Concord, NH, Monday, February 11, 2008 - Despite a steady cold drizzle, a group of about a dozen people walked on Ash Wednesday, February 6, from South Congregational Church in Concord to the front of the State House to participate in a vigil for peace and nonviolence. They carried a banner that said “Blessed are the Peacemakers.”

The march and vigil followed a special service at the church which lamented the destruction and suffering caused by war and violence. Rev. Gordon Crouch, chair of the Peace With Justice Task Force at the NH Conference of the United Church of Christ, and Barbara Currie, pastor of the Deering UCC Church, led the service.

“With all of the violence in the world, and all of the suffering that comes as a result of violence, it feels necessary as people of faith to gather on Ash Wednesday and confess to God our failure as a world and as individuals to love one another as we should,” said Crouch. “Repenting of our violence is the first step in creating a more peaceful world.”

The worship service, march and vigil were sponsored by the NH UCC Peace with Justice task force, Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service and NH Peace Action. This was the first time that these groups worked together to develop an Ash Wednesday service, but they hope to do it again and offer nonviolence litury throughout the year. For more information contact LR Berger at www.paceebene.org.

PHOTO: PeB Training for Trainer’s participant Frank Irvine, Pace e Bene

NE Associate LR Berger, and Jed Rardin from host church march to

Vigil at State House on Ash Wednesday.