Huss Project Event to Promote Reflection on Current Issues

An event scheduled to take place on five consecutive Tuesdays in October and November will provide an opportunity for reflection on issues of peace and justice as they pertain to current events, organizer Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma said.

The Three Rivers Area Weekly Witness for Peace will feature a period of silence each Tuesday on the grounds of The Huss Project in Three Rivers. Anyone is welcome to attend, and participants may show up at any time.

A variety of silent activities will be available to facilitate thought and reflection on current events, as well as on what the ideas of peace and justice mean, Vander Giessen-Reitsma said. There will be walking paths on the Huss grounds, taking visitors through the vegetable gardens or the woods. Visitors are welcome to sit or otherwise occupy the ground, and are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, or other ground coverings if they choose to do so. A reflection booklet is in the works, which will feature material meant to inspire prayer or reflection on the event’s topics.

When weather permits its use, there will also be a large, cloth prayer labyrinth supplied by Three Rivers First United Methodist Church. A prayer labyrinth is a centuries-old religious device used to encourage thought, reflection, and prayer by engaging the body in silent movement. From above, Vander Giessen-Reitsma said, it looks sort of like a maze, but there is only one path to follow that weaves in and out over itself toward the center of a circle.

Despite the offered prayer activities, there is no religious affiliation for the event. According to the event’s Facebook page, “participants are welcome to take whatever posture of prayer, meditation, or reverence is most comfortable for them.” The event draws inspiration from things that include “having a moment of silence in honor of a tragedy,” Vander Giessen-Reitsma said, but also “the tradition of many religions that value silence as a time of listening and being present,” and from the tradition of “having a vigil or simply showing up” in various initiatives.

Children, and participants of all ages, are welcome at the event. Organizers encourage families to consider bringing books to read together that deal with peace and justice issues or heroes, provided that they spread out and keep conversation to a whisper.

Vander Giessen-Reitsma said the event is designed to bring people together without pressure. “While many justice issues have been around for a long time, some people are newly awake to them, including a lot of folks in our own community,” she said. For such people, “there tends to be a bit of paralysis and isolation.”

The Weekly Witness for Peace “is an opportunity to show up and be with people who are committed to values of peace and justice when you may not know what else to do.” It is likewise applicable to those who have been involved in justice issues for longer. For such people, Vander Giessen-Reitsma said, “there’s a lot of despair and grief right now that we’re still fighting some of the same battles. So, for those folks who need a sense of comfort and renewal, the time of silence is also intended to serve that need as well.”

Although it is meant to be a place for people to think about current issues, Vander Giessen-Reitsma said, “I would say that silence is the central practice for this particular event. This event is not about debating issues. It’s not about creating a busy plan of action. It’s about being present to each other outdoors, in nature, to seek the energy and sense of community that we need in order to be able to support action in our community in the future, across boundaries, whatever those boundaries might be.”

Organizers want people to know that “showing up to be in silence together can be very powerful, but it’s not a substitute for action for justice in our community. I also would say that peace is not just the absence of conflict. True peace is flourishing for all people.”

Vander Giessen-Reitsma said, “I am aware that as a community, in Three Rivers, we have a lot of gifts, but we also have a lot of work to do in terms of, particularly, economic, racial, and environmental justice. So, these times of silence are an opportunity for us to come together and be together in a time of great isolation that’s only going to get worse as we head into the fall and winter, and the weather changes, and our political situation plays out however it’s going to play out.”

Regarding any activity beyond thought and reflection, Vander Giessen-Reitsma said, “we don’t have a plan for anything specific that will come out of this, but we will be looking forward to hearing from those who show up about what their experience is of the series and what they can imagine for working together for peace and justice in our community.” Attendees who have feedback will be encouraged to get in touch with organizers through the Huss Project. “We’ll discern next steps based on what we’re hearing during and after the series.”

Ultimately, Vander Giessen-Reitsma said, the goal is to help people in Three Rivers understand how they can build and support their own community. “I hope this is an opportunity for people to cultivate an understanding of peace that is not a battle where one side wins and one side loses, but that there are powerful opportunities for action that make the world better for all people, and that those actions need to take place right here in our own community. They’re not things that we can wait for others to do for us.”

The event is organized by the Huss Project and *culture is not optional. There are also currently more than a dozen community partners helping to promote the event. They include several businesses, churches, and organizations, as well as the City of Three Rivers. Vander Giessen-Reitsma said more are stepping forward, and organizations wishing to join as community partners are welcome to do so no later than Monday. Partners will continue to be recognized on the Facebook event page, and will also be listed in the event booklet.

The first Weekly Witness for Peace will take place from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6 and will continue at the same time each day for four additional Tuesdays. The last will take place on Election Day, November 3, 2020. The Huss Project is located at 1008 Broadway St. in Three Rivers.

Participants should come prepared to observe silence during the 30-minute period, Vander Giessen-Reitsma said. A bell will sound to mark the beginning and end of the silence period. Outdoor reflection will take place no matter the weather, so visitors should come prepared for the day’s forecast.

Visitors can park in the main Huss Project parking lot and visit the blue tent by the building’s main entrance to check in, where a greeter will be available to provide information. Organizers are asking that people observe pandemic safety measures. Visitors should wear a mask at check in, though they may remove them when observing six-foot-minimum social distance measures outside on the grounds. Those wishing to do so may also observe the period of silence from home.

Dave Vago is a writer and columnist for Watershed Voice. A Philadelphia native with roots in Three Rivers, Vago is a planning consultant to history and community development organizations and is the former Executive Director of the Three Rivers DDA/Main Street program.