Gun Violence Prevention Aug. News for Congregations

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Gun Violence Prevention News for Congregations - Aug. 2025 Welcome, New Readers! Feeling Stuck & Paralyzed? In listening to those of you who are concerned about gun violence, we hear a lot right now: "I feel overwhelmed. With so many needs in every direction, I feel stuck and paralyzed." One of the things that helps me in this work is a faith that we are all part of God's big and stubborn plan for justice and peace. I can't do everything on every issue, but I am part of a larger global movement for a better world. The key, for me, is not to try to do everything, but to do what I can on something specific. For me the specific is gun violence prevention. This week there was a shooting at a Target store not far from where both of my children live. We are seeing a repeated pattern of people who need resources and mental health care struggling to get access to that care. Yet it is easy for them to get access to a gun. So many of the issues we face are interconnected. I give thanks to those who focus on different specifics from me--and I hope that they realize that many of us are working to prevent gun violence even as they work on restoring funding for Medicaid, or support for people who are vulnerable, or climate change or famIne in Gaza or Sudan. This is a time for courage (Come to the Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage!). It's also a time for faith --- faith that love endures all things. Faith that we are not the beginning and we are not the end of God's enormous plan for justice and peace. We are the ones who are here now, in this bizarre and terrifying moment in history. So let's get unstuck --and each do what we can! Rev. Jan Orr-Harter, Moderator, Gun Violence Prevention Ministry, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship "For lo, I am with you always...." -Matthew 28:20 James Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage Sept 24-27 Aug. 31 Registration Deadline The Atwood Institute is a game-changing, ecumenical project of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship to equip and encourage clergy and lay leaders for gun violence prevention ministry with congregations. In the Beauty of the Shenandoah Valley Massanetta Springs Conference Center, Harrisonburg, VA Build Skills, Courage & Friends for Gun Violence Prevention for Such a Time as This Register & Learn More HERE by Aug. 31 Atwood News:  1. Aug. 22 Scholarship Application Deadline Thanks to generous sponsors, if you need help, apply for a scholarship HERE by Aug. 22. 2. See a recent news story HERE on Atwood Institute Updates 3. We're having a Contest! Bring a Team! Biggest team wins. A team is 2 or more who will work together when they get home. Teams get scholarship priority and a surprise gift at the Institute. (Hint...Atlanta & El Salvador seem the ones to beat!) 4. View a short video from last year's participants HERE Register & Learn More HERE, including the Atwood Institute Schedule Apply for scholarships HERE. The Atwood Institute honors the legacy of Rev. Jim Atwood, Christian prophet of gun violence prevention. Photo: 2024 Atwood Graduates Atwood Institute Keynote Speaker Rev. Sharon Risher Read a Review of her book For Such A Time as This: Hope and Forgiveness after the Charleston Massacre HERE Sponsored by The Decade to End Gun Violence, Office of Public Witness, PC(U.S.A.) Protecting Children from Gun Violence Fall "Be SMART Training" Sept. 18 1pm ET, noon CT, 11am MT, 10am PT with Temple Hiatt, Mother, Veteran, Gun Violence Survivor Join Be SMART trainer and Presbyterian from Iowa,Temple Hiatt, to learn how Secure Gun Storage can protect children and others from gun violence. One hour, Free. Register Now HERE New Podcasts on Gun Violence Prevention Peace-ing It Together Pastor Ben Fitzgerald- Fye interviews PPF's Margery Rossi and Jan Orr-Harter on what keeps them going for gun violence prevention. Listen to Part 1 July 22 HERE Listen to Part 2 July 29 HERE Sign up for Peace-ing It Together 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 Please 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

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship | 17 Cricketown Road | Stony Point, NY 10980 US