Tom Moore, Peace Activist

In the Spring of 2007 peace activist, Tom Moore, asked GRCC members and friends to sponsor his diplomatic visit to Iran, bringing the message of peace and understanding from the people of the U.S., particularly Rochester. He went with a delegation of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, a national faith-based organization, and local chapter of which GRCC holds the 501C3 sponsorship. Tom explains his journey to Iran-- and previously to Iraq (where he was denied entrance, but spent several weeks in neighboring Jordan)-- with a quotation from the 13th century Persian poet Saadi, engraved on the entrance to the United Nations building:

"All human beings are members of one frame since all, at first, from the same essence came. When time afflicts a limb with pain, the other limbs cannot at rest remain."

Tom adds that his struggles with the notion of caring yielded a strong epiphany: caring was more than a feeling, it required action.

The trip to Iran was an effort to bring the global human family closer together in an effort to avoid more violence. By meeting Iranians on their streets, as an American, Tom came home with stories of shared human kinship, across oceans, religions, and nationalities.

Thomas Moore is a family man and local school teacher living in downtown Rochester. He recently became a member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), and with this organization took a trip to Iran in May of 2007.

Currently a teacher for the Ellwanger-Barry Nursery School and Lilac Children's Garden, Tom has worked as an elementary and middle school teacher in and around the Rochester area for 25 years.

Husband of civic-minded Karen Keenan, Tom has three strong, bright and beautiful daughters: Suria, Miranda and Maelyn.

While traveling all over Iran, Tom visited with people of all ages and walks of life, hopes to find as many different American audiences as possible with which he can share the encounters and conversations he a unique perspective of Iran unavailable from the mainstream media or our own government. Tom is available to visit anywhere to share with any group these experiences, call 244-1873

Faith Communities Can Be Environmental Stewards

There is now a way that worshiping communities can visibly stand out as lights to help lead the way to a time when we really care for creation and the environment that sustains us all. Interfaith Power and Light is a religious organization that is spreading across the country that helps guide congregations in being good stewards of God's earth. An interfaith group of people is looking to start a chapter here in the Rochester Area. Congregations that affililiate with Interfaith Power and Light receive ideas for ways to make their own buildings more environmentally responsible (while saving on energy costs), and also how to encourage their members to be better stewards of God's creation in their own lives. By forming a group together, we can share inspiration, ideas, resources, and encouragement.

If you have questions, please contact Elizabeth Pixley (phone 334-0977 or e-mail her epixley@rochester.rr.com.

Here are some Web sites that we have found to be helpful: