• A lifestyle free of the obligations and responsibilities of maintaining a home.
• A continuum of living options designed to give just the right amount of assistance when needed.
• A helpful environment that supports independence by tailoring services to fit personal needs.
• A holistic approach to care including physical, social, spiritual and psychological services that contribute to health, security and happiness.
• Some of the most delicious food in the greater Des Moines area!

Joining Hands with Egypt's most recent newsletter can be found here. Also, check out these past editions in their archives section:

• See the September 2010 TFD delegation visits Des Moines Presbytery.
• See the December 2009 Fair Trade sales photos from Central Presbyterian Church in Des Moines.
• See the September 2009 Travel Journal from Nancy Lister-Settle, Hunger Action Enabler, about the Des Moines Presbytery's mission work in Egypt.

The newsletter of Social Ministries for Peace and Justice of the Des Moines Presbytery.

Contact Broken Bread Editor This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have story ideas, thoughts or suggestions.

Khadamat Sudaniya is the Presbytery of Des Moines' Sudanese Ministries Task Force. The group meets monthly at the Cottage Grove Avenue Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, to develop ways to support Sudanese ministries in the Presbytery.
 
Rev. Goanar Chol, Presbyterian pastor, is a member of the Des Moines Presbytery staff. Visit Sudanese Ministries Resource Person Rev. Goanar Chol's Sudanese Ministries blog for more information.

Rev. Chol is available as a guest preacher or speaker.  To request Rev. Chol as as guest speaker for your congregation or group, please contact the Des Moines Presbytery Office Manager Betty Dyer at 515-276-4991 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   

How you can help PDA respond to recent tragedy...

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is responding by providing One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) funds to several of the affected mid-councils (presbyteries) as they respond within their communities. Several members of the PDA National Response Team (NRT) have been sent to work with the mid-councils in assessing the damage and determining how volunteers may be able to contribute to long-term recovery in the affected communities.

In fact, our own honorably retired Rev. Dr. Greg Smith and Don Hampton (Indianola, Trinity United) were deployed on Saturday, March 3, to McHenryville, Indiana. They will provide spiritual and emotional care for tornado survivors and their families. Please keep the team and all those in the path of the tornadoes in your prayers.

Please stand in the GAP for families and communities impacted by these storms.

Give. Your faithful and generous support of OGHS makes the initial response possible. Designated gifts to DR000015 (Disaster Relief - USA Disasters & Emergencies) will help meet the long-term recovery and rebuilding needs of affected families.

ACT. Contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by email or call 866-732-6121 to let them know of your teams’ interest in volunteering to help with recovery and rebuilding efforts. Eden Carroll will take your information and let you know when volunteer opportunities arise.

Pray. Our best response is prayer. Please pray for those in the storm-stricken communities including congregations, families, and those seeking to salvage what little the storms left behind. Also pray for strength for those offering assistance, and for those who will participate in the recovery efforts in the upcoming days and months.

If you are planning on making contributions to this relief effort, please include the special designated giving account #DR000015 on the memo line of your check. Des Moines Presbytery Office Manager This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. suggests donating one of two ways:

1. Individuals may give through your local Presbyterian congregation, on the secure PC(USA) Web site, or by sending a check to:

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

2. Congregations can send donations by check to the Des Moines Presbytery office in order to receive general mission credit. Made checks payable to: The Presbytery of Des Moines, and send to:

The Presbytery of Des Moines
2400 86th St., Ste. 20
Des Moines, IA 50322

Note: Congregations can also send directly to the PC(USA), making your check payable to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Church Remittance Processing
P.O. Box 643678
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3678

 Why are you here?

That question was asked of a couple of women seated at a convention hall lounge in the Gaylord Palms Resort, “home” of the 2012 Churchwide Gathering for Presbyterian Women in July. It was following a much needed break for voting representatives engaging in the business meeting. The woman inquiring had seriousness in her tone of voice, accompanied with a slight smile of friendliness. The responses were the expected, “I want to learn about the mission of PW” and “I’ve heard how wonderful the Gathering is and wanted to find out for myself.” Each of us strangers, there was a pause as we were curious as to her questioning. I knew that I was next to respond, so was mindfully preparing and replied with “I have been before and found it an awe-inspiring experience being with active Presbyterian Women from all over the world.” She tilted her head in acceptance of our answers.

I couldn’t let it rest at that and asked her why she was asking and why she came. “I am an unwilling participant.” My heart sank… what does that mean? Why would she come if she wasn’t desiring to be there? She carried on our, now, private conversation, telling me that she had a memorial service for her husband on Monday (this was Thursday of the same week). After giving her my condolences and tears streaming down my face before I knew it, I reached out for her hand and held it. “I’m so sorry,” I uttered. I suddenly knew the real reason I was here. Nothing else mattered at that moment and I listened to her story of “expecting his death to happen, but not yet, as he was an alcoholic.” The conversation was deep and I listened with a disturbed heart. I could sense she was a strong woman who had endured a lot and would continue to endure and I told her so. With surprise and doubt, she received the words.

The break had come to an end, but not without expressions of hope for my new- found Presbyterian Woman friend. To my surprise, later in the meeting, she went to the microphone and spoke with confidence about her concern on an issue we were soon to vote on. She was a strong woman. 

The following afternoon, God placed the two of us together at the meeting break. What a gift to talk to her, again. I had discovered that a chaplain was on site each day at Spirit Island at the Gathering and shared that with her, during our chance meeting. She appreciated that information and went seeking answers to the many questions she’d encountered in this new journey of grief that she did not want to take. She excitedly rushed off; I told her that she would certainly be excused from the final minutes of the meeting, if she wanted to talk to the chaplain. You could see the HOPE and relief in her eyes.

“Why are you here?” is a good question to ask of ourselves each and every day. May God use you in unexpected ways. And, thanks for placing me as your voting representative at Churchwide. It was another “growing experience”. I hope you can all go in three years, as Churchwide will be in Minneapolis- close to home.  

Shalom,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ,
PW of the Des Moines Presbyery