Kevin Hiebert led our thinking on world conflict and the Psalmist's ideal, "Seek peace and pursue it" (Psalm 34:14). Project Ploughshares reports that 27 of the world's 192 countries are now in a state of conflict, that is, they are countries in which at least 1,000 people have been killed because of conflict (a conflict is thought to be concluded when only 25 die in a given year). Given this state of affairs, the World Council of Churches has dedicated this decade to the ideal of ending all such conflicts. But against this prayerful ideal stands the horrific reality of continuing legal and illegal trading of arms, both large and small. Even if all weapons were somehow destroyed, people would still find ways to kill and maim those with whom they are in conflict. Furthermore, the causes of wars are often so numerous that it is impossible to remove people's willingness to undertake war by simply solving one or two societal/economic/political issues. Consequently, we are surrounded by discouraging media reports telling of wars, so much so that we either become immune to reports of killing and rape or so emotionally exhausted by them that we 'tune out'. At times, even media reports become merely the tallying of statistics of deaths on both sides. Although scripture sadly predicts that there will always be wars and rumours of wars, we are encouraged to do our part by living in peace with everyone we meet and by praying for those in authority. These small-scale activities may not seem useful when confronting the world's enormous problems, but they are concrete steps which at least involve us in areas in which we can make a small difference. [JEK]

Passage: lectionary readings
Communion: No
Ecumenical or Event:
Potluck Lunch: No
Congregational Meeting: No

Speaker: Kevin Hiebert
Worship Leader: Kevin Hiebert
Song Leader: Andre Pekovich
Pianist: Ruth Enns
Usher: Henry Neufeld
Zoom Coordinator:
Children's Feature Leader: Karl Brown

Bring Flowers:
Coffee Helper:
Sound Helper:

Child Care Volunteer: