Peace Weekend

It's all coming together for next week(end)'s activities promoting peace.  For over 9 years the US has been waging the vague and expensive "War on Terror." This year we celebrate the 9th Annual Palm Sunday Peace Parade on April 17th. More information on the Parade is below, as well as these related events.  Come and take part--it's good for the soul!

Thursday, April 14, 2011; doors open at 7:00 p.m.; talk begins at 7:30
Peace Activist James Loney speaks at the Crawford Family Forum in Pasadena.

James Loney is a Canadian Catholic Worker who has worked with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraq and Palestine for years. On November 26, 2005 he was kidnapped in Baghdad along with three others. The widely publicized hostage crisis ended March 23, 2006 when Loney and two of his friends were rescued in a clandestine military operation lead by British Special Forces. The American on the team had been killed two weeks prior to rescue.  Mr. Loney discusses his experience in this new book, Captivity, which will be available for purchase and signing after the talk.  Follow the above link to get to the event on KPCC website.  The event is free, but tickets are required.

Saturday, April 16, 2011, 8:00 p.m.
Pasadena City College - Sexson Auditorium
PCC's Combined Choirs and Orchestra perform Ralph Vaughan Williams's cantata Dona Nobis Pacem

Dona Nobis Pacem is a dramatic musical work highlighting the tragedy of war and the promise of peace. Words come from the Latin mass, the poetry of Walt Whitman, and the Old Testament Prophets. You haven't lived until you've heard this work!  I will be singing in the chorus.  For a preview of my two favorite movements, you can go to this post on YouTube.  (Note:  it's a coincidence that this event was scheduled on Peace Weekend, but it's certainly appropriate!)



Sunday, April 17, 2011
11 a.m.  
Pasadena Mennonite Church, 1041 N. Altadena Dr., Pasadena, CA
James Loney speaks at PMC's Sunday morning worship service


9th Annual PALM SUNDAY PEACE PARADE 3:00 p.m.
Gather at Messiah Lutheran Church 570 E. Orange Grove Bl., Pasadena for a festive march to the Paseo Colorado celebrating and promoting peace. Music, puppets, banners, flags, and palm fronds make this parade a joyful witness to the Prince of Peace. James Loney will be the special presenter.


An explanation of the Peace Parade's philosophy and origins is explained in a post by Bert Newton on the World Together blog.


For last year's parade, I made this peace dove puppet, and he was a big hit!  He even became the profile picture for the Palm Sunday Peace Parade Facebook page.This year, we'll have a whole flock of birds made at workshops I've led over the past two weeks.

More information on the Thursday and Sunday events can also be found on the Peace and Justice Academy's Peace Parade page.