Gun Violence Prevention for Congregations Sept. News

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Gun Violence Prevention News for Congregations Sept. 2024 Inaugural James Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage Photo: Participants Train for Guns to Gardens, Ghost Ranch, NM Aug. 2024 With the school shooting in Georgia, Atwood Graduates are already putting their gun violence prevention training to work. See photos below. Our hearts are with Georgia. Find a prayer for the Apalachee High School shooting HERE.

Last Chance for Fall Registration! Fall Zoom Action Circles: Explore How to Do Guns to Gardens at your Church Thursdays Sept. 19-Oct. 17 Noon ET or 7:30 pm ET One Hour Per Week, Plus One Hour of Preparation Learn More & Register Noon ET HERE or 7:30 pm ET HERE All-Updated Curriculum will prepare your congregation to join in national Guns to Gardens Days in Dec. and beyond. Register today!

Election 2024 As a nonprofit, the Peace Fellowship cannot support or oppose candidates. But we can encourage you to! Check HERE to learn if you are registered to vote for Nov. 5. Check HERE to learn about the Trump/Vance Campaign. Check HERE to learn about the Harris/Walz Campaign. Check HERE to learn about Gun Sense candidates for every state.

Thank you to our Atwood Institute Faculty and leaders, to our Sponsors and Donors, and to all who participated, planned and supported the event. Atwood Institute Launched! Photos by Dartinia Hull, Presbyterian Outlook: 75 ecumenical faith activists gathered for advanced training in gun violence prevention for congregations at Ghost Ranch Aug 22-25. Participating were lay leaders, pastors, organizers, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Quakers, Presbyterians, Unitarians, Mennonites and Catholics. Small groups provided in-depth disussion on topics from BeSMART for Kids secure gun storage to using the Peace Fellowship Congregational Toolkit for Education that Leads to Action. Order the 2024 edition of the Toolkit HERE. Participants learned how to offer a memorial vigil and how to respond pastorally to gun violence in their communties. Catholic theologian and activist John Dear's keynote address focused on the nonviolent witness of Jesus as the foundation for gun violence prevention mission. Participants shared plans: "I'm going to help research the history of guns and the church to support Amicus briefs at the Supreme Court." "I'm going to devote my retirement to this issue." "We'll start with education and grow from there." "My goal is to help the Catholic Church become a leader on this issue." "My focus is on protecting children from gun violence."

"Put it all on Jesus," said John Dear. He shared artwork showing Jesus breaking an assault weapon with his knee. A key point: You will have enough courage for gun violence prevention if you remember your identity as a child of the nonviolent God, the God of peace. This is who you are. See news about the Atwood Institute in The Presbyterian Outlook HERE. See prayers inspired by the Atwood Institute HERE. Stay tuned for dates for 2025 for the James Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage. Tentative location: Virginia!

The Presbyterian Decade to End Gun Violence offers grants for action projects. Congratulations to those who have received grants! Be very specific about your project in your application. Apply HERE.

T-Shirts Guns to Gardens T-shirts and sweatshirts with the Guns to Gardens logo on the front and Isaiah 2:4 on the back. Order for your church volunteers for gun violence prevention events or as a gift. Order HERE

Congratulations and thank you to Rev. Margery Rossi, now Coordinator of the Gun Violence Prevention Ministry of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship! Support PPF's Gun Violence Prevention Ministry We need support from churches, individuals and presbyteries to do this work. Gifts of all amounts are needed. Gifts are tax-deductible.  Give HERE or Mail checks to: "Presbyterian Peace Fellowship" att: Gun Violence Prevention 17 Cricketown Rd. Stony Point, NY 10980 Thank you. GIVE HERE!

presbypeacefellowship.org/gun-violence-prevention  Rev. Margery Rossi, Coordinator margery@presbypeacefellowship.org Rev. Jan Orr-Harter, Editor gvp@presbypeacefellowship.org

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