
plethora of service-related opportunities that abound at CAC -- from
feeding the hungry to growing God's Garden and tending to God’s
worms! Founded
in June, 2000, CAC is a house of hospitality that welcomes all who are
in need. It is a faith based outreach of volunteers who strive to
provide all guests a welcoming place to receive their basic needs with
dignity. Three meals a day, shower and restroom facilities,
mail receipt, a telephone, clean clothing and a place to gather are
all a part of the hospitality offered.
Daily prayer services are held for those who hunger spiritually. Volunteers
are the heart and soul of the Here
is an opportunity to put your faith into action by helping our
brothers and sisters in need.
Flaget Nally and the Giant Steps Team wish to thank all who
participated, donated or helped in any way to make the On April 26th, 2009 over 160 walkers/runners completed the
3K course around the Our total amount raised now nears $100,000 Phase 1 (of an 8 phase project) to build a girls' boarding
school in Bukoba, Tanzania EAST AFRICA is well on its way to being
completed! This includes the purchase of 7 acres of land and a
facility that will act as home for the 1st nursery school. If
you or someone you know wishes to make a tax-deductible
contribution to this project, please visit the website at www.EducateAfricanGirls.org
and click on the "support" link. THANK
YOU! Most
women of this generation in
Flaget
S. Nally Preach
the gospel at all times and if necessary use words.
Francis of
FrancisFest
2008: making peace, mending seams The
Lexington, Kentucky-based FrancisFest,
an active, peace education event for all ages, demonstrated that
even when things are broken, it is possible to create something new
from the broken pieces. Components of the day included: 1)
Storytelling: on being aware of the mending seam between people,
communities, towns, countries. S.
Hilary Mullany (a.k.a. Hilary Clinton – as she was introduced by
Pat Griffin) made the trip from Don
Boklage of Open Ground shared a Native American learning story
called “Who Speaks for Wolf” that tells of Wolf as being sacred
and a great teacher of truth in action. The ancestors of 2)
"Making peace thru piece-building art": an exhibition of
51 pieces from K-12 youth made entirely from broken pieces, framed
the spacious Performance Hall. 3)
Cooperative games for all ages: on learning how to have fun working
and cooperating with one another in order to succeed was facilitated
by Don Boklage of Open Ground and apprentices. One participant (and
our face-painter), a mother with her three children, was delighted
to play the games from her native country in South America, where
people aren’t afraid to touch one another and work together for
the good of all. This
day of cooperative games, storytelling and visual arts was born
within a growing network of people consciously working for peace in
their own lives, those of their families, and the world as a whole.
Its impact planted seeds of meaningful relationships, conflict
resolution, peacemaking and the joy of Francis! The
HUMAN
RIGHTS TORCH RELAY
|
|
|
.jpg)
