The Virlina District Prayer Committee wants to invite you to the 2nd annual Building Peace in the Body of Christ worship service to be held at Oak Grove Church of the Brethren on Sunday, September 20 at 3 p.m. Oak Grove Church of the Brethren is located at 2138 McVitty Road.
This even comes the day before the International Day of Prayer for Peace which is on Monday, September 21 this year. The object of the International Day of Prayer for Peace is to encourage worldwide, 24-hour spiritual observation for peace and non-violence. The worship service is to commemorate that day.
"We look at ways to promote peace in the district," said George Barnhart, Chairman of Virlina District Prayer Committee. "It is a worship service with peace as the emphasis."
This will be the second year of the event. Last year's event was held at Germantown Brick Church of the Brethren and the service was a series of prayer. About 50 to 60 people came out for the event from all over Virginia.
"I envision every year being a little different," Barnhart said."The speakers reflect a diversity in our district. We also selected a choir from first Church which has a biracial makeup, They'll do special music, gospel."
"We feel like we've had this past adversarial situation. Peace is so much prouder than how you react to the military or war- it includes people and health care. We are desperately trying to move past protesting the war or military protest."
Speakers for the Peace in the Body of Christ event will included J. Michael Varner, Pastor of Topeco Church of Brethren and Timothy P. Harvey, Pastor of Central Church of the Brethren.
"Our church does a lot with the local elementary schools in the city and has expanded to involved other organizations in seven schools," Pastor Harvey said. "We've learned some of the things it takes to promote peace. We've found a lot of children who are in poverty and hungry. I'll be preaching on John 5 when Jesus meets an invalid and asks him if he wants to be made well.
"I feel that peace has a lot to do with the whole person- that's my focus as speaker," Harvey said.
"I would hope that as a Christian community, people would come with a renewed sense of what their discipleship means and what peace means in their personal life, with their families, children and their work," Barnhart said.
"I hope people will first think more broadly about their involvement in the community and do something about it. I hope people say its not just enough to come and sing in church but I hope they'll feel motivated to make a difference," Harvey said.
Barnhart said that all are welcome to the Peace in the Body of Christ event at Oak Grove and that it should last about an hour. with three different groups of special music, hopefully to include, gospel from First Church, a duet by Paul and Karen Stutzman, Bluegrass gospel from Topeco Church of the Brethren in Floyd, and special music done by children.
Refreshments and fellowship will follow the service.
