Faith, War, and Healing: A Weekend with Rev. David W. Peters
- The Rev. Jeffrey D.S. Thornberg
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
“There’s only one proper way for a professional soldier to die: the last bullet of the last battle of the last war.”
These haunting words, attributed to local son General George S. Patton, open the door to deeper questions about what it means to live in a world where war does, in fact, happen.
Men and women serve on our collective behalf in areas of conflict. Whether or not we agree with the decision to (ever) go to war, we cannot escape the impact military service has on veterans’ lives long after their service has ended.
Some questions we might ask ourselves are
How do we live after the trauma and grief of war?
How do churches and communities surround our veterans with care, understanding, and hope?
What ancient and modern resources does the Christian tradition offer to help navigate the long journey home from battlefields both seen and unseen?
On Saturday November 15th, The Church of Our Saviour will hold a community dinner for veterans at 6 pm. All, veteran or not, are welcome to the dinner. If you email info@cosepiscopal.org we will know you are coming (though an RSVP is helpful, it is not required—please come either way!).
A special guest at COS, the Rev. David W. Peters will lead the discussion. David served as an enlisted Marine and Army chaplain, deploying to Iraq in 2005. Currently he is an Episcopal priest and middle school teacher. He lives in Austin, Texas, and is the father of three sons and a cat. David is the author of several books about theology and war, his latest being Post-Traumatic Jesus: Reading the Gospel with the Wounded.
Following the Saturday dinner, on Sunday, November 16th David will preach during the 8 am and 10 am worship services and lead an adult forum at 9 am in the parish hall.
Together, we’ll explore how faith communities can be places of reconciliation, resilience, and renewal for those who have carried the weight of service. Join us for this thought-provoking series that grapples with the cost of war and the promise of healing.
Church of Our Saviour is located at 535 W. Roses Road, San Gabriel. For questions and/or to make a reservation, please email info@cosepiscopal.org or call 626-282-5147, ext. 0.
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