Mission Advocate

 

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Mission Advocate

The Presbytery of San Fernando
and
San Gabriel Presbytery

 

From the desk of Wendy Gist,

the Mission Advocate for Hunger, Poverty, and Peacemaking Issues

 

Hunger Action This season

2010 Peacemaking Offering

The theme for the 2010 Peacemaking Offering is “Celebrate Christ, Our Peace.”

 

2010 Peacemaking Offering poster

The Peacemaking Offering was created in 1980 to support the efforts of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to live out a deeper commitment to peacemaking as part of our faithfulness to God. It is one of four special offerings designated by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s General Assembly.

Most churches receive the Offering on World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday in October, which this year is October 3. We encourage churches to use whatever Sunday works best for them.

Each congregation is encouraged to retain 25 percent of the Offering it receives to use for local ministries of peacemaking within the church and its community. Twenty-five percent is used by presbyteries and synods, and 50 percent is used by the general Assembly ministries through the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.

In accordance with the action of the 217th General Assembly (2006), we encourage congregations to consider directing a portion or all of their 25 percent of the Peacemaking Offering as a faithful Christian response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

 

It’s time to prepare for:

CROP Walks

We are celebrating the 35th anniversary of two CROP Hunger Walks in our area!  Each year each of these Walks raises thousands of dollars to help hungry people in our area and abroad.  25% of the proceeds raised are used locally bringing much needed funds to local food pantries, shelters, Meals on Wheels, and/or children’s programs.

·        Santa Clarita: Sept. 6, 2010 in Santa Clarita

·        Antelope Valley: Oct. 23, 2010 in Lancaster

·        San Fernando Valley: Nov. 7, 2010 at St. Paul’s UMC, Tarzana

·        Greater Pasadena Area: Nov. 7, 2010 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Altadena

Let’s make this year’s events more successful than ever.  Please get involved by walking or sponsoring a walker! 

 

Clean Water U

Clean Water U is the training school of Living Waters for the World. Clean Water U is a simulation experience designed to equip mission teams with the skills necessary to form partnerships with communities in need of clean water, equip local leaders to lead ongoing health, hygiene and spiritual education and install the Living Waters for the World clean water system.

These learning objectives are taught in three separate workshops which run concurrently during the five-day session. Graduates of Clean Water U then serve as their mission group’s team leaders in subsequent water-focused mission trips.

See the Ideas and Programs section below for more information on Living Waters for the World.  The next Clean Water U in California is Oct. 3-7, 2010 at Calvin Crest.  Contact me if you’re interested in more information or interested in attending Clean Water U and or visit the Living Waters for the World - Clean Water U website at: http://www.livingwatersfortheworld.org/cwuindex.php

 

Follow-Up

The Urban Plunge that was scheduled to start on July 4th was cancelled due to lack of participation.  Look for future intergenerational mission/service programs next year sponsored by the JPIC Work Group.

Ideas and Programs

Living Waters for the World

Living Waters for the World (LWW) trains and equips mission teams to share the gift of clean water with communities in need.

Living Waters for the World is the global mission resource of the Synod of Living Waters (Presbyterian Church USA).  Their mission is to serve as a resource to churches of all denominations, civic organizations and others in mission, enabling them to share clean water with their partners in needLWW water treatment systems and related educational programs fill a critical niche in the world water crisis - communities with available but contaminated water.

San Gabriel Presbytery has begun the process of building relationships in Peru with members of several Presbyterian churches and people in the communities that these churches serve in the towns of Ayacucho and Huanta.  We look forward to return trips during which we can continue to build and strengthen relationships, create Covenant documents to guide our work together, and train the local people to construct, maintain, and correctly use the water treatment system.

Currently the SGP LWW team includes Rev. Cyndie Crowell, Rev. Rob Crowell, Wendy Gist, Octavio Guerrero, Rev. Andrea Messinger, and Rev. Betsy Straeter.  We would love you to join us and become part of the LWW team!  Training at Clean Water U will be occurring the first weekend in October at Calvin Crest.  Call or email the Presbytery Office if you would like to attend training or get involved in another way.

For more information on LWW, please visit their website at: http://www.livingwatersfortheworld.org/index.php and/or contact one of the SGP LWW team members. 

 

hunger, poverty, and peacemaking calendar

 

Summer:

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Participate in a work trip or study trip or a work-study trip.  For example, you can help rebuild the Gulf Coast or travel to another country to learn about the realities there.

 

Fall:

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Peacemaking Offering: promote it at your church and your funds will support peacemaking initiatives and peace education throughout the church

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CROP Walks: Participate and/or sponsor a walker

Santa Clarita
Antelope Valley (Lancaster)
Pasadena
San Fernando Valley

Winter:

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Christmas Joy Offering: promote it at your church and your funds will provide support to retired and active church workers and their families and to Presbyterian-related racial ethnic education through the National Ministries Division of the General Assembly Council.

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Souper Bowl of Caring: On Super Bowl Sunday youth groups collect nonperishable food donations for the local food pantry or soup kitchen or charity of their choice.  For more information go to: www.souperbowl.org.

 

Spring: 

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OGHS Offering: promote it at your church and your funds will support the work of the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Self-Development of People, and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

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Hold an Offering of Letters at your church.  For more information visit www.bread.org or call David Gist, CA Organizer for Bread for the World, at 626-568-3233.

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Pentecost Offering: promote it at your church and your funds will support children at risk, ministries for youth and young adults, young adult volunteers, and child advocacy ministries.

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CROP Walks: Participate and/or sponsor a walker

East San Gabriel Valley
Glendale
Arcadia


Things you can do year round:

 

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Buy fair trade products

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Buy local and organic products at farmer's markets and in your grocery           store

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Write or call your Congress persons regarding hunger, poverty, and peacemaking legislation

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Support PC(USA) special offerings

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Help serve a meal and/or volunteer at your local soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or food pantry

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Participate in PC(USA)'s Enough for Everyone campaign by buying sweat-free clothing, serving fair trade coffee at your home and church, practicing responsible stewardship of God's creation by becoming an Energy Steward Congregation, and/or investing church funds and/or personal funds with Oikocredit or another socially responsible investment fund.    For more information visit www.pcusa.org/enough.
 

How you can contact me:

 

Email me at MissionAdvocate@sfpresby.org

 

Phone me at the Presbytery of San Fernando office on Thursdays between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. or you can leave a message anytime.  The phone number is: 818-891-4781. 

 

Phone me at my home: 626-564-0678.  Feel free to leave a message if I’m not home.

 

I look forward to hearing from you or meeting with you to discuss your church's involvement in hunger, poverty, and peacemaking issues.  Together we can work to bring an end to hunger and poverty locally, nationally, and globally.  We can also look for and urge others to look for peaceful solutions to situations we face. 

 

I am available to meet with any group at your church with an interest in mission work, lead an adult education program, or take part in your worship service.  Just let me know where and how I can fit into your schedule. 

 

I look forward to connecting with you!