The goal of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship is to “Do justice, dismantle violence, and strive to be peacemakers.”
While that may be a tall order for Episcopalians around the globe, the Delaware Chapter of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, based at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Georgetown, is striving to meet those goals by, among other activities, presenting a half-day workshop of strategies for creating peaceful families. “While this may seem like such a small step in creating a peaceful world, this is viewed as a stepping stone to creating not only peace in our homes, but also peace within our children, our schools, and in our communities,” explains workshop chairperson, Jean Beshears. “It is our first venture of this type and we hope that it will prove to be a service to the community. The workshops will proceed on two tracks: one for parents, grandparents, and other caregivers and one for children. The workshops are open to all and while the workshops will be held at a church, it will have no particular religious leaning. The cost is $25.00 per family and scholarships are available,” continues Mrs. Beshears.
The Delaware Chapter, one of 71 chapters across the United States, invites parents, grandparents, and other care givers, children, grandchildren, and the public to attend four workshops on Saturday, November 7th, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church located a block off The Circle in Georgetown. Beginning at 8:30 a.m. with registration, the half-day workshops will focus on creating positive relationships within the family, at school, and at other social and community gatherings, educating parents and children about the dangers of drugs, surfing the Internet safely, and playing cooperative and non-electronic games. The half-day workshops will end at 12:30 p.m. with a bag lunch and discussions. For more information, contact Mrs. Beshears at 855-0467.
SIDEBAR:
Workshop 1: Bringing the Outside World In covers topics such as how to be fair in sports and other group activities, how to respond to bullying, vetting adults with responsibility for your children, and how to form positive school relationships and friendships.
Presenter: Dee Gruber, a long-time Delaware resident, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Delaware-certified Domestic Violence Specialist, and a Family Resource Advocate for the Children’s Advocacy Center in Sussex County. Ms. Gruber has provided programmatic and therapeutic services for high-risk abused children and adults, through Turning Point, the domestic violence program of People’s Place in Milford.
Workshop 2: A Peaceful Home will cover family problem solving (how to resolve conflicts, positive parenting) for happy family gatherings, meals, and other social settings and structuring other fun times.
Presenter: Perrin Smith, a 22-year Lewes resident, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. For over 30 years, Perrin has worked with children and families, previously working for Catholic Charities and Child Mental Health Services in Delaware, managing an early intervention program for at-risk preschoolers and their families, and has worked in New York and California . Perrin has been in private practice since 1990 in Milford and Lewes, Delaware. Perrin specializes in the mental health treatment of young children and families with a variety of stressful issues from separation and loss, depression and anxiety, developmental and behavioral issues, and has managed Child Life programs in hospitals helping families whose children are coping with medical challenges.
Workshop 3: How to Use Electronics Wisely will cover such topics as computer games, surfing the Internet safely, positive social networking and video gaming.
Presenter: Father Jeffrey Ross, presently rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lewes, previously served as rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, Interim Episcopal Chaplain at Cornell University, and assistant rector at St. Thomas Church in Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania. He has served on the staff of the diocese of Pennsylvania as the Bishop’s Assistant for Youth Ministry and also worked in a variety of social service agencies and ministries.
Workshop 4. Peaceful Games will feature cooperative and non-electronic games for children of all ages.
Presenter: Reverend Mark Harris, Associate Priest at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lewes works with children and young adults. He is trained in “Godly Play,” a popular Sunday school curriculum and recently participated in a national youth ministry training conference.
About St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and the Delaware Chapter of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship:
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is located at Academy and East Pine Streets located a block off the Circle in Georgetown. Sunday worship is at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday school is at 9:00 a.m. Saint Paul’s mission is to respond to God’s call by providing an inviting, welcoming, and nurturing community for all to worship God; to encourage and support lay ministries, and to proclaim the Good News of God’s love through word and deed.
Feeling that God was calling the congregation to make a special commitment for peace, several members of the church, formed the Delaware Chapter of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship as a way of addressing issues of peace and justice in the local and global communities. The chapter is one of 71 chapters across the United States connecting all who seek a deliberate response to local and global injustices and strive to pray for peace. Although the principles of the chapter are based on the Christian faith, the chapter welcomes participation from people of all faiths.
