Category: Peace Forum

PACG History - Peace Forum meeting

8/13/2008

Peace Forum Meeting
Monday, August 18th at 6:30 pm

Peace Forum

Hi Friends!

I regret having missed the last meeting, but I have met with James and it looks like we are in good shape to finalize plans for a peace event at Vanderveer park on Sunday. September 21.

We will meet this monday August 18 at 6:30 PM at the Unitarian Church to finalize plans for event and assign tasks and to begin planning for followup series on building inner peace for activists....
This planning will continue on August 26 at the PACG Moral Values Meeting.

Let me know if you can join us this Monday....thanks and peace!!

Cathy Bolkcom
PACG Peace Forum
cbarts4@aol.com

0 Comments

PACG History - Peace Forum Gun Violence Remembrance

8/1/2008

0 Comments

Gun Violence Remembrance
Sunday, August 3rd at 10:00 am

PACG Peace Forum

In light of the recent tragic shootings at the Unitarian Church in Knoxville, TN, where one of Davenport's former congregants Monica Castaneda and her family now attend, all are encouraged to stand together with the QC Unitarian Community at the Unitarian Church on Sunday at 10 a.m (August 3). The church will hold a special service of healing and remembrance for the shootings at Knoxville 's Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. All are welcome.

A labyrinth/walking meditation and journaling will be available before and after the service for those who mourn and are seeking peace—for themselves, for others and for the earth. Rev. Butts will lead the service.

We stand up for justice, for tolerance and to offer support and consolation to the church community in Knoxville. There will be no peace until we can accept one another.

I send along a letter from Monica Castaneda about what happened last weekend and one of the lessons she took from it.

Dear Friends:
Last Sunday morning my husband made banana pancakes for breakfast. I was sitting there admiring the eating capacity of our two boys, 5 and 2, and how my husband has been increasing the quantities in his recipe over the months to satisfy their morning hunger and still have some to carry in their lunch box to go to church. After breakfast I got the kids and myself ready to go. Then I saw my husband walk to the bathroom saying he was going to shower. We were already running a little bit late and I was surprised to see he wasn't ready and hadn't even showered yet. He said, "Why don't you go ahead with the boys and I'll meet you there later." I agreed, but when I got to the kitchen to fetch their lunch box with the pancakes I changed my mind, and decided that it was more important for us to be together as a family on a Sunday morning than to be on time. I could as easily have left, annoyed at my husband's tardiness on such a special day as this. You see, I had promised my kids that I would take them to see the play "Annie Jr." that the children of our church had put together during summer camp. That morning I listened to the voice of love, instead of to the voice of annoyance and I will forever be grateful for it.

We got to the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Church in Knoxville, TN at 10:21, right after the first police car arrived. In fact, the police car passed us on Kingston Pike and I felt the first pang of fear when I saw him turn on the driveway to our church. The second pang came when we saw the officer get out of the car with what looked like a sniper's rifle. Then a couple of young women told us there had been a shooting and while I was trying to convince myself this was probably a quarrel or a burglary, they shouted "people have been shot, you have to leave!" At that time they didn't know that the perpetrator had been submitted and disarmed by members of the congregation.

I am sure you have heard the rest in the news.

Now that the initial shock is over, I am once again reminded that there are many things in life that I cannot control, some over which I don't even have a say, but there are also many things in my life in which I can make a difference. One of these is my home, what I put in it and how I take care of it. The care of my home cannot be separated from the care of my family. At times like these it is even more important that I create a tranquil and loving atmosphere in our home. We have many friends that were touched by this tragedy in a variety of degrees. It is important that we stay loving and centered ourselves so that we can provide support and comfort where needed. This applies to us adults as well as to our children.

Work to make your home into an embrace of love. Let go of things that you don't use, don't like, don't love, and those things that are reminders of bad times. Make sure all the living beings in your home, people, pets and plants are thriving. Fix what can be fixed, hire help for what you cannot do yourself. Make a plan, budget your time and your resources. Make sure to leave some time every day to recharge your batteries, to do something that nourishes you and that you enjoy. These are the basics of a happy home.

