Categories: Articles
Date: Sep 10, 2007
Title: We're Kids4Peace, mighty, mighty Kids4Peace: Thanksgiving Interfaith Worship
On the evening of August 2, at Covenant Hills Camp, over 80 people, parents, friends, and donors gathered under the Abrahamic Tent, waiting to see how the production would start, how 24 Jewish, Christian and Muslim children would show off their new partnerships, what 10 days of interfaith education and play could do to inspire and support the budding of young peacemakers
Out from beyond the trees came the song: "Everywhere we go, people want to know, who we are, so we tell them! We're Kids4Peace, mighty, mighty Kids4Peace. Tired of the fighting! Time to do the right thing!" And there they were, marching into the tent, though the crowd and onto the stage to greet the visitors. It was magnificent. Twenty four children, ages 10-12 from Jerusalem and Vermont, singing and performing together, exuberant, smiling, holding hands and ready to show everyone a bit about their religious traditions
The Jewish kids put on a bit of a fashion show as they demonstrated Kabbalat Shabbat and prayers in front of the Western Wall. The Christian kids played the "Good Stranger" and the story of Mary, Martha, their friends and a priest who was teaching the words of Jesus. They had the audience reciting in loud chorus, "Do to others what you want them to do for you! Pray for those who hurt you!" The Muslims demonstrated Ramadan, its fasting days, and the sweet sounding call to prayer by an eleven year-old muezzin from East Jerusalem
Some of the Christian kids wrote new words to an old song and sang it in both English and Arabic: "I'm trading my anger, I'm breaking the guns, I'm tearing down walls-for the joy of the Lord. I'm making new friends, I'm teaching my elders, I'm learning to listen-for the joy of the Lord
...
At the end of the program, the audience was moved to a standing ovation and long cheers. The kids and staff were grinning from ear to ear. We had done it. Our first Abrahamic Tent. Our first summer camp session. Our first foray into the world of sending young peacemakers out into the world with words in their hearts as powerful as any weapon: listen, teach, kindness, generosity, dignity, friendship, fun, hope, respect, cooperate, appreciate. These were the words we lived by each day and the words through which we grew our relationships and solved our problems
A simple story: a Muslim and a Christian boy got into an argument and tug of war over some gymp at the crafts cabin. After talking about it, one boy grudgingly decided he would give the strand of gymp to the other. I asked him if he would be giving the gymp away in anger or as a peacemaker. He hesitated a moment, thought carefully and said, "A peacemaker."
[Libby Hillhouse is a member of St. Andrew's, St. Johnsbury.]