PC(USA)’s Peacemaking Program sends International Peacemaker to Des Moines! Please be our guests!

You are invited to a Dialogue with Peacemaker Hilary Rantisi on Saturday, October 2, 6 p.m., at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4114 Allison Avenue, Des Moines. Enjoy a Middle Eastern meal catered by Open Sesame; learn from Hilary Rantisi: The Hands of Peacemaking in Palestine-Israel. Palestinian handcrafts and olive oil will be available for purchase. Please be our guests! Sponsored by the Social Ministries Task Force of the Presbytery of Des Moines. Call the Presbytery of Des Moines at 515-276-4991 for your dinner reservation. (Your free will offering to “Presbyterian Peacemaking Program” is welcome.)
Hunger Action Enabler Nancy Lister-Settle has this to say about Hilary’s upcoming visit, “We are so privileged to have someone of Hilary’s stature here in the presbytery – and are REALLY hoping for a good turnout for the special Westminster dinner and dialogue and the Central worship service and brunch.”

Or come on Sunday, October 3, at 10:15 a.m. (World Communion Sunday) to Central Presbyterian Church, 3829 Grand Avenue, Des Moines. Our International Peacemaker will take part in worship, then join Hilary Rantisi for brunch and dialogue following worship.
Hilary Rantisi is a Palestinian Christian who was born in Jerusalem and grew up in Ramallah, West Bank. In 2001 Hilary moved to the US and is currently working as the Director of the Middle East Initiative at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Prior to moving to the US, Ms. Rantisi's previous work was with civil society organizations in Israel-Palestine and focused on religion, politics, and grassroots mobilization efforts in Jerusalem. She has co-edited a book Our Story: The Palestinians in 1999 with Rev. Naim Ateek, and a number of other journal articles. She has served as International Peacemaker with PC(USA) several times and her message is that of integrating principles of Christian peacemaking with situations of conflict.
International Peacemakers are leaders who are engaged in peacemaking in their own areas of the world. They are invited by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to visit with Presbyterians in the United States and to help us understand the peace and justice concerns of others around the world. International Peacemakers help Presbyterians broaden their view of the world, deepen their understanding of peace and justice issues in our own communities, and faithfully follow Jesus in ministries extending compassion, seeking peace, and doing justice. Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, PC(USA).

Synod School, Day 2

Editor's Note: This week, our Presbytery blogs will focus on Director of Communication Kim Coulter's experience at Synod School. This annual event is sponsored by the Synod of Lakes and Prairies each year and over 600 people attend from all over the country. Kim is attending not only as a part of her family's vacation, but she will also be teaching a class "What are Web 1.0 and Web. 2.0? The Computer Revolution and How to Keep Up with the Kids". Each day, class participants will learn about various Internet tools and how to connect with their kids and network with other Presbyterians. This blog will give you a glimpse of Kim's daily activities. Comments are welcome and encouraged. Enjoy!

Day 2, July 27

After rising in the morning, we went to the Buena Vista University Seibens Forum, an underground gathering place in the middle of campus. There we ate a hearty breakfast and some hot coffee. (New beds have a nasty habit of giving me no prolonged sleep pattern for the first night, but with a little coffee, everything becomes clearer.)

After breakfast, the morning sing-a-long, followed by worship. Then, all kids travel with their teachers to their classrooms and the adults listen to the convocation speaker Sara Lisherness who is director of Compassion, Peace and Justice for the PC(USA). (This program area includes Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Presbyterian Hunger Program, Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, the United Nations and Washington Offices, Self-Development of People, and Social Witness Ministry). Her topic and the theme for Synod School is "Building a Culture of Peace".

I attended three classes today (more on this later in the week), besides my own class that I teach. "What are Web 1.0 and Web 2.0? The Computer Revolution and How to Keep Up with the Kids." We discussed the changes in computers and the Internet since first introduced. There are 20 people in this computer lab and tomorrow I'll be talking about cell phones, texting and Instant Messaging.

In the evening, our worship time was lead by "Sweet the Sound," featuring Matt and Liz Myer Boulton (Matt is professor of worship and theology at Harvard Divinity School. Liz is associate pastor at Old South Church in Boston) and the Rev. Burns and Lorraine Stanfield, Burns is pastor at the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Boston and is a Des Moines native. Lorraine is an internist doctor working with mostly older people (they are the son and daughter-in-law of Des Moines Presbytery pulpit supply speaker Paul Stanfield of Knox United Presbyterian Church in Des Moines).

- Kim Coulter, director of communications