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"Peace is what is wanted and needed by the world."
So that we don't forget,
it seems as though First Presbyterians of Springfield are quite like Cuban Presbyterians in Sancti Spiritus.
How?
The church service follows the same outline, their organizational subcommittees are like ours, they use the Book of Order, they attempt
to take care of the homeless, and they have music and youth programs.
Other similarities: the number of baseball caps with logos from
American teams, the frequent number of Lincoln statues in museums
and in parks, statues of John Lennon rather than Nikolai Lenin,
large numbers of western tourists (tourism is now one of Cuba's
leading industries), western music of rock/rap/classical, stage
plays of "Cats" and "Hello
Dolly;" the
number of HP printers and electronic hardware and software.
We all breathe the same air, we all drink the same water, we all
worship the same God.——
from comments by Mick Bernasek
Iglesia Presbiteriana Reformada
en Cuba (Presbyterian Reformed
Church in Cuba, or IPRC)
AIPRAL: Alianza de Iglesias
Presbiterianas y Reformadas
de América Latina
Additional Resources about Cuba Partnership Ministries
Cuba Documentary by Presbyterian Church USA.com and Interlink Media
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church: What is a Presbyterian Church Partnership?
Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago Cuban Mission Trip
United States interest Section: Cuba
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First Church partnership with Sancti Spiritus Church in Cuba
Since the spring of 2000, First Presbyterian Church has developed a sister relationship
with Sancti Spiritus Presbyterian Church in Sancti Spiritus (El Centro Presbytery)
in Cuba's Central Province — a relationship
that has helped us share political and cultural realities as well
as our ministries. Our church has been particularly interested in
the farming ministry and the lively mission churches.
During the past three years, First Church has sent more than twenty
adults and teens to work with Cuban churches on partnership-in-mission
trips, visiting vegetable farms and cattle farm projects
and meeting with numerous church congregations.
Members' visits to Cuba have deepened our understanding of the faith journeys
of our brothers and sisters there. We have recorded interviews with
national leaders in the Cuban Presbyterian Church as well as with women
church leaders about their ministries to provide hot meals, laundry
services, and clothing repair to the indigent elderly. Through our
sharing, participants continue to affirm our partnership goals, which
are to share worship and Bible study, to show
support to the Presbyterian Church in Cuba and in Sancti Spiritus,
and to further understanding between our two congregations.
We have begun a cultural and spiritual interchange by sharing newsletters and
a scripture study via email as well as by sending useful educational
materials and medicine. Some of our youth visited Cuba with the Task
Force in 2005 and returned with a deeper awareness of life for our
neighbors. We celebrate our partnership with the world church and our
spiritual journey with Presbyterian Cubans by designating one Sunday
a year as Sancti Spiritus Sunday.

PC(USA) mission coworker
Rev.
Tricia Lloyd-Sidle
has been appointed by the General Assembly
Council to serve in the United States and in Cuba as a
mission co-worker. She is the Regional Liaison for the Caribbean, with a
special focus on Cuba and the Caribbean-North American Council for Mission.
She has been to Cuba many, many times.
Cuba
Partners Meeting | October 4 - 6, 2007
The Cuba Partners Steering Committee has announced that
this year's gathering in Louisville, KY will be held in the context of a larger
World Mission event, during which other country and regional mission networks
will also be meeting.
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