Pastor Jim De Bruycker welcomed a crowd of about 250 to the tenth annual candlelight service for the children of Iraq and other child victims of war at St. Joan of Arc Church on The Feast of the Holy Innocents, December 28, 2007. This moving ritual remembers the child victims of war. A reading of Matthew 2: 16-18 by Rev. Gwin Pratt, St. Luke Presbyterian Church, set the tone:

After Herod massacred all of the boys 2 years old or younger, the prophesy of Jeremiah was fulfilled . . .
A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loudly lamenting:
it was Rachel weeping for her children,
refusing to be comforted
because they were no more
The vigil was co-facilitated by Marie Braun and Steve McKeown(right). Marie reminded us that the first candlelight service was held on December 28, 1998, shortly after the weapons inspectors were pulled out of Iraq and the Clinton administration waged a four-day bombing campaign on a people already devastated by two wars and many years of debilitating sanctions. She said:
Over 50% of the people of Iraq are children under the age of 15. Before the beginning of this war, 3,500 to 5,000 Iraqi children were dying each month as a result of the sanctions. Things are much worse now; the people of Iraq do not have sufficient medicine, food or clean water; sewage fills the streets; electricity is available less than three hours a day. Tens of thousands of Iraqi children and their parents have become internally displaced persons. Unemployment is estimated to be fifty to sixty percent and the cost of living has skyrocketed.

Oxfam International recently reported that “43 percent of Iraqis suffer from absolute poverty” . . . Children, of course, are the hardest hit by the decline in living standards . . . and child malnutrition rates have risen from 19 percent before the war in 2003 to 28 percent.” And now, the Iraqi government is talking of cutting the food rationing program (formerly called the food for oil program) by one-half, which can only add to the suffering of the children.
We seldom hear the stories of the children of war on the evening news. We are here tonight to remember these children. The 300 candles you see in front of you represent 300 children who have died or will die today as a result of war in Iraq and other war torn countries around the world.
Litany of Repentance and Sorrow

The litany began with the snuffing out of 300 candles, representing the snuffing out of 300 children’s lives. Nine readings of sufferings were read, to which the community responded: We must awaken the conscience of our nation; Let us have courage to act.

Then, four candles of hope were lit as Steve Kremer led us in the song: Light One Candle. The symbolic use of four candles of hope was inspired by the late Larry Cloud Morgan who always prayed to the four directions.

Don’t let the light go out
It’s lasted for so many years
Don’t let the light go out
Let it shine thru our love and our tears.
     - Peter Yarrow
After the lighting of the candles of hope, there were several readings of hopeful messages about how communities are speaking out against war, to which the community responded: The community is speaking out. We can make a difference.

Then we sang:

WHO WILL SPEAK
Who will speak if we don’t?
Who will speak if we don’t?
Who will speak so their voice will be heard?
Oh, who will speak if we don’t?
     - Marty Haugen
Testimonies and Experiences

Meg Novak and Peter Thompson shared their personal stories. Meg went to Iraq in 2002. She has since organized an Iraqi art show. She has a 4-year old son who is Iraqi-American. She told us that things have gotten so bad in Iraq that for the first time her son’s grandparents are talking about leaving; leaving a place where they have lived for hundreds of years. She reminded us that parents in Iraq love their children the same as parents here do.

Peter, a retired attorney, went to Iraq five years ago. He has a wife, Ricky, and five children. He now teaches about Peace, War and the Constitution at three law schools. He asked, “When we say no to war, why do we say yes to children?” The answer is in Jesus’ messages: let the little children come to me, and unless you become as children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. He invited us to look at the images of Iraqi children being carried around the church and at the kids carrying them to see the connection of our lives and theirs.

Silent Reflections

The children from the community then carried images of children from Iraq in a short procession around the church dramatizing the messages we were hearing. Cantate, the youth choir from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, sang Pie Jesu. This is a time for us to reflect on our own connection to the lives of these victims of war. For, it is when we begin to see these American children, the Iraqi children, and all children of the world as our own children that we will be able to put an end to poverty and war.

Time for Commitment

Remembering the children is not enough. This candlelight service is also a call to action. We are invited to come to the altar and take one of the candles with us. This candle is a reminder to us of the suffering of innocent child victims of war. Its light will give us courage to speak out and act to put an end to war.


and
Rose Grengshas been a SJA parishioner since 1982. She is an immigration attorney and passionate about the subject. She is a member of the choir and active in the Peace Movement. She and her husband, Paul, routinely attend the 11:00 Mass. She is the mother of four children and grandmother of three. She is looking forward to retirement, travel and enjoys music, especially singer, songwriter, Greg Brown.
The service closed with Carol Masters reading a prayer she wrote, and the song: God of Day and God of Darkness.

Twin Cities Peace Campaign – Focus on Iraq
For information on how you can help:
Tel: 612-522-1861 or 612-826-5364
e-mail: braun044@umn.edu

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