And when you need to choose between the voice of love or the voice of fear, anger or annoyance, always choose the voice of love.

May you be blessed by Feng Shui!

Monica P. Castaneda
monica@fengshuiforu s.com

Cathy Bolkcom

0 Comments

PACG History - Peace Rallies

7/28/2008

0 Comments

Rallies to oppose the Occupation of Iraq
Thursday and Saturday this week

To All of You Great Folks Who Have Stood Up For Peace in the Past:

Please come join us on Thursday from 4:30 to 5:30 pm by Texas Roadhouse on 53rd Street and Corporate Drive in Davenport or on Saturday from 11am to noon on John Deere Rd. and 16th Street in Moline. Come for the whole hour or just part of the hour, but please try to join us. Our numbers are down, and we still need to stand up to call for an end to the Occupation in Iraq.

Both Presidential candidates are calling for leaving residual troops even though the Iraqi Government and people want us out so they can manage their own affairs. We need to show Quad Citians that we are strong in our beliefs and in our numbers. So hope to see you very soon!

Thanks For All You Do!

Caryn Unsicker

0 Comments

PACG History - Peace Forum vigils and PACG Young Leaders

7/17/2008

0 Comments

A message to PACG Young Leaders regarding the Peace Forum vigils

Hello Young Leaders!

I hope you are enjoying your summer. We need to meet again before school starts... scheduling is often a challenge as you know, so please let me know what days and times are good for YOU and then we will move forward.

There is so much going on right now... lots of information and ideas to share with you all... We are looking forward to getting your feedback.

Meanwhile, if you are free from 4:30-5:30pm on Thursdays (including today) and Saturdays from 11am to noon, and you would like to join our Peace Vigils, you would be most welcome! It's actually a wonderful way to spend an hour out of your day -- always fun and yet very meaningful. We get lots of honks from passersby!

Thursday Peace Vigil
Corner of E 53rd St and Corporate Row Dr in Davenport
(in front of Texas Roadhouse restaurant)
4:30-5:30pm

Saturday Peace Vigil
Corner of John Deere Rd and 16th St in Moline
(in front of Best Buy)
11am - Noon

In addition, the PACG Peace forum is planning a large event in September... the next planning meeting for that event is Tuesday, July 29th, 6:30pm at the Unitarian church. It would be great to have our Young Leaders involved in this initiative also! Contact Cathy Bolkcom for more information or just go to the meeting.

Well, that's all for now... I will look forward to receiving your feedback.

Peace Out,
caroline

0 Comments

PACG History - Peace Forum meeting

Peace Forum Meeting
Monday, August 18th at 6:30 pm

PACG History - Peace Forum Gun Violence Remembrance

Gun Violence Remembrance
Sunday, August 3rd at 10:00 am

PACG History - Peace Rallies

Rallies to oppose the Occupation of Iraq
Thursday and Saturday this week

PACG History - Peace Forum vigils and PACG Young Leaders

A message to PACG Young Leaders regarding the Peace Forum vigils

Archives

Categories

PACG History - Peace Forum meeting

Peace Forum Meeting​Monday, August 18th at 6:30 pm

PACG History - Peace Forum Gun Violence Remembrance

Gun Violence RemembranceSunday, August 3rd at 10:00 am

PACG History - Peace Rallies

Rallies to oppose the Occupation of IraqThursday and Saturday this week

PACG History - Peace Forum vigils and PACG Young Leaders

A message to PACG Young Leaders regarding the Peace Forum vigils

Archives

Categories

Peace Forum Meeting
Monday, August 18th at 6:30 pm

Gun Violence Remembrance
Sunday, August 3rd at 10:00 am

Rallies to oppose the Occupation of Iraq
Thursday and Saturday this week