TAXES FOR PEACE INTEREST GROUP

Not opposed to paying appropriate life-enhancing taxes, the Taxes for Peace interest group seeks to further the peacemaking objectives of LIPW. As such, the Taxes for Peace interest group:

• Seeks to educate ourselves and others on the causes of war and the things that make for peace
• Promotes peace building locally and internationally
• Serves congregations in their peace witness
• Explores the understanding disciples of Jesus have to resist paying war taxes while praying for peace
• Encourages the channeling of tax monies toward endeavors that support life and underwrite peace-oriented systems
• Processes religious freedom and conscientious objection issues related to the death and destruction that the military apparatus represents
• Advocates for the passage of the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill (currently H.R. 2085) that, when enacted, will restore the rights of citizens whose conscience does not permit physical or financial participation in war-making, enabling them to be free from spiritual bondage, increase federal revenue and restore the balance of government between collective security and non-interference in an individual's free exercise of belief; and
• Witnesses publicly to our commitment to peace and justice

The Taxes for Peace interest group meets on the fourth Saturday of the month from 8:30-10:00 a.m., September to May. The meetings include a light breakfast as well as input and conversations about alternatives to paying federal taxes that support U.S. militarism and war making. For more information, e-mail Harold A. ("H.A.") Penner at penner@dejazzd.com.

Latin American ISSUES Group

The Latin American Issues Group (LAIG) furthers Lancaster Interchurch Peace Witness pursuits by focusing attention on that region through book studies, discussions, and speaking events. The LAIG meets on the fourth Saturday of every month. Monthly Latin American Advocacy Breakfasts are open to all. For those interested in meeting with local Latino people, go to First Thursdays from 6 - 9 PM at Isaac's Restaurant Downtown (25 N. Queen Street). For more info and to RSVP, email FirstThursdaysLatino@yahoo.com.

The LAIG goals include:

1. To share information on Latin America
2. To educate people about Latin American issues for peace and justice
3. To advocate by asking, "What can we do?", and
4. To speak to church people about our concerns on current topics and the churches there

Click here for LATIN AMERICAN NEWS & UPCOMING LAIG EVENTS.

Middle East Interest Group
The Middle East Interest Group (MEIG) is an arm of LIPW providing a forum and focus for persons concerned about peace and justice in the wider Middle East.

The purposes of MEIG are:

1. Careful documentation and analysis of developments in the region by informed sources.
2. Advocacy for a just peace, with the help of Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) and Churches for Middle East Peace
3. Gathering with people of shared interests

MEIG meets on the first Saturday of the Month, 8:30-10:00 AM, September to May. The meetings begin with a continental breakfast and include discussion of current events and issues in the Middle East. Members bring resources out of their experience and readings along with occasional outside resources. For more information, email Bob Webber at thewebbers@verizon.net.

Children's Peace Education Initiative

LIPW, in conjunction with Kids as Peacemakers and On Earth Peace, coordinated a Children’s Peace Education Mural Project during the summer of 2009. The Mural Project includes a faith-based curriculum developed for children in grades 1-6. Benefits of implementing the Mural Program at your church or organization include:

• Opportunities to discuss serious issues. What is peace? What does peace mean to me?
• Build consensus skills in choosing the design.
• Allows kids to have fun working together on the program.
• Generates feelings of pride and accomplishment.
• Visually reminds people to solve conflicts peaceably.

Beckie Meyer from Church of the Apostles shares her story about the Peace Mural project:

I have always appreciated "Old Turtle" and the subsequent stories by Douglas Wood so when we received that book from the "on Earth group", I knew we could incorporate it many ways. The children love the story and we read it frequently, including in the Children's message during worship. It just so happens that a local store (Berean Bible, formerly Provident) had small stuffable plush turtles for sale that had an opening for any small kid's ability to stuff as well as a pocket for a message to whomever would receive the turtle as a gift. The fabric also says "God Loves You". I told the SS coordinator to buy out the store because they were in packs of 10 and on sale. Well, the children walked over to Homestead Village and gave them out to the health unit as well as other parts of the residences. Some of the elders now sleep with them. I purchased 10 more copies of "Old Turtle" so folks can also be read to as they receive the stuffed turtles. Next the eucharistic ministry team (serving communion to the homebound) ordered 35 turtles from the children so we have a child serving as "turtle coordinator" and have added the turtle as our symbol for ministry run by the children. A Sunday ago we had a live abandoned box turtle visit and learned about its habitat, etc. The children have now decided (with my help) that kindness toward children by the adults must be recognized in worship by being "turtled" for their good deeds. The children nominate those who are deserving of having helped them as children by various things they do at church. Really an empowering for "the least of these". I just did a children's message 2 Sundays ago about "Why God Made Turtles" and read yet another TRUE story about the baby hippo who became friends with a large 130 year old tortoise due to the tsanami off the east coast of Africa about 6 years ago. The books is "Owen and Mzee" a true story of friendship and these two bonded because the hippo got separated from its mom, got rescued and taken to Haller Park in Africa and lives with the tortoise as its substitute mom. What a story! And it just goes on with the entire turtle ministry which is in the hands of the kids at church - so I thought you might like to know just what one sign-up for the Peace Mural project grew into. Thanks for having it in the summer of 2009.