To exist
to have a place
to live in safety
to be.
2 June 2011
United Nations Headquarters
Manhattan, New York
Category Archives: Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations
Be: 20 May 2014
Lead: 19 May 2014
Worship plays a key role in the work of the
Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations.
Elodie de Bethmann leads the people in worship.
14 June 2012
Church Center for the United Nations
Manhattan, New York
Grow: 17 May 2014
Remember our baptisms.
Grow in faith
and discipleship.
25 February 2012
Commission on the Status of Women
Manhattan, New York
Faithful – 9 May 2014
9 September 2013
Church Center for the United Nations
Manhattan, New York
Begin: 6 May 2014
Day 1 at the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations.
The desk has never been this clean since.
This marks my first entry in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) photo-a-day journey to our General Assembly.
4 October 2010
Manhattan, New York
World Autism Day – 2 April 2014
Holding friends and family in thoughts and prayers this day.
From Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
World Autism Awareness Day is about more than generating understanding; it is a call to action. I urge all concerned to take part in fostering progress by supporting education programmes, employment opportunities and other measures that help realize our shared vision of a more inclusive world.
From the United Nations
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that manifests itself during the first three years of life. The rate of autism in all regions of the world is high, and the disorder can bring significant hardships to families. World Autism Awareness Day highlights the need to help improve the lives of children and adults who suffer from autism, and promotes international attention to address stigma, lack of awareness and inadequate support structures for individuals and their families. Member States are encouraged to hold educational events to encourage a more inclusive society, highlight the talents of those living with autism and ensure opportunities for them to realize their potential. The UN General Assembly declared this Day in its 2008 resolution A/RES/62/139.
See you along the Trail.
Purple flowers, Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations
They appeared.I don’t want to try to say when.
I noticed them today.
I know not the source.
In time, they will fade and disappear.
For now,
their beauty graces the office,
and I give thanks.
11 March 2014
Manhattan, New York
Pray for South Sudan
Tomorrow – February 16 – join in prayer for our brothers and sisters in South Sudan. The Episcopal Church, the Reformed Church in America, the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are among those calling for prayer.
From the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s call by Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); Linda Bryant Valentine, Executive Director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency; and Neal D. Presa, Moderator of the 220th General Assembly (2012);
“The ceasefire that went into effect in South Sudan on January 23 provides a sign of hope,” noted Parsons. “Our brothers and sisters need our prayer and support as they seek to move into a future of justice and peace.”
South Sudan achieved independence in 2011. Violence erupted in the new nation in December 2013 after a political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar.
The conflict resulted in many deaths and a severe humanitarian crisis. More than half a million South Sudanese have been forced from their homes. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees reports that, as of January 31, some 770,000 people have been displaced—646,400 within the country and 123,400 outside.
The call provides a sample prayer and ideas for action:
Gracious God, we lift before you the people of South Sudan who seek to create a new future after a period of violence. Three years ago, we rejoiced with our sisters and brothers as they voted for independence and became the world’s newest nation. Over the past months, our hearts were heavy as a deep conflict threatened to destroy all for which they have strived. We mourned with those who lost loved ones in this unrest, with the children and adults who have become traumatized again and again, with those who are injured, imprisoned, and hiding, and with those driven from their homes. We give thanks for the ceasefire, but we pray for our brothers and sisters as they face the tasks of building a future together. God of reconciliation, we ask you to send your Spirit of unity and peace to guide the people and the leaders of South Sudan from violence and into the paths of peace and justice. We pray for our partners in the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan, the South Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church, RECONCILE, the South Sudan Council of Churches and Across; may they feel your presence with them. Strengthen them with the power of your Holy Spirit as they witness to the strong love of Christ, advocating for peace and justice in a situation that is only hopeful because we follow a resurrected Christ. In whose name we pray, Amen.
In addition to prayer, we encourage Presbyterians to:
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Advocate with the United States government. Information is available through the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness.
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Give. Your gifts to DR-000042-South Sudan will help provide food, emergency supplies, trauma recovery, and peace-building support.
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View the Jan. 24 CNN interview with Shelvis and Nancy Smith-Mather, PC(USA) mission workers in South Sudan.
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Read a reflection from Linda Valentine, executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, on how the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations works for peace in South Sudan.
May the people of South Sudan soon know justice and peace.
See you along the Trail
Neighbor and Neighborhood: A dialogue of the Sikh Coalition and the PC(USA)
This one is particularly for folks in the New York City area. But there is contact information if others want to learn more.
World Interfaith Harmony Week is observed during the first week of February.
The Sikh Coalition, Presbyterian Men in the Presbytery of New York City, the Church of the Covenant, Rutgers Presbyterian Church, West-Park Presbyterian Church, the Committee on Witness to Society and the World in the Presbytery of New York City, and the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Office of Interfaith Relations and Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations have come together in a unique partnership to offer three dialogue events over the weekend of February 1 and 2.
Simran Jeet Singh, Senior Religion Fellow of the Sikh Coalition, and Christine Hong, Associate for Theology: Interfaith Relations of the Theology, Worship and Education Ministry of the Presbyterian Mission Agency will lead the dialogues. Details on the three events are:
Saturday, February 1, 2014
10:00 – 11:30 AM
Fellowship Hall
Church of the Covenant
310 E. 42nd St., New York, NY
(between First and Second Avenues)
For more information, contact Greg Reid of Presbyterian Men.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
1:00 – 3:00 PM
Fellowship Hall
Rutgers Presbyterian Church
236 W. 73rd St., New York, NY
(take the 1, 2, or 3 train to 72nd St.)
For more information, contact Alice Hudson at Rutgers Presbyterian Church.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Worship 11:00 AM
Dialogue 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Sanctuary
West-Park Presbyterian Church
165 W. 86th St., New York, NY
(corner of Amsterdam Avenue at 86th Street)
For more information, contact Bob Brashear at West-Park Presbyterian Church.
The dialogue will explore questions such as: What do Presbyterian Christians and Sikhs share in common? What makes our traditions unique? Does interfaith dialogue strengthen or weaken faith? How do we love neighbors of different religions in difficult times? Join us for a fishbowl style interfaith dialogue between the Sikh Coalition and the Office of Interfaith Relations of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). In this interactive learning experience you will learn about Sikhism, Presbyterians and interfaith relations, see interfaith dialogue in action, and take steps towards building relationships of neighborliness and solidarity with the Sikh American community. February 1 marks the beginning of World Interfaith Harmony Week, the first week in February each year, as designated by the United Nations General Assembly.
Would you like to host a similar event for your church or group? Contact Christine Hong at the Office of Interfaith Relations.
See you along the Trail.
Interrelated
In a presentation to a seminar group from Elon University about the Millennium Development Goals and the post-2015 development agenda my colleague Joe used a roll of tape to demonstrate that we are connected to one another.
See you along the Trail.
Along the Graybeard Trail 