Growing Hope Forging Peace

Join us for a day of testimony, reflection, experience, and ACTION!

We will gather around the forges as we transform guns into gardening tools and art. Offering songs of praise and prayer, and hearing words shared by victims and survivors of gun violence. Shane Claiborne- our keynote speaker will offer words of change and a call to action. We will work on art projects and gather in thoughtful conversations around mental health, safe gun storage and suicide prevention. We will offer our hurts, hopes and dreams to God in song and worship, and end our day with a picnic lunch. This day is open to ALL God’s people, of all beliefs and ages.

This important event is made possible by: St. James’s Church- W. Hartford, Swords to Plowshares Ministry Network, St. Paul’s Church- Fairfield, The NW Region of the ECCT, St. John's Church - New Milford, St. John's Church - Washington & other generous sponsors.

Shane Claiborne, Keynote Speaker

Shane Claiborne is a prominent speaker, activist, and author. Shane worked with Mother Teresa in Calcutta, and founded The Simple Way in Philadelphia. Grace fuels his passion. He was recently awarded The King Center’s Beloved Community Social Justice Award. His book, Beating Guns, acts as a guide for how we can be part of the solution towards ending gun violence. Inspired by the prophetic image of beating swords into plows, Beating Guns offers a clarion call to change our hearts regarding one of the most significant moral issues of our time. His newest book, Rethinking Life was released February 2023.