The Mennonite Church USA peace advocate has been collecting prayers for peace from across the church and distributing them weekly to people and congregations with a heart for peace. The weekly prayers can be used for personal or congregational prayer. Some congregations use the prayers when lighting their peace lamps, some send them by e-mail to members and others make them available for meditation as worship begins.

To receive the weekly prayer, e-mail KristaM@MennoniteUSA.org. Two years of prayers are available for free here.

For information on how to get a free peace lamp, e-mail Susan Mark Landis at SusanML@MennoniteUSA.org.

Young people have big questions about big issues, and today’s youth are faced with unique challenges. The Mennonite Church USA Web site now has a new section dedicated to helping youth and their sponsors or pastors start conversations on things like the environment, immigration, poverty, racism, war and sexuality.

The section includes excerpts from the Confession of Faith, churchwide statements and biblical passages, and it’s all pulled together in one place so youth don’t have to look all over the Internet to find out what their 

church says about these issues. Information included is brief so that youth can have a starting point for beginning conversations with their pastor, mentor, youth group or congregation.

Youth pastors and sponsors are encouraged to look at the site and find ways of encouraging your youth to visit when they’re ready to explore these issues that count.