In Indonesia, after being dormant for more than 400 years, the 8,530-foot Mt. Sinabung volcano on Sumatra Island, Indonesia, erupted in August 2010. Since then, more than 200 eruptions have displaced 30,000-plus people from 34 villages. The last major eruption, on Feb. 1, 2014, killed 14 people, including seven members of the Indonesian Christian Student Movement, known as GMKI, who were trying to save people from the fast-moving currents of hot gas and rock that can reach speeds of up to 450 mph and temperatures of 1,830 degrees F.

Since February, volcanic activity has decreased and some of the displaced have returned to their homes and villages after authorities declared it safe to do so. However, many others are unable to go home. Their homes and villages are destroyed and covered under lava and ash.  There are still 14,382 displaced -- 4,105 households in 28 shelters and 370 families in temporary housing.  CWS is focusing on the ongoing humanitarian needs of the displaced still in camps/shelters and on providing non-food item packages to those in the camps, including hygiene kits, baby kits, sleeping mats, and blankets to 1,502 households (and 162 babies) in nine camps. 

Discover a Season of Peace

•  Providing a link to subscribe to Path of Peace Daily Devotions for this four-week period. The 2014 Path of Peace Daily Devotions were authored by Presbyterians who travelled to Israel and Palestine in April/May of 2014 for the Peacemaking Program conference, Mosaic of Peace. Conference participants reflected on scripture readings from The Biblical Witness to Peacemaking and were guided by stories and experiences shared by our Israeli and Palestinian church partners, who live with military occupation as the backdrop of church life.  To receive these daily devotions go to http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/peacemaking/path-of-peace-daily-reflections/.  You can subscribe by email or by RSS.  If you would like to preview by taking a look at last year's Daily Peace Reflections, click on that link on the page above. 

• Incorporating parts of the five-session Bible study that helps us in recognizing peace, finding peace, practicing peace, extending peace, and living peace. 

• Use of a special hymn that was written by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette to support the work of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and its annual special offering called "O God, the Things That Make for Peace." The hymn is based on the Bible study mentioned above. 

• A special interfaith "Prayer for Peace" event honoring the International Day of Peace will be scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, in conjunction with Monmouth College to include the civic and campus community in front of the Intercultural House at 727 E. Broadway at 5:30 p.m. Following this half-hour service, all will be invited to a Group Soup Meal in the Social Hall at Faith Church starting at 6:00 p.m. We will be asking the congregation to bring one vegetable, broth, bullion, or a bread to church on September 14, the Sunday before, and these food offerings will be brought forward during worship.  The Mission Committee will prepare the soup a day ahead on September 16 during their Mission Committee meeting. 

• Pastor Stoner-Lasala will lead a weekly series of discussion groups on Eboo Patel's book Acts of Faith on Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m.  Dr. Patel will be speaking at Monmouth College on October 28. His topic will be "Interfaith Leadership in a Time of Global Religious Conflict." The book is available for sale ($10) in the church office. More copies will be ordered if needed. 

• Denominational bulletin inserts on Anti-bullying and International Peacemaking during the month of September.

• A Season of Peace will culminate in World Communion Sunday and the Peacemaking Offering on October 5.  

You Are Invited