Reverend Joan Deming, a United Methodist pastor from Madison, Wisconsin, is pictured with Archbishop Elias Chacour of Ibillin, Israel.  The public is invited to hear Rev. Deming's message about peace building in Palestine/Israel on Thursday, February 18, at 9:30 a.m. in the Christian Lounge of the Presbyterian Church in Westfield.  Rev. Deming serves as Development Director for Pilgrims of Ibillin, an American nonprofit that supports peace in the area.  Her presentation will highlight the story of Archbishop Chacour and the Mar Elias Educational Institutions founded by Fr. Chacour while he was the parish priest in Ibillin to "Build Peace on Desktops."  The schools are unique with students of all races and religions being accepted and studying side by side.  Nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize, Archbishop Chacour is the author of Blood Brothers and We Belong to the Land.  Currently Rev. Deming and Archbishop Chacour are on a speaking tour in the Midwest.  Rev. Deming will return to Ibillin in March on another mission endeavor.

Reverend Robert (Bob) Pryor served as an interim minister in the Presbyterian Church in Westfield prior to serving as the pastor of The First Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara, CA, for 19 years. Before his time in NJ and CA, Bob and his wife were missionaries in Iran for 21 years. Now retired in Caldwell, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Pilgrims of Ibillin.  He will introduce the program and add his own expertise to the presentation with his first-hand knowledge of working with Archbishop Chacour.

The program is open to the public and offers a unique opportunity to hear an update about issues in the area.  Presbyterian Women, who contribute to the Pilgrims of Ibillin as an on-going mission project, urge members of the community to take advantage of this timely current events discussion. Coffee will be served at 9:30 prior to the speakers' presentation at 10:00. 

The Presbyterian Church in Westfield (PCW) is located at 140 Mountain Avenue. For more information on this or any other events held at PCW please contact the church office at 908 233-0301 or visit the church website at www.westfieldpc.org.