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Salaam and grace to you from Jerusalem, the City of Peace From Bishop Munib Younan – Thank you all for your prayers, thoughts and actions to support the ELCJ and me in the last few weeks. It is a great comfort to know that people of faith all over the world hold us in prayer. This is, of course, a crucial time for the Palestinians, many of whom are experiencing among other things great grief, fear of change, and hope for a new day. We ask you to uphold the Middle East and its people with your prayers as we pass through difficult times. We also pray for wisdom and strength for the Palestinian people and leadership that they may be united for just peace and reconciliation. President Arafat was always a strong advocate for freedom of religion. He was consistent in his support of Christians as they lived and worked in the Holy Land and affirmed access for all to the Holy Sites in this land. We are hopeful and confident that the new Palestinian leadership will continue to affirm religious freedom as essential to a democratic society. We are committed to work for the vision of a two-state solution, a shared Jerusalem, a just peace and an end to occupation and spiral violence. We pledge our support for a new democratically-elected leadership and stand ready to work toward justice, freedom and reconciliation. Palestinians are a strong and resilient people, and we are ready for the challenges that lie ahead. May God bless us in the difficult time ahead as we prepare the way toward a civil, democratic, free Palestine. From
the Nov.11 statement by ELCJ Bishop Munib Younan
The role of the church is the same: to live in and reflect God's love, hope, grace and transformation that we know in Christ. However, some of the roles become more crucial for the ELCJ at this turning point in history. We need to be Accompaniers Walking with the Palestinian people through joy and sadness, crisis and daily life, we give comfort, compassion and challenges in seeking justice and peace. An accompaniment team of Bishop Younan, Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, Archbishop Norhan Manoogian, of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church; and Bishop Riah Abu Assal of the Anglican church; traveled to the funeral in Cairo to bring condolences and support to the Palestinian leadership and other ministers and government officials from all over the world. Church and faith leaders from Germany, America, Sweden and Scotland formed a Christian delegation that accompanied leaders and others in the crowds of the burial in the Muqata. Some clergy accompanied a spontaneous prayer vigil at Damascus Gate the night President Arafat died that grew to more than 200 people who came to pray, light candles and express solidarity in their grief. So
if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation;everything old
has passed away; everything has become new! All this is from
God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has gven
us The ministry of reconciliation has seldom been more important than now for our land. We as a church can help build bridges of tolerance and understanding between Palestinians and Israelis, and work toward the common values that exist among Muslim, Christian and Jew, such as human dignity, compassion, equality, peace and justice. Through interfaith dialogue and action, we can foster understanding and help one another to see God in the other, no matter their religion, race or ethnicity. Bearers
of Hope and Vision God
has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord
require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and to walk
humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8) Prophets Now more than ever we must not be afraid to speak for truth, justice and peace. We need to expose and condemn any sin, including any kind of violence, injustice, discrimination or terrorism, no matter who the perpetrator is. In this time of growing extremism and intolerance, faith leaders need to condemn any violence or hate committed in the name of God. We believe that the occupation we have lived under for over 30 years is a sin against God and humanity. It destroys both the occupied and the occupier. It deprives people of their human rights and dignity. We must end the occupation and liberate both nations. MORE DELEGATIONS VISITING THE HOLY LAND A delegation from the Board of Jerusalemverein, headed by Bishop Dr. Hans-Juergen Abromeit, visited the ELCJ in November to show support and solidarity. Bishop Abromeit, Dr. Christopher Schuppan and Dr. Nothnagle visited the congregations and the ELCJ schools, including Talitha Kumi, to see the work and ministry of the ELCJ. Unfortunately, during their visit President Arafat passed away. Bishop Abromeit didn't hesitate to be part of the delegation of Christians who went to the burial in Ramallah. Bishops Younan and Abromeit visited the congregation in Amman, where Bishop Abromeit preached and encouraged Arab Christians to let the cross and the resurrection empower them to continue their important Christian witness in this region. The bishops, Pastor Samer Azer and the church elders also visited the tent of the Palestinian Authority that was set up in Amman to receive condolences for President Arafat. The bishops also visited the religious advisor of King Abdullah II, who is Chief Judge of Islamic law, to wish him a good feast for Ramadan. Sheikh Izzidinet Tamimi was there and introduced the Amman Message, a new initiative from His Majesty King Abdullah II, which calls for tolerance, understanding and coexistence among religions and presents an open-minded, contemporary interpretation of Islam. ELCJ MEMBER RIFAT ODEH KASSIS TO SUPERVISE EAPPI IN GENEVA Congratulations
to Rifat Odeh Kassis, of Beit Sahour, who has been chosen to
lead the World Council of Church's Ecumenical Accompaniment
Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) in Geneva. Rifat has
lived and worked in Beit Sahour, most recently as Deputy General
Secretary of the YMCA in East Jerusalem. He and his wife, Ibtisam,
will leave in January. We wish him blessings and will support
him in his new work. You Are Always Invited COME AND SEE – WE APPRECIATE OUR VISITORS We
always welcome and encourage groups and individuals to come
and visit us pilgrims and not just tourists. It is good for
our people and churches here to meet people that support them,
pray for them and are willing to act with them to bring a more
just, peaceful future for Palestinians and Israelis. It is also
good for you because you gain insight and a better understanding
of what this conflict is like at ground level. For a good introduction
to the Palestinian Christian reality, read Bishop Younan's book
Witnessing for Peace, or Pastor Mitri Raheb's book I
am a Palestinian Christian, both available through Augsburg
Fortress Publishers. Most in this land believe that the key
to peace in the Middle East is through Jerusalem, not Baghdad.
Come, see, explore, question, act. Email us and we will help
facilitate your trip. ELCJ Schools and Educational
Programs Greeting
from Dr. Charlie Haddad, ELCJ Schools Director
Olive harvest season in the ELCJ Schools “We want to help develop the country’s agricultural sector,” said Simon Awad, director of the ELCJ Environmental Education Center (EEC). Simon explained that one of the primary aims of the Festival is to practically address the effects of the continuing conflict on the Palestinian olive harvest. The Palestinian agricultural sector has been seriously damaged during the second Intifada, in no small part due to the Israeli occupation’s effects on the olive market. According to statistics published by the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture in June of 2004, the Israeli government has uprooted nearly 400,000 olive trees on Palestinian land in the West Bank and Gaza Strip since the beginning of the intifada in September of 2000. Historically, the sale of olives and olive oil has made up a significant part of the Palestinian economy. Today the separation wall, closures and travel restrictions prevent many farmers from reaching their trees and impede their ability to market and distribute their products effectively. Through awareness-raising campaigns, speakers and events, the Festival seeks to bring these issues to greater public consciousness and explores ways to address them effectively. Local farmers and distributors were also present to sell their olives and oil. The Festival’s other aim is to involve Palestinian young persons in a celebration of their own cultural heritage. “The Festival helps students to understand what the olive harvest means,” said Simon. Students from the ELCJ Schools and other local schools danced traditional Palestinian dances, tasted food made with olives, and entered their work in writing and art contests. Simon and the other event organizers believe encouraging artwork and creative writing centered around Palestine’s environmental concerns also has the potential to sow seeds of greater environmental awareness in the next generation of Palestinian citizens.
Noted
by Rev. Julie Rowe  |
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