WASHINGTON The U.S. Presbyterian Church has voted to divest its financial holdings from three American companies doing business in parts of Israel considered by Palestinians to be occupied territory.

The governing General Assembly voted Friday 310-303 to remove holdings in Caterpillar Inc., Hewlett-Packard and Motorola from the churchs portfolio of investments, according to a statement posted on its Web site.

Though largely symbolic, the decision comes amid building pressure on other churches, companies, organizations, universities and others by the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement, known as BDS.

The statement said the Assembly members included a preface to its resolution saying the church was committed to peace in Israel and Palestine."

We recognize the complexity of the issues, the decades-long struggle, the pain suffered and inflicted by policies and practices of both the Israeli government and Palestinian entities. We further acknowledge and confess our own complicity in both the historic and current suffering of Israeli and Palestinian yearning for justice and reconciliation, the resolution stated.

The resolution explicitly noted that the vote does not mean an alignment with the overall strategy of the global BDS movement.

That movement, started by Palestinian groups almost a decade ago, seeks to put financial pressure on Israel to reach accommodation with Palestinians on the status of refugees, territories in the West Bank and a comprehensive peace deal.

The church, which reportedly holds about $21 million in investments in the three companies, held a similar vote two years ago that failed. In addition to supporters of the divestment, this years vote had attracted intense lobbying from Jewish groups.

Israel's reaction

In a statement posted Friday night on its Facebook page, the Israeli Embassy in Washington called the resolution "shameful."

Continued here:
US Presbyterian Church to Divest from Israeli-Linked Investments

Ceremonial ground-breaking at First Presbyterian scheduled for June 29

On Sunday, June 29 at 12:15 p.m. First Presbyterian Church, 725 Steubenville Ave., will hold a ceremonial ground breaking on the steps of the church, which was destroyed by the big wind on June 29, 2012.

Everyone is invited to share this step forward with our congregation.

Please keep us in your prayers as we move on toward construction.

Revival service at North Salem Community Church begins Sunday

Kingdom Partners Revival Service will be at North Salem Community Church at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 22. Everyone welcome.

Bishop Monforton to visit church and Open Arms Pregnancy Center

Bishop Jeffrey Monforton of the Steubenville Catholic Diocese will visit the newly re-opened Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Lore City at the 12:15 p.m. Sunday Mass, and the Open Arms Pregnancy Center, 141 S. 11th St., in Cambridge, at 6:30 p.m. June 26, to bless the church and the new ultrasound machine at the Center.

Everyone is welcome.

VBS 'Journey to India' begins Monday at First Christian Church

View original post here:
Church events and news in the Cambridge area

With a joyful cry, Plainviews Sacred Heart Catholic Church will celebrate a historic milestone as the parish marks its 50th Anniversary on June 22.

The jubilee will start with an 11a.m. mass celebrated by Bishop Plcido Rodrguez, CMF, Father Arsenio Redulla, pastor of Sacred Heart, and visiting priests.

Following the monumental mass, parishioners will gather under tents for a banquet meal and fellowship at Sacred Heart located at the corner of 29th and Columbia streets.

The growth of the Plainview parish was guided by the long pastorate of Monsignor Fred Hyland, who founded the parish together with energetic and dedicated laity a half century ago.

From the small seed they planted, grew a great tree. This tree has many branches, which extended in various organizations branching out within our Parish, said Father Redulla.

The feeling was shared across the local catholic hierarchy.

This Golden Jubilee allows the chance to appreciate the past and to create another foundation for the future of the catholic community of Plainview, said Bishop Rodriquez of the Lubbock Dioceses.

Plainviews parish church stands as a testament to the hard work of a small congregation and its ability to endure the many challenges that have faced it over its history.

Cooperation meant collaboration at the beginning of Sacred Heart Churchs history when excessive rains in 1959 caused a flash flood that inundated Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, located in Plainviews Barrio neighborhood.

The areas of society affected by segregation included the residential areas in the Barrio, said 86-year-old Davis Horne, a local farmer and Catholic convert, who helped with the cleanup after the flood.

More here:
Plainview Sacred Heart Church celebrates 50 years

The family-owned church that stands in the way of the new soccer stadium has hired a law firm specializing in property rights to fight the city's attempt to take its land. (Video by FOX35)

The tiny family-owned church that stands in the way of Orlando's Major League Soccer stadium has hired a Jacksonville law firm specializing in property rights to fight the city's attempt to take its land.

City Hall filed an eminent domain action in court in 2013, after a year of failed negotiations to buy Faith Deliverance Temple. But news releases from the church's new attorney make it clear the city's attempt to take the property won't go unchallenged.

Attorney Andrew Prince Brigham said the city's action violates Florida's Constitution and state law because the land wouldn't be used for a legitimate public purpose.

"The City's proposed taking is not for a public purpose," Brigham said in a news release. "The City is simply a conduit for eminent domain to take from one private entity, a church, and transfer the use of the property to another private entity, a soccer franchise."

The announcement comes a day after Orlando City Soccer Club executives joined Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs to unveil details and renderings of the $110-million stadium. It's supposed to be built on two square blocks along West Church Street, but the church's property sits smack in the middle.

The city initially offered $1.5 million for the property more than twice the appraised value but church leaders said that wouldn't be enough to rebuild elsewhere, and countered with a selling price of $35 million. The city eventually raised its offer as high as $4 million and the church dropped its price as low $15 million, but the parties never came any closer to a deal.

The city's failure to acquire the property already has delayed the stadium's construction. The team initially planned to begin playing in the new facility during the 2015 MLS season, but uncertainty about the land prompted the decision to play the entire 2015 season in the Citrus Bowl.

The current plan is for the Orlando City Lions to start playing in the new stadium with its home-opener of the 2016 season, in March of that year. It's expected to take 14 to 15 months to build the stadium, so construction, ideally, would have to start before January 2015, Lions Chief Operating Officer Brett Lashbrook said.

Orlando officials say the soccer stadium would serve a public purpose.

Follow this link:
Attorney: Church will fight Orlando's attempt to take its land for stadium

DANVILLE The congregation of Living Faith Church of Danville wants to show their love for Hendricks County by serving the people here.

A mission team made up mostly of students will be available June 16 through 20 and they want to know how they can serve area residents.

The church is taking requests from anyone who may need help with yard work, light construction, painting, cleaning, manual labor or similar projects and just doesnt have the hands to do it themselves.

A church near Houston, Texas, is sending its youth group about 25 people on a 16-hour drive to Danville to help Living Faith Church serve the community. They are hoping to fill their mission week with service projects for people in the Danville community and surrounding area.

We want to make ourselves available that week to serve those in need in Danville, Jon Hearing, pastor at Living Faith Church of Danville said. We dont have anything specific in mind. Were expecting requests for help with things like yard work, painting, light construction, manual labor, etc. We will consider all requests. Once we receive the requests, we will decide what we are able to do, contact those people, and schedule a workday at that persons home or business. Then well bring the group of students, as well as some from our own church, and serve in that capacity during that week.

Living Faith Church of Danville is a new church meeting in an old church building. It sits on the hill at the corner of Sycamore and Money Lane and has been active and growing again for just over a year now.

Pastors Jon Hearing and Kevin Carpenter have set out to grow a church that values truth, relevance, family, and community.

Because were young and have newly (re)opened, we are considered a church plant and with that comes the benefit of having mission teams come and serve our church, Hearing said. Over the last year weve had three different mission teams from Kentucky and South Carolina come to Danville and serve alongside our church. Weve volunteered at Ellis Park, weve served at the many Danville festivals, and weve worked with organizations like Sycamore Services and Sheltering Wings.

We know that community is important in Danville and so community is important to us. We want to serve our community in as many ways as possible and were thrilled to see how we can serve them during our mission week.

All requests will be considered, but Danville residents will be given priority. To make a request, e-mail to jon@faith2live.com.

Visit link:
Danville church to serve Hendricks County residents

Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Creston is planning construction of a new $400,000 rectory rerun rummage shop to be located directly north of St. Malachy School.

The Rev. Ken Halbur said $250,000 has been raised for the project, thusfar, including a $100,000 grant from a foundation remaining anonymous at this time. This new rerun will be 7,000 square feet with 4,000 feet of retail space for gently used clothing and household items.

The current rerun shop has been a wonderful benefit to the community for more than 25 years, Halbur said, and we plan to continue providing that benefit, but we need something thats more handicap accessible and more inviting to the Creston community. Its time.

The current rerun is located at 107 W. Howard St., directly east of Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Halbur said the building was constructed more than 100 years ago as housing and eventually office space for Catholic priests. However, priests moved out in the 1980s, leaving the building vacant.

So, a group of volunteers from the Catholic church decided to start a rerun shop inside the house, selling various discounted items that would provide financial assistance to St. Malachy School.

Today, though, Halbur said the building has poor accessibility and needs several thousands of dollars in repairs.

Plus, its a house. Its just not designed to be a store, Halbur said.

Halbur added no decisions have been made regarding the fate of the current rectory rerun building, but its likely to be demolished and used for handicap accessible parking a strong need for the Catholic church.

Want to donate?

Here is the original post:
Catholic church to build $400K rerun shop

Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church has survived Charley, economic change

Owens Community, three miles southwest of Arcadia, was named for Owen Huggins Dishong, DeSoto Countys first sheriff and one of Mt. Ephraims charter members. He gave three acres of land for the construction of the church and the cemetery, where he is now buried.

The church was established in 1884the same year the Florida Baptist Witness published its first edition.

Circuit-rider Alderman Wilson conducted the first meeting on August 9, 1884, when charter members organized and selected a name for the church. The church first met in a log building called the Hayman School, and J.H. Hayman served as the first pastor. The churchs first building, constructed in 1888, was located across the street from the present sanctuary.

Kerosene lamps suspended from the ceiling replaced candles that were used for lighting in 1888. Before electricity came to the community, a gasoline-powered generator was installed that sometimes left the preacher preaching in twilight to total darkness, according to a church history written in 2010 by former member Bob Tuttle.

More:
Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church has survived Charley, economic change

Published: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at 6:30 a.m. Last Modified: Monday, June 16, 2014 at 5:25 p.m.

Standing more than 100 feet high, the steeple at First Presbyterian Church has towered over Ocala's historic district since the late 1920s. But, over the years, the towering symbol of faith has been shot at and damaged by termites and weather systems, including a violent storm that swept through in 2012.

Through a campaign called SOS (Save Our Steeple), the church building and grounds committee hopes to raise $400,000 for repairs. For now, a protective tarp has been stretched across the inside base of the steeple, keeping rainwater out of the sanctuary.

The Rev. Raymond Guterman, who celebrated 10 years of service at the church on June 1, has concerns that more damage will occur if something isn't done soon.

"We got a lot of water on the third floor of our sanctuary," Guterman said. "We had to close down the balcony for about two months to make sure it was OK. We had to get the water out and make considerable repairs. And we had to shut down our bell. We had a funeral a few weeks ago. Darren Bess (associate pastor) went up to turn on the sound system and saw where some plaster had fallen. We also had water leaking down the back wall."

The steeple, which is equipped with nighttime lighting, has served as "a beacon of light" to the surrounding community, Guterman said.

"I think that steeple is probably one of the highest places in the city of Ocala," he said. "We have a light that comes on every night. It is symbolic of Christ shining in the darkness. John 1:4-5 says, In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.' The Bible speaks to dark places in the world where people have challenges. All of us have dark seasons that all of our families go through. In spite of all this, it does not affect the light. It still goes on."

The church membership is about 900, Guterman said. In 2007, the congregation raised $300,000 for a new heating and air conditioning system, and for carpeting and a bus. In 2012, it raised $250,000 to renovate the fellowship hall.

Kent Adams, a church elder, is heading up the current campaign.

"It really is a calling," he said. "I didn't realize it at first, but then I started thinking, both my children were baptized there."

