As we enter the holiday season, we here at Peaceworks want to thank all of you for your participation and support and wish you and yours all the best for a season of joy and a new year that is growthful and fulfilling.
We would also like to remind you of the ongoing need for activism, even during times when many of our co-workers, friends and neighbors seem focused almost solely on socializing and procuring gifts.
There is nothing in any way wrong with taking time with loved ones over the holidays. We surely encourage and support this. And, even though overconsumption taxes our budgets as well as the planet's resources, and in many ways generates stress, there is absolutely nothing wrong with sharing thoughtful gifts with friends and family. (The key here is to do it in moderation and to think through what gifts you really want to share.) We even hope you will come by the Peace Nook and see the wonderful books, fair trade imports and other excellent gift items we've got available in our non-profit store, where all proceeds supports our work to make the world a cleaner, greener and more peaceful place.
Our message regarding activism is that it needs to go on during this season as well. How ironic that for most in our culture this solstice season is observed as a celebration of the birth of the Prince of Peace, but there is so little attention to peacemaking, peace advocacy, peaceful witness and the like. Certainly, if we are to honor Jesus, we should honor his message of peace and love.
Likewise, almost all traditions celebrate this as a season of light in the darkness. Whatever our background--religious or not--we can each take steps to make ourselves lights in this current time of darkness; lights for social and economic justice, lights for sustainability, lights for peace.
So, perhaps you'd like to host a Holiday House Party. Just contact Lily. here at Peaceworks and she can fill you in on the details. Maybe you'd like to send holiday cards with expressions of your concerns to your Congresspeople. Maybe you'd like to bring the whole family out to a peace vigil during the holiday season. Perhaps you could help support Peaceworks by sending a year-end contribution our way.
There are so many ways to get involved. We hope you will consider what fits your personal situation and help in what ways you can.
Many thanks,
Your friends at Peaceworks
