“They keep coming.” The affirmation echoed through the Roots 101 African American Museum on a Friday in July as the participants in the Trailblazers Program spoke and marched during a live preview of the short film “1963-Still: Same Shot.” Read more »
August 22, 2023
Presbyterians help plant shade trees
“They keep coming.” The affirmation echoed through the Roots 101 African American Museum on a Friday in July as the participants in the Trailblazers Program spoke and marched during a live preview of the short film “1963-Still: Same Shot.” Read more »
“Screams and hubbubs! The children were excited and happy to leave the huts and go play outside. The air was thick and full of dust and flakes falling from the sky. They thought it was snowing, something which never happened on their tropical island. They were surprised and curious. They run after the flakes, catching them with their hands, rubbing them in their hair and on their bodies,” an eyewitness recalled. 
Ally Henny, a speaker and the author of the recently published “I Won’t Shut Up: Finding Your Voice When the World Tries to Silence You,” speaks her mind during a recent episode of “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast,” which can be heard here. 
From hearing firsthand accounts about the plight of Palestinians to collaborating with a local group that makes textile art, being part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Mosaic of Peace conference in the Holy Land was a memorable experience for past participant Megan Acedo. 
Presbyterian Mission Agency mission co-workers the Revs. Shelvis and Nancy Smith-Mather were recently in the United States to meet with several entities at the United Nations to create awareness around the critical needs of those living in South Sudan under the barrage of continued violence and near-civil war. Hosted by the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, the Smith-Mathers led a morning chapel service for a group of in-person and online worshipers via Zoom. 
The PC(USA)’s Office of Public Witness issued an Action Alert Tuesday encouraging Presbyterians to, among other things, urge their U.S. Senators and House of Representatives member to quickly reauthorize the five-year Farm Bill, which expires in 2023 and provides Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other anti-hunger initiatives to millions of residents as well as support to the nation’s two million farmers. 
Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock, an acclaimed author and theologian and a senior vice president and director of the Shay Moral Injury Center at Volunteers of America, served this past summer as the McClendon Scholar-in-Residence at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. She recently gave an online lecture, “Moral Injury and Climate Change: Reclaiming Our Love for This Earth.” 
Reading and seeing the testimonies of thousands of migrants who have survived crossing the Darién Gap jungle on foot, their exposure to hunger, bug bites and infections of all kinds, getting lost without being found, being victims of extortion, robbery and sexual abuse by mafias on both sides of the jungle under the complicit indifference of the authorities is a social scandal and degrading to human dignity. 
The Office of Christian Formation of the Presbyterian Mission Agency has received a grant of $1.25 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. to come alongside parents, caregivers, churches and worshiping communities to provide skills, opportunities for connection and relationship building, and the resources needed to enhance and prioritize sharing faith in households. 
The Rev. Martha Sadongei encourages Native American siblings who follow Christ to blend their faith with their Indigenous practices, and she had a ready story to illustrate just how during a recent episode of “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast,” which can be heard here. Sadongei comes in at the two-minute mark.