Utah Enlists Support for Peace Effort
Episcopal News Service. February 18, 1982 [82045]
SALT LAKE CITY (DPS, Feb. 18) -- Beginning last December with a Pilgrimage for Peace, the Episcopal Diocese of Utah has made a concerted effort to enlist lay and clerical support for the House of Bishops call to a weekly prayer and fast day for peace.
On Dec. 21, liturgical celebrations were held at St. Mark's Cathedral here and in parishes throughout the sprawling state-wide diocese. At that time, and continuing on into the new year, parishioners were encouraged to sign and return to Bishop Otis Charles a flyer proclaiming their intention to join the weekly observation.
Conceived by Charles and designed by Carole Carlisle of the Diocesan Peace Center, the pilgrimage focused on "giving and sharing all that is worth saving the world for," as Carlisle described it. The evening included elements of poetry, music and dance and a simple meal to break the fast all had undergone during the day.
At the conclusion, St. Mark's Dean William Maxwell told the congregation of an observation that had struck him with renewed force during the pilgrimage: "Peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the sharing of things that are worthwhile in life. We have known real peace tonight and that has changed all of us for all time."
Carlisle echoed the dean's sentiment. "Peace is just such a hard issue for people to grapple with, because we don't spend enough of our time sharing the good things, making peace real with one another. This facet, creating moments of peace for people to share and understand is one that has not been used fully in the peace movement."
The weeklong observance ended Christmas Eve when communicants of the Cathedral passed in their commitment flyers as part of the Offeratory.
Key element in enlisting broad participation, the flyer is a standard size sheet, folded in thirds as a self-mailer. It contains a quote -- "Apocalypse is the term our tradition assigns to eras of special turbulence and change -- when Christians are given special things to say and things to do" -- and three additional categories of work for which the participant can enlist beyond the fast and prayer commitment.