Friday, November 20, 2009

Local Senior Highs Connect with El Salvador Youth

Recently, Michael Sinklier, PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer to Peru, went to El Salvador with the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines’ delegation. Here he describes his visit and the new mission with the youth there.

“I had the opportunity to meet with a young man from the community where our sister parish is located in San Francisco, El Salvador. He and a group of young members had come to a meeting being held in the newly constructed church and were there to make a request of the team from Westminster. He introduced himself as Niwman Oswaldo Cruz Hernandez and told the gathering that one year ago he and 12 other adolescents came together to create an official youth group of the church of San Francisco and that today, one year later, that group had doubled in size to 26 members. Niwman went on to tell us that while the group has no formal budget, this year they would like to host two events at the church, inviting youth from neighboring churches to come to San Francisco in order to build relationships and network with other youth groups in the area.

"The request was made for $350 that would last them one year and allow them to host two events. In response to the need, the Westminster Senior Highs have agreed to donate $350 of the funds raised from their 2009 Christmas Wreath sales to the San Francisco youth group. A letter and photograph of the Senior Highs will be sent to the youth group in El Salvador along with the funds.

"Because of the continuous support the Westminster congregation has show their youth, they too are able to do mission for other youth groups, even across the world.”

Friday, November 13, 2009

What can we do to achieve peace? New Booklet Released this Summer

The booklet and DVD Steadfast Hope, The Palestinian Quest for Just Peace is being offered from the Israel Palestine Mission Network (IPMN). A 48-page, magnificently illustrated booklet challenges common myths and misperceptions about the origins of the Middle East conflict. This new resource offers a snapshot of the situation on the ground in Israel/Palestine and is a guide to the challenges that lie ahead in the quest for peace by Muslims, Jews and Christians.

Designed for individual use or as a one-, four- or seven-week church adult education series, it includes a free DVD with short, informative clips linked to the booklet content. Copies are $5 each for 20+ or $10 a single copy and are available online through the Presbyterian Marketplace, order item number 26466-09-001 (or call 800-524-2612). Or a single copy is available for check out at the Presbytery Office. Questions? Contact IPMN members the honorably retired Rev. Liz Knott and Connie DePond at 515-962-2088.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

World Mission Celebration Booth was a Success!

The Des Moines Presbytery’s booth at the World Mission Celebration in Cincinnati, Ohio, the week of October 22-24 was well attended. Our Social Ministries Task Force Moderator Nancy Lister Settle (Dallas Center, First) and Sue Burns (DM, Westminster) gave away coffee samples which were a big hit!

And you can see in this Presbyterian New Service write-up, that we were the only presbytery-sponsored booth at the event. People were impressed!