Our Summer Shalom Intern from Drew University

     I would like to introduce our summer Shalom intern, Shannon Sullivan from Drew University.  Shannon will arrive on June 13, and stay until July 22, 2011.  Shannon's home is Norrisville, Maryland.  She has completed her second year at Drew and plans to graduate next May, 2012.  Below are few words from Shannon:
 

     I bring with me passion and energy for doing the work of Shalom. I have worked at progressive non-profits like Faith in Public Life and Protestant Community Centers, Inc. (PCCI), that provided me with opportunities to better learn organizational and administrative skills, communications and media work, as well as opportunities to work with children (at PCCI). I have experience planning community events designed to bring diverse communities together, through my work linking churches as an intern with Carlisle, PA-area United Methodist Churches and through my supervised ministry work with PCCI's mentoring program between inner-city Newark kids and suburban and urban community houses of worship and universities. I also bring with me a willingness to be flexible and an eagerness to learn new skills.

INTERESTS: I am very interested in urban ministry. I learned some with PCCI in Newark, but I never had the opportunity to sit with people and listen to their stories. On that note, I am also interested in listening to people's stories.

     Shannon will return from a trip to Bosnia right before she starts her internship here in York, PA.  I will be contacting the Shalom Site Coordinators to schedule a day for Shannon

Update from Saturday's "Bridgeing the Gap" Block Party

   In my previous post I talked about planting seeds.  Last Saturday on the 600 block of west Princess St. in York, had the following results as a result of the Salem Square Pastor's Evangelism Outreach --The tent with bracelets had 169 commitments to Christ  (youth) and Pastor Speer had one adult commitment.  God is faithful!  Thanks for all the prayers and thanks to those of you who stopped by my tent to visit as I painted "hundreds" of children's faces and arms!

Blessings and Peace,
Judy

Spiritual Seeds. . .

    Have you ever thought about planting seeds?  I mean really planting spiritual seeds in other peoples lives for Jesus.  I've been thinking alot about this lately.  Perhaps because its springtime and planting seeds is something we do in springtime.  So perhaps, this has helped to bring it to my mind.  Jesus planted alot of seeds...with Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, with the woman who had the issue of bleeding, and with the woman at the well, to name a few.  The seed that Jesus planted in their lives when he encountered them changed their lives forever.  Spiritual transformation took place! 
    Tomorrow, the West Side Shalom Site along with many churches in the the Salem Square community will be part of a block party held in the 600 block of West Princess St. in York. 
There will be food, music, witnessing, singing, face painting, ministry and more.  It is my prayer that the spiritual seeds of transformation will be planted as well.
    Won't you join me in prayer for this event and for all those Pastors and christians who are part of this day!  Pray for hearts to be softened so that the message and seeds of Jesus will transform lives.

Our Delta Shalom Site Group! Aren't they AWESOME!

DCW Communities of Shalom Minutes from May 2, 2011 meeting

Present:       Roger Hale, Dianna Hale, Richard Coen, Pastor Judy Walker (Delta UMC); Rev. Carletta Curley (Slateville/Slate Ridge Presbyterian); Pastor David Walker (McKendree UMC); Diana Sturgill (Re-Connect Café/DCW Business Organization)

Pastor Dave opened the meeting with prayer.

Lion’s Club Presentation:

o   Barbara Richardson and Sue Biondi gave a presentation to the Mason-Dixon Lion’s Club on March 14.  They were unable to be present at tonight’s meeting, but in speaking with them, they both felt they were well-received and the Lion’s Club offered their support for any upcoming projects. 

o   Suggestion cards were distributed to them with the following suggestions:  Playgound/Park,             Youth Group/Fellowship/Teen Club, Rail Trail, Emergency Medical Facility, Park/swimming pool/hike/walk trail with band stand for Summer music, Youth programs (anti drug, alcohol, etc.) and recreation related, Transport elderly for doctor, etc., Local roadways that are littered – Road clean-up, Fix the streets in town and clean up the town, “Don’t be afraid to ask Lion’s Club for help.”

Presentations at Organizations and Churches:

o   We are in the process of setting up presentations for other organizations and churches.  A power point presentation and display boards have been created for this purpose, as well as interest cards and community response cards.  The DCW Shalom Initiative had a display at the Heritage Festival this past weekend.

o   The Delta-Cardiff-Whiteford Business Organization is interested in hearing more about the Shalom Initiative since we are both working toward similar goals.  Pastors Carletta and Judy will be making a presentation to the DCW Business Organization on May 12^th at their monthly gathering.

o   Diana S. also shared upcoming plans of the DCWBA which include:

Ø Tri-Village Rummage Sale: June 18

Ø Float in the Annual Fireman’s Parade

Ø DCW Peach Fest:  August 27

Ø Halloween Party

Ø Christmas Fair – Discussion was held of possibly including a “stained-glass” tour of Churches in the area.

o   Diana S. was very helpful in offering suggestions of organization to make presentations to and contacts for those organizations. 

Ø Delta Borough Council:  Meets last Monday of each month at 101 College Avenue at 7:00 PM.  Contact:  Sherry Woods, Secretary-Treasurer

Ø Delta Fire Company.  Contact:  Rick Farrington

Ø Whiteford Fire Company.  Contact:  Larry Holbrook

Ø Harford County:  Contact:  Councilman Chad Shrodes

Ø Mason-Dixon Business Association:  Contact:  Sue Miller

Ø Highland Community Association

Getting the Word Out in Print:

o   The main goal of the team at this point is to seek input from the community as to the challenges and issues in our area that need to be addressed in order to bring peace and wholeness to our communities.   3x5 cards and business size cards with the shalom e-mail address (dcwshalomzone@yahoo.com) were distributed to each person to carry with them and to share with their churches as they seek input from community members.

o   An article will be submitted to The Star and to The Aegis.  We will also look into the possibility of a display ad in The Star seeking responses from Community members. 

o   It was also suggested that we consider setting up a website, Facebook page, Google voicemail (for those who do not have e-mail to respond), and look into getting the word out at:  harfordsneighbor.net for online advertising and Harford’s Heart Magazine.

The next meeting of the Shalom Initiative Team will be Monday, June 13

at 7:00 PM at Delta UMC.  Those present were asked to invite others who are interested to join us for the next meeting.

Pastor Carletta closed the meeting with prayer.