Dancers from Burundi

Last Thursday evening, April 26,  my daughter Rebecca and I attended a fund raising dinner for World Relief, Moline, that took place on the campus of St Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.  After the meal World Relief made their case for support and then there were various performances by groups of young adults who are refugees from other countries.  One of the groups was women and girls from Burundi who danced some traditional dances.  And in this group were some folks from Light Mission Pentecostal Church that meets with us at Church of Peace.  On our way out we met some of our dancers and Becca took a shot of us together on her phone.  It was a wonderful evening.

Delegation, May 1-8, 2012

A delegation of Midwestern church people are off to Southern Mexico to celebrate the 15th anniversary of INESIN, an ecumenical organization whose purpose is to bring together religions and cultures, particularly Mayan people.

The delegation will take place May 1-8 and travel will be to San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.  Participants include clergy and laity, United Church of Christ (UCC) and Disciples of Christ (DOC); Rev. Paula Bidle and her husband George Moore (UCC), Rev. David Geenen and his wife Sonya Geenen (DOC), Rev. Michelle Prentice-Leslie (UCC), Jeanne O'Melia (DOC), Rev. Michael Swartz and his daughter Rebecca Swartz (UCC).  They will be joined in Mexico by Area Executive for Latin America and the Caribbean, Rev. Felix Ortiz Cotto, of Common Global Ministries.

The main purpose of the delegation will be to joint together with INESIN - the intercultural institute in San Cristobal.  We are attending to respond to their invitation to us to join in their Fiesta.  (Here is their website, both English and Spanish:  http://www.inesin.ironie.org/  )  We will also visit with other partner groups in the area to learn from them about their concrete experience and to accompany them in their witness.

We ask your prayers for traveling mercies and that our efforts will provide support and encouragement to all those involved.  We also ask you to keep INESIN in your prayers - that they may continue to grow and serve in this conflicted area of God's world.

Engagement Party

I was honored to be invited to an engagement party for one of the young women in the Light Mission Pentecostal Church, which shares the building with the Church of Peace.  Here is a photo from my phone of the bride-to-be, Violet,  pinning a flower on the lapel of the groom-to-be.  There is a little stylized drama of the groom choosing the right girl from among several possibilities, with much laughing from the assembled well wishers.  At this moment the selection has been made and gifts are being exchanged.  I had a wonderful time.

Closet Rehab

 It is always a challenge to occupy a 100 year old building.  Our sanctuary was built in 1912, and the lower level of that 1912 structure is getting some rehabilitation.  There is a small room that we now use for a closet, but was actually used as the church kitchen when the church began, that is getting an overhaul.  Termites were discovered in the area.  So the wood floor was torn out .  Now it is being replaced with cement.

Bad luck for the termites!  But there are a lot of steps to get a job like this done.  Yesterday was putting in the under-layer of fill.  Today was pouring and smoothing the concrete.  Keep tuned.

Palm Sunday

 Today was Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday at the Church of Peace.  The service began with a procession with palms - which included the choir, the children, the confirmands and a few of the rest of us also.  Josh read the account of the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem from Mark, and the children's choir sang.  The bigger events were the baptism of Kinley Clare and the confirmation of Micah and Evan.  Top photo is me with Kinley Clare.

 And with her parents...

Here I am with Evan and Micah.

The service ended with the shorter passion reading from Mark.  Altogether a wonderful day.