Reflection

This Saturday is a great opportunity to hear about key issues in our world, and to hear from our own sisters and brothers how they are responding.  The event is called “Peace-ing It Together: How Individuals and Congregations Can Bring More PEACE Into Our World” and is being held at:

Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019
8:30 am registration, 8:50 a.m.—4 p.m.
Lunch included at no cost
Knox Presbyterian Church
225 S. Hill Ave., Pasadena 91106
RSVP at PeaceConfSoCal2019@gmail.com

The event begins with worship at 8:50 a.m., with the phenomenal Rev. T. Denise Anderson preaching.  Denise just completed her term as co-moderator of the General Assembly, and is now Coordinator for Racial and Intercultural Justice of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.  She is a dynamic and inspiring leader in our denomination, and if you ever wonder whether there’s a future for the PC(USA), you should meet Denise.  Even her experience in the denomination gives us a clue as to where we are as a church:  she did not grow up Presbyterian (like more than half of all PC(USA) members), and was in seminary at Howard University when she met Presbyterian faculty.  It was their openness and humility in responding to her questions, not with pat answers but with openness and respect, that drew her to the PC(USA).  While preparing for ministry, she served as Pastoral Assistant at Taiwanese Presbyterian Church of Washington, DC, leading their English ministry.  A woman of many talents and experiences!

Another speaker is Sara Lisherness, Senior Director for Compassion, Peace & Justice.  Sara comes out of San Fernando Presbytery, and her mission area includes Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian offices of Public Witness in Washington, DC, and at the UN in New York City, and the Presbyterian Hunger Program (which helps to fund our own Mission Advocate, Wendy Gist).

The day includes workshops focusing on violence, interfaith relations, supporting immigrants, homelessness and housing, and confronting racism.  Each workshop includes not only leaders in the community, but also members of churches throughout the Synod who are working on that particular issue.  So, for instance, Nasimi Aghayev (Consul General of Azerbaijan) is present to discuss his country, which is mostly Muslim but whose constitution guarantees religious freedom.  But local Presbyterians include Christa Wallis from First Presbyterian in San Bernardino, who will speak on responding to local violence, as this church has responded actively to the 2015 killing of 14 people at the Inland Regional Center as well as other problems with violence in the San Bernardino community.  The panel on homelessness includes Amie Quigley, who leads the Lord’s Lighthouse, the homeless ministry at Hollywood Presbyterian, who is in fact a leader in the care for homeless people throughout Hollywood.

We at San Gabriel Presbytery are not only a co-sponsor of the event, but also through Knox we are host presbytery.  Even aside from the convenience factor, I urge you to attend this important event, as so many of our churches have expressed interest in connecting with their communities.  You will be inspired and educated, but also you will hear how churches like yours have made commitments to be a beacon of hope in their community in these areas.  And if that isn’t enough, there is even a quilt commissioned for the event, which will be given to some fortunate participant!

See below for the detailed schedule for the conference.  See you there!

Peace,
Wendy

Conference Program

8:30 –  8:50 Coffee and Registration
8:50 –  9:30 Opening Worship – reflection by Rev. Denise Anderson & music by Zehnder
9:30 -10:00 “When Did We See You?” based on Matthew 25 – Sara Lisherness

10:00 -10:10 Break

10:10 -11:10 Interfaith Peacemaking: Panel of different approaches
Nasimi Aghayev – Consul General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles
Lisa Patriquin, Tahil Sharma, and Samia Bano – The Guibord Center
Carole Wheeler – First Presbyterian Church, Newhall
Jamshed Yazdani – Newhall Unity Center

11:10 -12:10 “Dismantling and Re-building: The Church Confronting Racism” – Denise Anderson

12:10 -12:50 Lunch

12:45 –  1:00 Music by Zehnder to bring us back together

Breakout groups

This is your chance to go more in depth with speakers on the topic that most interests you.

1:00 – 2:00 Breakout Session #1 (please choose one)

A.Addressing Violence – in the Sanctuary
Engaging Congregations in Preventing All Forms of Gun Violence: Virginia Classick (Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, Episcopal Diocese of LA)
Churches Responding to Local Violence: Kyle Joachim (Silverlake Pres) and Christa Wallis (First Pres, San Bernardino)

B. Addressing Immigration Issues – in the Atrium
Matthew 25 Ministries: Matthew Colwell (Knox)
From Detainee Visitation to Post-Release Assistance: Merilie Robertson (Woodland Hills Pres) & Beryl Smith (St. Mark Pres, Newport Beach)

C. Housing and Homelessness Issues – in the North House Dining Room
Jill Shook, Lori Gay, Walter Contreras (San Gabriel), and Amie Quigley (Hollywood Pres)

D. Modeling Religious Tolerance & Peaceful Coexistence – in North House Lounge
Nasimi Aghayev (Consul General of Azerbaijan)E.

E. Interfaith Dialogue – in the North House meeting room
The Guibord Center’s Dinner and Dialogue Program: Lisa Patriquin, Tahil Sharma, Samia Bano
Muslim-Christian Study Groups: Carole Wheeler (First Pres Newhall) & Jamshed Yazdani

2:00 – 2:15 Break

2:15 – 3:15 Breakout Session #2 (please choose one)

A. Addressing Violence – in the Sanctuary
Engaging Congregations in Preventing All Forms of Gun Violence: Virginia Classick
Churches Responding to Local Violence: Kyle Joachim and Christa Wallis

B. Addressing Immigration Issues – in the Atrium
Matthew 25 Ministries: Matthew Colwell
From Detainee Visitation to Post-Release Assistance: Merilie Robertson & Beryl Smith

C. Housing and Homelessness Issues – in the North House Dining Room
Jill Shook, Lori Gay, Walter Contreras, and Amie Quigley

D. The Church Confronting Racism – North House meeting room
Denise Anderson

3:20 – 4:00 “Trimming the Wicks: Ready to Act” – Rev. Emily Brewer, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship