Join SMTF in an Interfaith Special Event on Palestine-Israel U.S. Policy!

What would eight million dollars-a-day do for our economy, our state, and our nation?Israel receives a free gift of $8.0 million a day from the U.S. government and our taxes. And it’s used for oppressive policies against the Palestinian people.
Come to the U.S. Policy in Palestine--Israel Conference, Oct. 14 and 15, in Ankeny, Iowa. More information and background on the critical issues in the Middle East will be provided and you'll learn how Iowans can make a change to U.S. policies.

An interfaith group under the umbrella of American Friends Service Committee, www.afsc.org/iowa, has brought together individuals from the Des Moines and Eastern Iowa areas to sponsor the conference, U.S. Policy in Palestine--Israel: Engaging the Faith Communities in Pursuit of a Just Peace, Oct. 14 & 15, at Our Lady of Immaculate Heart Church, 510 East First St., Ankeny.

The Presbytery’s Social Ministries Task Force is a contributor and member, the honorably retired Rev. Liz Knott, is one of the event planners and they have been planning for almost a year! There will be four plenaries and four tracks of workshops on various issues. Registration fee: $30 and includes three meals in the registration price. Friday and Saturday evening a Mediterranean meal will be served!

The keynote speakers will be spell binding!

• Phyllis Bennis of the Institute on Policy Studies and author of numerous books on the Middle East;
• Ali Abunimah, a first generation Palestinian-American and founder and executive director of the Electronic Intifada http://electronicintifada.net/diaries;
• Josh Ruebner of the U.S. Campaign to End The Occupationwww.endtheoccupation.org;
• Lynn Pollock of Jewish Voice for Peace www.JewishVoiceforPeace.org and
• Laila El-Haddad will have stories about the Gaza strip.

A complete program listing is available on the AFSC website.

Please encourage our Presbyterian members to come and learn. Brochures and registration materials are available from our Presbytery Office or go online to: www.afsc.org/document/palestine-israel-conference-iowa-october-2011 or www.afsc.org/story/iowans-focus-peace-palestine-israel

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).

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.

Networking with New Immigrants

June 12, 2009
Today, we began the day with worship under the Big Tent. The scripture lesson started with a passage from Mark 2:12, “We have never seen anything like this!” Over 1,500 attendees have come together to learn and network with other church leaders.

I had the opportunity to attend a workshop of the Presbyterian Communicator’s Network on the topic of "Care and Feeding your Website". Dana McMahan and Jonathan Dennis were the PC(USA) experts that gave us insight on how to update our web pages to reflect the state-of-the-art technology. Reminding us that we may just be one person, updating as many as 100 or 300,000 pages on the World Wide Web, but we do have a network that is supportive and can help with our learning of the new tools and web technology that's available.

Another highlight of my day is speaking for the New Immigrants Ministry Convocation. They asked me to speak on the topic of "Designing an Effective Network". I got the opportunity to present this workshop with Beth Newberry, PC(USA) Mission Communications Associate. She and I spoke to nearly 100 people about extending their network using tools available online and for relativity little money. Great questions and lively discussion was experienced with these people of faith. All trying to follow God's word of spreading the Good News through many tongues.

Pictured here is the Pal Craftaid booth in the Big Tent exhibit hall. The Rev. Stu Ritter, interim pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, is talking with Westminster member Connie DePond about the items of Palestinian crafts for sale. Also the Rev. Liz Knott (honorably retired) is seen helping a customer with a purchase.

-Kim Coulter, Director of Communications