Gun Violence Prevention Jan. Newsletter

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Gun Violence Prevention News for Congregations New Year's Issue 2025 Welcome to New Readers!  O Holy One, We awaken to this new year of 2025  with hope, with prayer, and with deep conviction That peace can come to our land and to our world...that violence can cease.... Give us the energy and the will to do the work that will make this hope…this prayer…this dream become a reality in this new year of 2025. See HERE for this New Year's Prayer from Rita Niblack, Denver, CO Breaking News... Take Hope: Gun Violence Declined in 2024 Here's Why. Three Things Your Congregation Can Do to Save More Lives in 2025. Read on! ONE: Take Direct Action by Joining the Guns to Gardens Movement in 2025. Help Reduce Gun Suicide, Gun Theft & Unintentional and Mass Shootings Registration is Open to Jan. 15! Guns to Gardens Save Lives by Transforming Unwanted Guns into Garden Tools and Art Learn How Here: Winter Zoom Action Circles Thursdays Jan. 16 - Feb. 13, 2025 Noon ET or 7:30 pm ET 1 Hour Per Week & 1 Hour of Preparation Register Noon ET HERE or 7:30 pm ET HERE  Photo: Blacksmith Scotty Utz provides Guns to Gardens training in the snow, Montreat College Conference in NC. See RAWtools South TWO: Plan for Training in 2025 James Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage Sept. 24- 27, 2025 Massanetta Springs Conference Center, Harrisonburg, VA Photo: 2025 Keynote Speaker  Rev. Sharon Risher Author of For Such a Time as This: Hope and Forgiveness After the Charleston Massacre The Atwood Institute is a game-changing, ecumenical project of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship to gather, equip and encourage clergy and lay leaders for gun violence prevention ministry by congregations. It honors the legacy of Rev. Jim Atwood, Christian prophet of gun violence prevention. Build Skills, Vision & Friends --Guns to Gardens Hands-On Training & More Hold your space! Early Bird Registration HERE Map: At least 15 states are within an 8 hour drive of Harrisonburg, VA.  Plan now to attend the Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage in 2025. Bring a Team! Scholarships Available THREE: Calling for Action so that Children May Live Free from Gun Violence Upon statements of the Presbyterian General Assembly and other faith groups, a key focus for the next years must be protecting children from gun violence, the top killer of U.S. children today. How to start? BeSMART for Kids Campaign Training Jan. 14, Online 8 pm ET, 7CT, 6MT, 5PT Learn How to Promote Secure Gun StorageRE. in your Community - a Direct Action to Save Lives Register 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 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, Minister for Gun Violence Prevention margery@presbypeacefellowship.org Rev. Jan Orr-Harter, Editor & Moderator, Gun Violence Prevention Working Group gvp@presbypeacefellowship.org Presbyterian Peace Fellowship 845-786-6743 | presbypeacefellowship.org Instagram | Facebook | Twitter