On Thursday, May 2, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Wisdom House Retreat & Conference Center in Litchfield will host an Author Talk and Book Signing with peace activist and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, Rev. John Dear, author of his newest book, “The Gospel of Peace: A Commentary on Matthew, Mark and Luke from the Perspective of Nonviolence” (Orbis Books).

“The Gospel of Peace” is Rev. Dear’s first-ever original commentary that offers a fresh new approach to the Synoptic Gospels from the perspective of active nonviolence written to help everyone carry Jesus’ global campaign of nonviolence for justice, disarmament, and peace. “John Dear is one of the few towering figures in the Christian nonviolent freedom and peace movement in our time. This powerful book should not be missed,” commented Cornel West.

Author of over forty books, for over four decades Rev. John Dear has been working for justice and disarmament and teaching peace and nonviolence. During his May 2^nd talk, he will speak about “The Gospel of Peace”, Jesus, the Gospels, and nonviolence, and what it all might mean for all people of today.

“No living person has done more to root Jesus’ message of nonviolence and peace in scripture than John Dear. Follow John’s lead through Matthew, Mark, and Luke and, like those disciples on the Emmaus Way, your heart will be set afire with excitement to tell others the Good News,” wrote Wes Howard-Brook, author of “Come Out, My People!”: God’s Call Out of Empire in the Bible and Beyond 

Rev. Dear wrote “The Gospel of Peace” to walk readers through every line of the three Synoptic Gospels pointing out Jesus’ practice and teachings of nonviolence each step of the way. He wrote to invite readers to become practitioners of creative nonviolence like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Jesus was nonviolent to the core, a disarming, healing presence toward those in need, and a revolutionary disrupter of the unjust status quo. He was a political threat to the ruling authorities who succeeded in killing him, only to push him to the heights of nonviolence through his death and resurrection,” wrote Rev. Dear.

Executive director of the non-profit, Beatitudes Center in Morro Bay, CA (www.beatitudescenter.org), Rev. Dear hosts Zoom sessions about Jesus, the Gospels, and peacemaking. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize numerous times, including by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. To learn more, visit www.johndear.org.

Celebrating its 75^th Anniversary in 2024, Wisdom House is an interfaith retreat and conference center presenting programs in spirituality, wellness, the arts, and ecology, and offering hospitality to academic, civic, nonprofit, and business organizations. “We are committed to welcoming people of all backgrounds and beliefs,” stated Wisdom House Executive Director Deborah Kelly. “In this alarming time of unrelenting global turmoil, we are especially delighted to welcome Rev. Dear and his exceptional insights into peace and disarmament.”

“The Gospel of Peace” books will be available for $20 each at Rev. Dear’s May 2 Author Talk at Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center at 229 East Litchfield Road. There is no cost for the event, however, donations will be appreciated. Reservations are encouraged and appreciated and can be made by visiting www.wisdomhouse.org/programs or calling 860-567-3163.