International Peacemaking Speaker here Oct. 6-9
Each year part of the voluntary denominational Peacemaking offering supports visits to many Presbyteries by a dozen or so representatives from as many countries, all of whom have been on the front line of advocating for and/or actively participating in peace and justice issues. Our Presbytery will be visited by Arda Aghazarian, an Armenian Palestinian Christian.
Arda was born and reared in the Old City of Jerusalem. She studied at Birzeit University in the West Bank after the Second Uprising "Intifada." This inspired her interest in human rights and conflict resolution. Having taken courses in media and film, she was a producer/presenter for a radio station that aimed to build bridges between Palestinians and Israelis. She is currently the media and advocacy coordinator at the YWCA of Palestine.
If your church would like to have Arda visit Sat., Oct. 6 or Mon./Tues., Oct. 8 or 9, please contact Donna Schall (schalldon@att.net or 865-531-1788). People are also encouraged to attend her already scheduled visits:
Sunday, Oct. 7
Erin Presbyterian Adult Sunday School
Westminster Presbyterian in evening
This International Peacemaker visit is in conjunction with World Communion and Peacemaking offering Sunday, Oct. 7. If your church has not been participating in the Peacemaking offering and would like more info, please contact Donna Schall or Ann Brunger (brunger@mindspring.com or 865-577-0287 at church).
Rice and beans are still on the menu in the Presbytery of East Tennessee. When Deborah Phillips served as our Hunger Action Enabler she was able to direct dollars donated to fight hunger to the purchase of 50 lb. bags of rice and beans for various food pantries at the lowest possible wholesale price. This initiative appeared to die when Presbytery's severe budget cutting caused Deborah's staff position to be eliminated. 