This Week Openings for Guns to Gardens Training

Gun Violence Prevention News for Congregations March 2022 With war in Ukraine and the highest rate of gun violence in the United States in over a generation, we enter the season of Lent. Join in prayer together HERE. March 10 Training Starts for June 11 National Guns to Gardens Day There are a few more slots for the Guns to Gardens Spring Action Circle, starting this Thurs. March 10 at 12:30 pm ET by Zoom for one hour on six Thursdays. How about you and your church? Training is free. Bring your bag lunch or brunch! Our goal? To support at least 12 cutting-edge congregations who are willing to cut up firearms and transform them into garden tools on Sat. June 11, the first national Guns to Gardens Safe Surrender Day. Learn more and register for training HERE Photo: Volunteers Prepare for Guns to Gardens Safe Surrender Event, Community United Church of Christ, Boulder, CO The national event follows the traditional "Wear Orange for Gun Violence Awareness Sabbath" on June 3-5, so that congregations and other groups can use the Wear Orange activities to promote the June 11 gun give-back day. You are Invited... What's Faith Got to Do With It? Christians Responding to Gun Violence Sun. March 20, 2 - 4:30 PM ET by Zoom from Grace Presbyterian Church, Springfield, VA Speakers: "Unmasking the Powers Behind Gun Violence" Rev. Deanna Hollas, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship "Beating Guns: Hope for People Who are Weary of Violence" Shane Claiborne, Author of Beating Guns & President of Red Letter Christians See & Share Flier Here for all events for this special weekend. REGISTER HERE This Special Event Honors Rev. Jim Atwood, former Grace pastor and PPF Gun Violence Prevention Prophet and Ancestor. All are welcome to participate by Zoom, including you! General Assembly Overture on Guns to Gardens! Can Your Presbytery Concur by May 4? The Presbytery of Santa Fe, NM has passed an overture supporting the Guns to Gardens movement for consideration by the PCUSA General Assembly in June-July, 2022. We need presbyteries who have a meeting before the May 4 deadline to act to concur. Every presbytery that concurs may appoint an overture advocate to testify by video or Zoom with the special GA Committee that will consider issues related to violence in the United States. How about you?  HERE is the Overture. Note: Please concur with the Recommendation section as written, but every presbytery may include their own Rationale for why they support the action, such as gun violence in your own community. The first step can be a session vote to support the overture or asking your presbytery Stated Clerk or Moderator to include the overture on a presbytery agenda. Concurrences are due at the Office of the General Assembly by May 4. Please let us know if your presbytery concurs at gvp@presbypeacefellowship.org A Note from the Editor..... Please reach out to me if you know of funding sources in your church or community for the Gun Violence Prevention Ministry of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship. We are growing! Creative ideas welcome, such as family foundations, church gifts or a part of your share of the peacemaking offering. Gifts are tax-deductible. Here is a direct link for gifts now. Many thanks, Rev. Jan Orr-Harter, GVP E-News Editor gvp@presbypeacefellowship.org Gun Violence Prevention Ministry Presbyterian Peace Fellowship gvp@presbypeacefellowship.org Rev. Deanna Hollas, Coordinator deanna@presbypeacefellowship.org 214-702-2265 | presbypeacefellowship.org Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

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