Ellie and I began our Quaker adventure at Langley Hill MM in Northern VA in 1983. Tom Fox joined this meeting a year or two after we did. When we left there one of our closest friends, John Surr was the clerk of that meeting. He has sent this to me (and other friends), and I want to share it with people reading this blog:
John Surr
(301) 469-9170
Please reply to: surr@his.com
Begin forwarded message:
>
> ***We ask that you give the two urgent messages below your deepest consideration, and direct them on to others who share our concerns regarding the violent and unjust interruptions in the lives of people in Iraq on a daily basis. We have a special concern for the four Christian Peacemaker Team members abducted November 26, 2005.****
> ______________________________________
>
>
> WHO WE ARE: We are Langley Hill Monthly Meeting, of the Religious Society of Friends, the Meeting of Tom Fox, the member of the Christian Peacemaker Team from America who is being held hostage.
>
> WHAT WE ARE DOING: We are holding a public candlelight vigil for Tom Fox, other members of Christian Peacemaker Teams held with him, those who have taken them hostage, and the many individuals and families that have been negatively impacted by this war. The vigil will be held at Clarendon Metro Park, Arlington, Virginia, on Wednesday, Dec 7 from 7:00-9:00 pm EST. This park is at the Clarendon Metro stop between Wilson and Clarendon Blvds. We will read the text of Tom's work as found on his weblog: www.waitinginthelight.blogspot.com. Bring candles and dress warmly.
>
> WHAT WE ARE ASKING: For each and everyone to join us by:
> 1. Attending Wednesday evening's vigil in Clarendon.
> 2. Holding a similutaneous candlelight vigil in your community
> 3. If you cannot attend a vigil, then holding your own personal vigil; putting a candle in your window or on your front lawn
> 4. Reading Tom's postings found on his website
> 5. Holding Tom and his fellow CPT team members in the Light, seeking their safe and immediate release, and also those who suffer similar situations of captivity. We ask you to also hold their captors in the Light, that they might see why they must release their captives.
>
> We know that many people throughout the world have made efforts to secure the release of these hostages and we are grateful for their support.
> _____________________________________________
>
>
> AN APPEAL FROM LANGLEY HILL MONTHLY MEETING, RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, TO THE PEOPLE HOLDING TOM FOX AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CHRISTIAN PEACEMAKER TEAM,
>
> Tom Fox, now being held captive in Iraq, is a beloved and longstanding member of our Quaker worship community. One of our strongly held beliefs is that if we listen, God can guide our lives. Before Tom went to Iraq, we considered with him his sense that he was being inspired by God to do what he could to relieve the suffering of individual Iraqis and to serve peace and justice. We were aware of the danger he faced. He went with our support and continues to have our support and love. We know Tom very well and can affirm that he is neither a spy nor an evangelist.
>
> The tenets of our Quaker faith ask us to work for peace in the world and to respect that of God in everyone. That is what led Tom to go to Iraq. We believe strongly in justice, mercy, and peace. We opposed this war as we oppose all wars. We believe in a God that is compassionate and merciful, as do the people of Iraq.
>
> We ask you as an act of justice, mercy, and devotion to release Tom and the other Christian Peacemaker Team members so that they can continue their work on behalf of those who suffer.
>
> Releasing the captives, so that they can continue to serve the Iraqi people, would be an act of dignity and courage.
>
> Signed,
>
> Langley Hill Monthly Meeting
> Religious Society of Friends
> Doug Smith, Clerk
3 comments:
Thank you for posting this Larry.
I found it very interesting, especially Tom Fox's writing on his blog.
I am familiar with Christian Peacemaker Teams because my daughter wrote an article for her college magazine, Flux, last spring on a local man who is/was? in Iraq on this team. Here is the link for her article if you are interested:
http://influx.uoregon.edu/2005/html/06/
I have such great respect for the work Tom and this young man Matt have been doing in Iraq. Thank you again Larry for bringing this mission and the news of Tom's abduction to our attention.
Thanks for this post Larry:
Friends of Tom's were at our meeting this past First Day as well. I really hope Friends will take some time from their many concerns and do all they can, we are called to that moment that Mary Dyer returned to Boston. What will we do? Will we put other work aside and write, and witness and pray, or just think of this as one more annoucement after meeting.
I really hope all will do all they can, there is very little time left to act.
Thy friend and Friend
lor
PS I hope Friends schools might ask their children to write to Al Jazeere and other information sourses in the region and inform those who hold Tom about the service performed by CPT members conducting Palistinian children to school to keep them safe.
Larry, I hope your friend is released safely. I saw a post on Chuck Currie's blog ... Pray For Four From Christian Peacemakers Team Held In Iraq .... that is also on this subject.
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