Peace by Piece Tour: Churches for Middle East Peace

Want to learn more about peace-building in the holy land?

Destiny Magnett from Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and Suzan Sahori from Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans will be in the Albany area November 2 and 3. These two will be presenting on topics related to peacebuilding and economic justice, with particular focus on the current tensions in Israel-Palestine. With handmade crafts available for purchase, the night will offer a unique opportunity to support Christian-led Palestinian craftspeople while fostering dialogue about shared paths toward peace and justice in the Holy Land.

You are invited to join us at one or more of the following events:

Sunday, Nov. 2: 5:30 PM

Delmar Reformed Church 383 Delaware Ave. Delmar NY. All are invited to gather and contribute to an "appetizer" themed potluck at 5:30 pm, or simply join the presentation from 6:15-7:00 pm.

Monday, Nov. 3 7-8:30 PM

Niskayuna Reformed Church. 3041 Troy Schenectady Rd., Niskayuna NY. Refreshments provided.

These presentations and discussions will help us:

• Gain deeper understanding of life in the Holy Land beyond headlines

• Learn about the critical situation of decline facing Christian communities in Holy Land

• Discover how supporting artisans creates sustainable livelihoods in marginalized communities

• Support local artisans through economic empowerment and storytelling

• Connect personal faith journeys with the pursuit of justice and reconciliation

• Learn approaches for peacebuilding in your own context and community

  
  

About the presenters:

Destiny Magnett is the Programs and Outreach Manager at Churches for Middle East Peace where she serves as the primary liaison for church partners. She will be leading a CMEP trip to the West Bank for the Christ at the Checkpoint conference in May 2026. 

Suzan Sahori is a Palestinian Christian from Bethlehem who serves as the executive director of the Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans (BFTA).

Learn more about the Peace by Piece tour at this link.

Think Globally, Make Peace Locally: Building Skills for Interfaith Dialogue in a Rapidly Changing World

Hello, friends in the Regional Synod of Albany,

Many Albany Synod congregations support the Al Amana Centre in Oman. For many years, the Al Amana Centre, and Oman itself, have been carefully working at peacemaking in the midst of the conflict in the Middle East, demonstrating hospitality and serving as facilitators of difficult conversations. 

Two Al Amana staff--Justin Meyers, Executive Director, and Joshua Bode, Director of Operations and Ecumenical Affairs--will be in our region on July 13, leading a workshop open to all. 3-5 PM, Delmar Reformed Church. More details below in the flier. They'll be teaching some of the skills taught and employed at the Centre. Come do some learning and also check in with Justin and Josh about how their work is evolving, given the recent troubling developments in the Gulf and Levant. 

No RSVPs are necessary but I still appreciate hearing from you that you're coming--email me at nortonlevering@gmail.com to give me a heads up.

--Abby Norton-Levering, Synod Ministries Coordinator

PS Invite your friends! Even and especially if they're of another faith tradition!

Now Available! Handbook for Collaborative Ministry!

The CMLC on retreat at Camp Fowler: Greg Town, Paige Convis, Becky Town, Sherri Meyer-Veen (RSA staff), and Jennifer Legg. Not pictured: Chuck Wiessner, who participated in the retreat by zoom.

Over the past year, Albany Synod's Collaborative Ministry Learning Community (CMLC) has been meeting, studying, researching, interviewing, and writing about all they've learned as they have explored many of the paths that Collaborative ministry can take. You can read the benefits of their work by exploring the Handbook for Collaborative Ministry they produced. Any church that is considering how to work together with another church or agency in ministry would benefit from studying this terrific handbook.

Here are some excerpts from the introduction to the Handbook:

The CMLC emerged from the recommendations of the Adaptive Change Task Force of the Regional Synod of Albany, recognizing the need for new approaches to ministry in an ever-changing landscape. We are committed to exploring innovative models of shared ministry—reimagining what has been done before and discovering what has yet to be tried.

We see ourselves as pioneers and practitioners in collaboration, embracing both the successes and setbacks that come with experimentation. Our role is not just to implement what is already known, but to test, adapt, and refine models of ministry that respond to the needs of today’s church. We believe that collaboration is not merely a practical necessity for churches and ministers, but a theological and missional calling - a way of being the body of Christ together.

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Through this handbook and the ongoing learning of many who are involved in collaborations of various kinds, we aim to equip and encourage congregations, pastors, and church leaders as they step into collaborative ministry. We believe that when churches work together—sharing leadership, resources, and mission - they become stronger, more resilient, and better able to serve their communities.

Whether you are just beginning to explore shared ministry or are looking to strengthen an existing partnership, our goal is to walk alongside you, offering insights, encouragement, and practical tools to navigate the journey ahead.

Are you feeling intrigued? What are you waiting for, go check out the Handbook! Bring it to your consistory, read it together, and then let us know how your discernment process progresses! The CMLC will be continuing to work together for the foreseeable future, and they'd love to hear from you how you make use of the Handbook.

To offer an edit, add a story of your own, offer the addition of a resource you’ve found useful, or just give your feedback, please email Greg Town at gnbtown@gmail.com This handbook will be continually edited and added to, in order to build on and deepen our shared learning in the collaborative work to which we’re all called to enter.  Peace!