WCC NEWS: Peace quilt “a symbol of our commitment to comfort each other”

During a blessing of a peace quilt received as a gift from the women of the Mennonite World Conference, the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee affirmed its commitment to pray for and advocate for an end to gender-based violence. Blessing of the quilt received from the Global Mennonite Peace Festival as a symbol of commitment to a pilgrimage of justice and peace during the Morning prayer at the WCC central committee, 16 June 2022. Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC 16 June 2022 The blessing occurred on 16 June, a day when central committee members were observing the Thursdays in Black campaign for a world free from rape and violence. “Our prayer is that this peace quilt will be a symbol calling us to be in solidarity in prayer and in our common pilgrimage,” the WCC governing body read in its blessing. In a prayer, they thanked God for women everywhere who use their willing hands to give comfort and life’s necessities to those in need. “Gracious God, shower your blessings upon this gift, upon the women of the Mennonite World Conference, and upon your people scattered throughout the world who use their resources and talents for warmth, shelter, and for sustaining life especially to the world’s downtrodden peoples,” they prayed. About the peace quilt Jeannette Stenvers, from the Mennonite Church in The Netherlands, explained the creative and caring process behind the peace comforter. During the second Global Mennonite Peace Festival in June 2019 in The Netherlands, people were invited to help finish a couple of comforters and to work together on a new comforter by creating a message of peace on a square of fabric. After the festival, the squares were sewn into a comforter and presented to the WCC as a message of this festival, as a symbol the commitment to comfort each other on our common Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace. Some squares were left open, so we can think about all the unheard voices, of people who can’t speak out for themselves. At the end of WWII,  the Mennonite Central Committee sent clothes, blankets, simple quilts and other relief goods to Europe, for people who were bereft, left with about nothing at all. Some of these quilts are still around, though very worn out! Those quilts are called “comforters” because, they provide warmth, comfort, shelter, love and hope. “It’s a handmade message to people that their needs are not forgotten,” said Stenvers. “Following our American and Canadian brothers and sisters, European Mennonite congregations started making comforters, too, since 2012 and they are quite productive!” European Mennonite congregations worked together to make shipments with comforters and other goods that are sent to the Middle East and some to Lesbos (Greece). “It is such a simple way to work together in a group or in a congregation,” said Stenvers. “Everyone can join in on making comforters, men, women, young and old.” Photos from the WCC central committee meeting, June 2022 WCC Central committee meeting, June 2022 Thursdays in Black campaign   See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland