Swords into plowshares
About this blog
Swords into Plowshares is the blog of the Peacemaking Program and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations of the Presbyterian Mission Agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Seeking peace. Striving for justice. Together.
Recent posts
- Only a glimpse
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- Education and Indigenous Youth: Melanesians and Quechuas
- Three Prayer Concerns - May 23
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September 2012
September 26, 2012A family's story from Syria
This story was provided by our partners in the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon during their visit to New York and our ministry.
Mr. J. is in his sixties, has a wife and three children—one son and two daughters. Mr. J. lost his work and his older daughter did as well. His wife and his younger daughter don’t work. He tells his story:
From the beginning of 2011 we are suffering this crisis and the violence. We were always waiting for this violence comes to its end, but things became worse. Our house got bombed in ...
September 26, 2012
A story from Homs, Syria
This story was provided by our partners in the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon during their visit to New York and our ministry.
The “Evangelical Old People’s Home” in Homs, Syria has a uniqueness all of its own: because of its ecumenical nature for one thing. It is run by both the Evangelical Church and the “Two Most Sacred Hearts” Maronite Order. A joint daily worship is held.
Nowadays, because the church building in Homs was strongly damaged, the congregation meets in the “Home” for its Sunday morning services, and other activities. The “Home” hosts people from ...
September 25, 2012
U.S. commitment to address human trafficking
Learn about the work of the Presbyterian Church's Human Trafficking Roundtable.
Your gifts to the Peacemaking Offering help support Presbyterian efforts to end human trafficking.
Use a Peacemaking Offering bulletin insert: Human Trafficking: Breaking Down the Walls.
Presbyterian Representative Ryan Smith serves on the ECPAT-USA board.
September 25, 2012
President Obama addresses the UN General Assembly
President Obama and other world leaders are in town this week for the 67th United Nations General Assembly. I had the opportunity to join the President and others in the opening of the General Debate this morning. Below is President Obama's speech.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
Remarks by the President to the UN General Assembly
United Nations Headquarters
New York, New York
10:22 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, fellow delegates, ladies and gentleman: I would like to begin today by telling you about an American named Chris Stevens.
Chris ...
September 24, 2012
The future we want: International Day of Peace 2012
Grace Bickers, volunteer intern with the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, wrote this reflection.
September 21 was the International Day of Peace, and this year’s theme was “Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future.” The theme was planned to go along with the Rio+20 Conference of Sustainable Development that took place this summer.
The theme urges us to think about the role that the environment and natural resources play in conflict. Questions of ownership and management of these resources, including precious metals and stones, oil, and water, can directly contribute to conflict. Managing these resources in a sustainable ...