Read more:
First Presbyterian Church steeple needs repair

The family-owned church that stands in the way of the new soccer stadium has hired a law firm specializing in property rights to fight the city's attempt to take its land. (Video by FOX35)

The tiny family-owned church that stands in the way of Orlando's Major League Soccer stadium has hired a Jacksonville law firm specializing in property rights to fight the city's attempt to take its land.

City Hall filed an eminent domain action in court in 2013, after a year of failed negotiations to buy Faith Deliverance Temple. But news releases from the church's new attorney make it clear the city's attempt to take the property won't go unchallenged.

Attorney Andrew Prince Brigham said the city's action violates Florida's Constitution and state law because the land wouldn't be used for a legitimate public purpose.

"The City's proposed taking is not for a public purpose," Brigham said in a news release. "The City is simply a conduit for eminent domain to take from one private entity, a church, and transfer the use of the property to another private entity, a soccer franchise."

The announcement comes a day after Orlando City Soccer Club executives joined Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs to unveil details and renderings of the $110-million stadium. It's supposed to be built on two square blocks along West Church Street, but the church's property sits smack in the middle.

The city initially offered $1.5 million for the property more than twice the appraised value but church leaders said that wouldn't be enough to rebuild elsewhere, and countered with a selling price of $35 million. The city eventually raised its offer as high as $4 million and the church dropped its price as low $15 million, but the parties never came any closer to a deal.

The city's failure to acquire the property already has delayed the stadium's construction. The team initially planned to begin playing in the new facility during the 2015 MLS season, but uncertainty about the land prompted the decision to play the entire 2015 season in the Citrus Bowl.

The current plan is for the Orlando City Lions to start playing in the new stadium with its home-opener of the 2016 season, in March of that year. It's expected to take 14 to 15 months to build the stadium, so construction, ideally, would have to start before January 2015, Lions Chief Operating Officer Brett Lashbrook said.

Orlando officials say the soccer stadium would serve a public purpose.

Original post:
Church to fight city's move to take land for stadium

A stones throw from the Eiffel Tower and Pariss famed Alexandre III bridge, Russias Vladimir Putin is putting his mark on the French capital.

Construction of a new Russian Orthodox church with five golden domes in central Paris gets under way in the next few weeks, with U.S. and European efforts to slam Putins Russia for its incursions into Ukraine doing little to halt its progress. The yet-to-be-named church is being built on a plot of land sold in 2010 to Russia by the French state for 73 million euros ($99 million). The deal was sealed by Former President Nicolas Sarkozy. His successor Francois Hollandes government says its determined to see the monument erected.

While less controversial than Frances decision to go ahead with the sale of two warships to the former Cold War foe at the risk of displeasing the U.S. and other allies, the churchs construction is yet another indication of Frances complicated relationship with Russia. France, which is struggling to rebound from two years with barely any growth and record joblessness, needs business from Russia. Frances exports to Russia have risen fourfold since 2000 to 7 billion euros last year.

The deal is done, Russia is the owner of that land, Eric Woerth, who was Sarkozys budget minister and signed the deal in March 2010, said in a telephone interview. Its not in Frances interest to mess up things with Russia; nor with the U.S., for that matter. Yes, its a fine line.

Former Budget Minister Eric Woerth said, The deal is done, Russia is the owner of that land. Close

Former Budget Minister Eric Woerth said, The deal is done, Russia is the owner of that land.

Close

Former Budget Minister Eric Woerth said, The deal is done, Russia is the owner of that land.

As the crisis in Ukraine escalated -- resulting in Russias annexation of Crimea -- the French lowered the profile of the project that will raise Russian Orthodox crosses as high as 117 feet in the Paris sky. A spring ceremony to lay the first stone in the presence of Putin was quietly canceled, an official in Hollandes office said.

France has annoyed the U.S. and other allies by deciding not to suspend the delivery of the two helicopter-carrier Mistral warships to the Russian Navy, whose members arrive on Frances Atlantic shores this month for their first training.

Read more here:
Putin Seeks Paris Landmark as Hollandes Russia Ties Defy Obama