PEACE TRAIN

PEACE TRAIN

The publicity is just ready to send out for this program, which will be, for all participants, the experience of a lifetime. You are invited to share this amazing journey for peace. Many pilgrimages are walking trips; but this journey will take participants half way around the world, from Berlin, site of national reunification in 1990, where we will worship in a candlelight service at the Brandenberg Gate; across Russia, whose history has been so connected to Korea’s, where we will worship with the Christians of Russia in the Orthodox Cathedral and enjoy the beauties of Lake Baikal; to China, Korea’s closest neighbor, with whom for much history it has been inextricably linked; then hopefully having the opportunity to make a historic trip through North Korea worshipping with North Korean Christians in Pyongyang and then to Seoul and Busan to join the World Council’s General Assembly. (However, the reality is that the time is not yet for travel through North Korea. A few months ago, during the Presidential election campaign, hopes were high, but the election of Park Geun Hye, whose party stirs hostility, suspicion and fear of North Korea, we do not see it happening. In addition, there is the satellite recently launched by North Korea, for which the United Nations has passed a resolution against them, and in turn, North Korea is talking about a nuclear test in protest. An alternate route is planned, taking a ferry from Dandong in China to Incheon.)

Brochures and application forms are available, either through a link on WCC website or at www.peacetrain2013.org Costs are given, either for the whole trip, or for any of the 3 sections (Berlin-Moscow, Moscow-Beijing, Beijing-Busan). Applications are due back to the Peacetrain Committee by May 1, and then applicants who are chosen will be notified. At that time they will have to make a partial deposit of the fee, with arrangements for the remainder at a later time. The letter which notifies people of their acceptance, will also give information of the countries for which they will have to arrange tourist or transit visas.

PEACE PRAYER

Father, forgive us for the barriers of greed, prejudice, and contempt that we continually build which separate us within and between churches, from people of other faiths, and from those we consider to be less important than us. May your Spirit give us courage to cross these boundaries, and to tear down the walls that disconnect us from each other. Then with Christ may we step forth into unknown terrain, to carry his message of loving acceptance and unity to all the world. God of life, lead us to justice and peace. Amen

(from 2013 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, prayer for Day 6)