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!

Joining Hands with Egypt Looks at Organic and Fair Trade Products

Social Ministries Task Force Moderator Nancy Lister-Settle and member of Dallas Center First Presbyterian Church, just returned from her Egypt visit this past week. If you would like to read about her travels and Joining Hands with Egypt adventures, visit her blog.
After you finish reading her first journal and viewing the pictures, you can click on the “Next Post” button at the top of the article to read all of her posts. Nancy is looking at the organic and fair trade markets of Egypt for possible sale here in the U.S. These first steps and visits will help to work on a deeper understanding of the principles of fair trade.

Check Out CROSS Ministries New Website!

CROSS Ministries is proud to announce the unveiling of our new Web site designed to keep you more informed on this vital ministry to the poor! The home page offers our mission statement and some of the facts and figures identifying the many ways CROSS meets the needs of low and no income households throughout the Des Moines and Greater Des Moines communities.

If you look to the right on the top black bar on the home page, you will also find headers that lead you to four additional pages.

• The “Assistance” page advises families of the appropriate paperwork and documentation they need to bring to the CROSS office if they are seeking financial assistance for rent, rent deposits, mortgage or utility payments.
• The “What’s New” page shares current information on volunteers and other events in the life and work of CROSS Ministries.
• The “School Supplies” page gives an overview of our Annual Back to School Giveaway event.
• Last but not least, is the “Donations” page listing items that we need to fill our personal hygiene pantry or for the Back to School Giveaway. This page also offers a new opportunity for donating to CROSS. Simply click on the “donate” button so that you may use your credit card or even a PayPal account for a simpler, faster method of donating. We will send you an email “thank you” shortly thereafter as well as a year-end statement of your donations next January for tax purposes.

The work of CROSS Ministries, supported by the Presbytery of Des Moines, makes a difference in the lives of “the least of these.” We want to share that exciting ministry with you and this is just one more avenue to do so. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Roberta Victor,
Executive Director
CROSS Ministries