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Peace with Justice Sunday 2009 June 7 Peace with Justice Sunday, one of the six United Methodist churchwide Special Sundays, witnesses to God's demand for a faithful, just, disarmed and secure world. Established by the 1988 General Conference, the denomination’s highest policy-making body, Peace with Justice Sunday supports programs that advocate peace and justice at home and around the world. It will be observed on June 7 this year. Because half of the Special Sunday offerings collected by an annual conference is retained to fund local peace with justice programs, differences can be made locally. In addition, half of the offering is remitted to the General Board of Church & Society to help fund U.S. and global work in social action, public-policy education and advocacy. This spring the board approved 28 grants totaling $52,805. It brings many people to tears when they see how these people live. A recipient of a Peace with Justice grant is a solar oven project in the Dakotas Conference that is helping improve life in Haiti. Drinking dirty water and cooking over open fires because one has no choice are justice issues. By building and taking solar ovens to Haiti, missionary Rick Jost and other United Methodists help poor families pasteurize drinking water and cook healthy meals in a safe environment. "Motivation for what we do is the crushing poverty in Haiti," Jost said. "It brings many people to tears when they see how these people live." Other grants went to ministries geographically dispersed from the Philippines to Mozambique and from Iowa to Jerusalem. Recipients comprise diverse ministries, such as to empower women, immigrant legal services in Iowa, justice and peace work in Jerusalem, training election observers in Mozambique, conflict management and mediation, and a water justice project. The 1980 General Conference created a churchwide Peace with Justice program assigned to the General Board of Church & Society. The 1988 General Conference established Peace with Justice Sunday as the first Sunday after Pentecost to give churches a single, more convenient date for the offering and a name that clearly identifies the ministries it supports. Peace with Justice Sunday is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost. If a local church needs to celebrate Peace with Justice Sunday on a different date, that is fine. This offering allows The United Methodist Church to have a voice in advocating for peace and justice through a broad spectrum of global programs: The Ohio-based Faith Communities Uniting for Peace encourages Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs “to live from a vision of peace rooted in faith.” In Liberia, in partnership with other religious and humanitarian groups, The United Methodist Church provides a place for former child soldiers to live, recreational activities to address war trauma, and basic necessities such as fresh drinking water and medical treatment. Each ministry that relies on support from the individual offerings contributes collaboratively to the promotion of the six churchwide Special Sundays. Every annual conference has a Peace with Justice Coordinator. Many conferences give grants to local churches and other United Methodist programs that promote peace with justice; others use the money for training in conflict resolution or other education initiatives within the conference. In 2008, $290,469 was given to the Peace with Justice Sunday offering. In 2007, $301,357 was given and $306,905 in 2006. You can give online to Peace with Justice Sunday at Peace with Justice Sunday or any other Special Sunday. Peace with Justice Sunday Support Materials   Support materials to help educate your congregation about Peace with Justice Sunday, are available online at Resources. The site includes resources available online as well as a link to an online store where you can order additional free printed resources. If you would rather call to order resources, call toll free 1-888-346-3862. Free promotional resources available through the online store include: Talking to your congregation about Special Sundays Facts and figures about Peace with Justice Sunday. Children's Sermon for Peace with Justice Sunday Motivating Participation in Special Sundays Talking Points Downloadable resources also include: 2009 Peace with Justice Sunday Bulletin Insert (color, PDF format, double layout) 2009 Peace with Justice Sunday Bulletin Insert (black & white, PDF format, double layout) Facts and Worship Resources (PDF) 2009 Peace with Justice Sunday poster (color, PDF format) To get involved with Peace with Justice ministries, contact the coordinator in your annual conference. You can give online to Peace with Justice Sunday at any time, by the way. Together, we can work together for a faithful and loving world for all and bring hope for our future. Please support Peace with Justice Sunday. About Special Sundays Six times throughout the year, United Methodist congregations celebrate churchwide Special Sundays with offerings. Your support is critical to the survival of these important ministries and for sharing God's gifts around the world. Churchwide Special Sundays with offerings enable United Methodists like you to offer refuge in times of disaster, promote peace and justice, provide scholarships and student loans, reach out to the community, teach skills to encourage self-sufficiency and share the love of Jesus Christ with God's people everywhere. Your support is critical to the survival of these important ministries and for sharing God's gifts around the world. Human Relations Day: Jan.17, 2010 Jan. 16, 2011 Jan. 15, 2012 One Great Hour of Sharing: March 14, 2010 (Easter April 4) April 3, 2011 (Easter April 24) March 18, 2012 (Easter April 8) Native American Ministries Sunday: April 18, 2010 (Easter April 4) May 8, 2011 (Easter April 24) April 22, 2012 (Easter April 8) Peace with Justice Sunday: June 7, 2009 (Pentecost May 31) May 30, 2010 (Pentecost May 23) June 19, 2011 (Pentecost June 12) June 3, 2012 (Pentecost May 27) World Communion Sunday: Oct. 4, 2009 Oct. 3, 2010 Oct. 2, 2011 Oct. 7, 2012 United Methodist Student Day: Nov. 29, 2009 Nov. 28, 2010 Nov. 27, 2011 Nov. 25, 2012 Online giving is available: Contribute. Date: 4/17/2009 ©2005-2009

April 17, 2009 Word from Winkler — What might have been Gun-related violence unnecessary Obama to discuss immigration reform Moral Force Movement in Philippines 'Just one thing beautifully' CBS special looks at religion and poverty Pledge to stop Congo atrocities Peace with Justice Sunday 2009 Tobacco and regulation Pedagogy for Peace Former GBCS board member Howard Mason dies ‘Responding to Family Violence’ 'Mobilization to End Poverty' ‘Children Illustrate for the Rights of the Child’ On charity and justice