Newsletters

Date: September 16th 2008

From Rick

Friends,

If you're like me, the month of September has come with a whirlwind of activities. For our family, it has been a busy time of moving into our new home at Stony Point Center in New York, new schools, new jobs, and making new friends. Little by little the log jam of unanswered emails in my inbox is beginning to clear, and along with it, my spirits are lifting.

This will be a busy week for the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship. Please hold us in your prayers as we kick off the Peacemaking Colloquium called "Gun Violence and Gospel Values." Later this week, as the Colloquium comes to an end, there will be a gathering of thirty of our National Committee members who will come together for a two-day annual meeting. There is much to do as we try to coordinate all the amazing projects that the Peace Fellowship is involved in.

The Quakers talk about "holding people in the light" when they are in the midst of grave difficulty. As we finish our fall training for those who are considering becoming Accompaniers in Colombia, I would ask that you hold the people of Colombia "in the light." While we are caught up in the busyness of a new school year and church season, life for so many of our sisters and brothers in Colombia continues to be filled with great challenge.

Please be attentive to the variety of quick announcements below.

Blessings,

Rick

Today Only! Book sales go to hospital

American Baptist pastor and author Evan Drake Howard is conducting a fund-raiser for the Good Samaritan Hospital in La Romana, Dominican Republic, where numerous American churches do mission work. All proceeds from the sale of Evan's novel, THE LOST EPISTLE OF JESUS, on Amazon.com on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, will go to the hospital.

Set in first century Jerusalem, the novel presents Jesus as a spiritual revolutionary, wise about the true meaning of love, who preaches peace and nonviolence in the face of the Zealots' call to arms.

Please visit www.healingthewoundsoflove.com and follow the link to Amazon.com.

Purchasers of the book will receive a treasure trove of downloadable bonus gifts as a thank you.

The offer expires at midnight on Tuesday, September 16.

SOA/WHINSEC: Join us to close the school!

PPF will again be part of the massive witness to close WHINSEC in Fort Benning, GA, on November 20-23. Plan to join us for breakfast at 7am on Saturday (reservations required). Details will soon be available at presbypeacefellowship.org/WHINSEC

The Southwest Weekend of Witness against Torture

November 15-16, 2008. Join hundreds at this growing witness against torture training and practice in Southern Arizona. Visit www.southwestwitness.org for details.

New Delegations: Colombia and Philippines

A new delegation to Colombia has just been announced, to take place January 20-29, 2009. Click Here for details.

Also, there is still room on the delegation to the Philippines, January 2-17, 2009. Click Here for details.

Delegations are a great way to live out your committments to peacemaking. But be careful, they are likely to transform your life....

Conference: Christian Zionism, Rapture and the Holy Land

"Christian Zionism, Rapture and the Holy Land: Theology and Politics" on October 4, 2008 at Pasadena Presbyterian Church. This conference will define and critique the history, theology and politics of Christian Zionism. The conference speakers make up a nationally recognized body of experts. Information and materials for continuing the discussion within your congregations will be available.

For more information and registration, please visit www.ccacz.org