November e-news

We are very excited to announce that Briars in the Cotton Patch:The Story of Koinonia Farm has been chosen for national PBS distribution. This remarkable one-hour documentary has the potential of being shown in 75 million homes as part of the PBS distribution process, but we need your help!

We are asking PBS stations to broadcast Briars in the Cotton Patch in February 2005 as part of Black History Month. Stations already begin deciding their February line-up in mid-November and they "lock" the schedule on December 15th.

Please call your local PBS station programmer and ask them to air Briars in the Cotton Patch during Black History Month. Your call will only take a minute or two and it could make the difference between whether or not the program gets aired in your state. Help us get this wonderful story on the air! Visit our Briars Documentary Page to learn more!

We had a fabulous Homecoming Weekend celebration, with about 150 people attending—former partners and volunteers, local choirs and musical groups, friends of Koinonia old and new from near and far. We enjoyed conversation with Con Browne (a partner from 1949-1963) and his children, a celebration for the official kickoff of volunteer Nashua Chantal’s Global Peace Knows movement, and an award ceremony honoring Faith Fuller, Con Browne, and John Cole-Vodicka.

The Heart to Heart program is enjoying success: citizens from Koinonia Village and Forest Park, along with several Koinonians, meet regularly to plan improvements and build community. One visible result is the regular clean-ups of the common areas around the villages, which are often followed by impromptu picnics. Finally, congratulations to the villages’ newly elected mayors: Mildred Burton of Forest Park, and Shirley McGee of Koinonia Village!

If your group would like to retreat or converge at Koinonia, let us know. We’ve had some wonderful groups spend time lately in our newly renovated guest housing: energetic Montessori middle school students from Texas, Samford University students seeking inspiration for their own faith-centered intentional community, and the Prison & Jail Project’s annual Freedom Walk participants. We are getting ready for a full house this coming weekend when many stay at Koinonia who are participating in the School of the Americas Vigil in Columbus Georgia. For more information, visit SOAW.org

The Prison & Jail Project (another organization founded at Koinonia) conducted their annual Freedom Walk through small towns in Georgia, bringing awareness about the court and prison systems. The steadfast walkers, who included at least four current Koinonians and five former Koinonians, counted over 100 miles in seven days, and spent each night in our guest house. For more information, contact the Prison and Jail Project,
P.O. Box 6749, Americus, GA 31709.

Office renovations are complete! An anonymous donation for a handsome wooden floor, and the hard work of many short and long-term volunteers made it possible.We’re now busy filling the space with art, our new t-shirts and aprons, and delicious bakery goods.

It seems that when we foster positive energy, blessings flow toward us. It is exciting to witness our community’s growth and rejuvenation. Our volunteer numbers have swelled from 11 to 23 in the past year, plus we’ve welcomed three more children: Imani, Nia and Julius. Our life together includes devotions in many traditions, evening bonfires, craft nights… and double the potlucks! If you would like to join us for a few days or longer, drop us a line. We’re looking for pecan sorters, phone order-takers, bakery assistants, and more. We’d love you to join us at Koinonia.

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