To keep you up-to-date with news from the farm, we’ll be sending Koinonia Briefly to you each and every month. Enjoy...

Did You Know?

We may be sorting pecans past Easter! As reported earlier, Koinonia’s pecan crop this year is a bonanza. We are thankful for the many visitors here right now who have chosen to spend part of their time working with us. They are busy in the pecan plant, the bakery and in the orchard as the bountiful harvest continues.

We have made some changes to our product line discontinuing some items and added some very tasty new creations. Try our new all-natural peanut butter and the Double Nut Twin Tin. The peanut brittle now comes in a 12 oz. size. There are also those gift packs just right for this time of year: Peanut Dream, Pecan Variety Pail, Chocolate Lover’s Delight, and the Koinonia Sampler. Check them out at Koinonia Gift Packs Online.

Koinonia’s work for peace continues. Recently, several community members traveled to Connecticut to attend the Tree of Life Conference on Israel and Palestine. The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme sponsored the gathering and Koinonia was pleased to be one of the co-sponsors.

The keynote address was delivered by Father Elias Chacour, an internationally known Palestinian Christian working for peace in that troubled part of the world. The Koinonians in attendance were deeply moved by his words. Father Chacour emphasized that there are two roads in dealing with conflict in the Middle East. One is road of bitterness, anger, and revenge. The other is the road of peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation between enemies. His message was one of hope. We highly recommend his books: *Blood Brothers* and *We Belong to the Land.*

Reaching Out

Many members of the community attended church at Allen Chapel on Sunday, November 27, 2005 to celebrate the 18th anniversary of our chaplain’s ordination. Our Norris Harris gave a rousing sermon. We were thrilled to share this special time with him, with members of Allen Chapel, the church where Norris grew up, and with members of the Oglethorpe circuit where he now serves as the pastor of three churches.

Another cause of peace that kept Koinonia busy recently was the annual vigil held at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia. Every year, on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, tens of thousands of peacemakers gather at the gates of WHINSEC (Western Hemispheric Institute of Security Cooperation, formerly known as the U.S. Army School of the Americas). They hold a vigil to protest that many SOA graduates from other parts of the world, especially Central and South America, go on to commit many human rights abuses. Participants on the vigil remember and call by name the many victims killed by alumni from the School of the Americas.

Koinonia actually began this non-violent protest in June, 1983, when several community members returned from service in El Salvador and Guatemala. Koinonians would travel weekly to stand outside the gates, light candles and pray silently. The cause was later picked up by Father Roy Bourgeouis and has grown into a major movement encouraging change through education and non-violent civil disobedience.

Koinonia also sent a group to the vigil: community members Nashua Chantal, Ann Karp, and Button Garner; returning visitors Israel, Fletcher Manly, and former coordinator of operations John Hall; community interns Maureen Kane and Matt Kubly; and friend of Koinonia Richard Pollette.

At the Farm

This year, Koinonia welcomed nearly 200 people into our home who planned to attend the prayer vigil at the School of the Americas. Folks slept in the museum, library, outreach center, various houses, even in tents out in the orchards. We hosted groups from Berea College (KY), Mennonite Church of Eastern Canada, Fellowship of Reconciliation Youth Task Force, American University (DC), University of Michigan, Oberlin College (OH), Campus Ministries of Creighton University (NE), Concerned Patriots of Tallahassee FL, the John Paul Newman Center of the University of Chicago, St Aquinas College, and more. The morning of the event, Koinonians Ellie Castle and Jo Knox served a warm breakfast for those headed to Fort Benning.

This Thanksgiving Koinonia was blessed with many visitors. Over 50 people shared the traditional Thanksgiving meal. The dining hall was packed! After the delicious food, we played whiffle ball. The day was bright, sunny and the temperature was just right. We all hope your Thanksgiving was a beautiful one. Holiday blessings all around.

Coming Soon

The end of shopping for the holidays will soon be here. Don’t forget to place your orders with Koinonia by December 10 for guaranteed delivery by Christmas. To place orders, call us toll-free at 1-877-738-1741 or order online