March 2006

PO Box 49084
Jerusalem 91491
Palestine via Israel

Tel: (+972) 2 5327136
Fax: (+972) 2 5327137

Inspired by the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, this liberation theology seeks to deepen the faith of Palestinian Christians, to promote unity among them toward social action. Sabeel strives to develop a spirituality based on love, justice, peace, nonviolence, liberation and reconciliation for the different national and faith communities. The word "Sabeel" is Arabic for ‘the way‘ and also a ‘channel‘ or ‘spring‘ of life-giving water.

Sabeel also works to promote a more accurate international awareness regarding the identity, presence and witness of Palestinian Christians as well as their contemporary concerns. It encourages individuals and groups from around the world to work for a just, comprehensive and enduring peace informed by truth and empowered by prayer and action.

March 2006

Greetings from Jerusalem! Life at Sabeel is never quiet! Many Sabeel programs and events at the start of the year have focused on the Palestinian elections of January 25 and the new political situation following Hamas' victory.

for Sabeel's statement on the elections, A Wake Up Call!

In the midst of the elections and Christmas celebrations continuing into January with Eastern Christmas on January 6 and Armenian Christmas January 19, Sabeel has continued with local community, youth, and clergy programs, and hosted many international visiting groups during January and February of this year.

COMMUNITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

Upon the initiative of the Laity Committee in Jerusalem, Sabeel along with six other Christian groups in Jerusalem promoted awareness about the importance of participating in elections. On January 12, over 300 Jerusalemites gathered at the Orthodox Club and put forth questions to the nine Christian candidates running for the two seats allocated to Jerusalem. This challenging joint effort emphasized the positive power of unity, democracy and human rights. It also warned the candidates about their accountability to their voters.

Testimony

On January 9, dozens of people gathered around Cindy and Craig Corrie at Sabeel for an informal discussion about their courageous struggle for a just peace. After the initial shock of losing their beloved daughter Rachel in Rafah, they dared speak out to their own government and traveled several times to this area to build bridges of understanding and teach forgiveness and nonviolence. Voices like theirs are very much needed to prick the conscience of political leaders who want to obliterate the truth. The audience was deeply touched and encouraged by their testimony and witness.

The Open Forum

In the first session of 2006 held on February 7. Naim Ateek presented the theme of the WCC 9^th General Assembly: "God in your grace transform the world" After a brief introduction about the WCC, Rev. Ateek focused the discussion on the Palestinian Christian context and how to bring about a transformation and face the upcoming challenges in a constantly changing situation. An audience of about 50 people, largely women, highlighted the changes that have occurred in our area in the past few months, and explored practical ways of effective change by studying Romans 12.

Lenten Program

This year's Lenten Program (as well as all other local programs) is entitled "Unity in Faith" in preparation for Sabeel 6^th International Conference, "The Forgotten Faithful," November 2-9, 2006 (see below for details.) On February 28, over eighty (80) participants from Jerusalem (including 4 men!) headed towards Jericho. The first stop was the Orthodox Convent, Deir Hijlah, where tradition places the refuge of St. Jerasmus. In addition to its being a religious site, it is also a pleasant stop. In Jericho the group visited the Coptic Church Mar Antonius and the Greek Orthodox Zaccheus Church. The rest of the day was spent at the Rawdah Park for lunch and a spiritual panel discussion with Father Mina (Coptic Church) and Father Firas (Franciscan Friar). The Jericho YWCA President Vera Pano moderated the afternoon session that was attended by a number of Jericho community members.

To end a memorable day, the Jerusalem participants enjoyed a stop at the YWCA production center to purchase some of their delicious pastries and other home products.

WOMEN

A small group of Palestinian women met for three sessions to read with Janneke Stegeman, A Dutch student of theology the controversial and difficult scripture reading of Jeremiah 32. In preparation, Monica Styron, a Presbyterian pastor and volunteer at Sabeel, introduced Jeremiah and placed the readers of the Old Testament in the context of the passage. In every single scripture reading one can find the exclusive and inclusive connotations, hence the necessity of avoiding literal explanations outside their own context.

CLERGY

Sabeel hosted another enlightening clergy program on February 3. Eight clergy from different denominations met at Sabeel in the morning and the Coptic priest Father Afram led a bible study. After the bible study, the clergy seriously discussed the current situation after the Palestinian elections. A fellowship lunch followed the discussions. We look forward to more clergy programs in the coming months of 2006!

YOUTH

Christmas Giving

On 26^th of January, twelve (12) teenagers went to Lazarus Home for Girls, an orphanage in Bethany, to spread a bit of Christmas cheer. The teenagers worked with a clown to do face-painting and to bend balloons into shapes for the children, and they handed out gifts which they had wrapped. After this voluntary service, the teenagers ate dinner together to celebrate the New Year.

Youth and Society

On the 4^th of February, 65 young adults from Jerusalem, Jericho, Bethlehem and Ramallah, met for a full day activity in Jericho. There, they discussed in groups how young adults can become active in the church and society and enjoyed a barbecue together. Rev. Naim Ateek closed the day with a time of biblical reflection and hymn singing.

INTERNATIONAL

During January and February, Sabeel hosted a number of international visitors. In addition to the current political situation in Palestine and Israel, groups came to Sabeel interested in everything from Liberation Theology and the Palestinian Christian community to moral investment and interfaith work. During the past few months, significant discussion surrounded the Palestinian elections of 25 January. In addition, the Sabeel statement on the election's outcome along with other Sabeel publications were handed out to the visitors at the end of each meeting.

Sabeel would like to thank its visitors, individuals and groups, for their time and support: seminarians from Yale Divinity School, CT, US; All Saints Episcopal Church, CA, US; United Methodist Volunteer and Mission (VIM), US; United Methodist seminarians from Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, CA, US & Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, TX, US; Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, UK; United Methodist Annual Conference representatives, US; Lutheran seminarians from Luther Seminary, MN and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, CA, US; United Methodist Volunteer and Mission (VIM) coordinators group, US; the Tree of Life Journey, CT, US.

Sabeel also met with the Board of Diakonia and the Board of the Lund Mission Society Mission to discuss present and future partnerships.

Contemporary Way of the Cross

On February 20, Nora led the local Sabeel staff on the Contemporary Way of the Cross in the vicinity of the Sabeel office, as an exercise in capacity-building of tour leaders for this particularly important program that we offer. We stopped at a refugee camp (Shu'fat,) a settlement (Pizgat Zeev), and drove through the tens of demolished homes in the same area. Even as Palestinians who know and live the occupation, the shock of seeing the eight (8) foot wall dividing the playground of the Anata Secondary Boys School brought angry feelings forward. Seeing the soldiers throw sound bombs in a neighboring girls' school, as a provoking fun act was too much! After that, it was good to stop and reflect on the Mt. of Olives, and overlooking Jerusalem, remember that we still do not know the things that make for peace (Luke 19:41-42).

Sabeel offers this program to any interested group numbering at least ten people. In a meeting with travel agents on February 23, Sabeel encouraged them to offer this program to pilgrims who request it.

NAZARETH

The Nazareth Sabeel office invited community members to join them in prayers for reconciliation the Petite Soeurs de Nazareth chapel in solidarity with the Mughar Christians, who continue to mend their lives after enduring violence in this village last spring. The couples group met at the Sabeel office in Nazareth on March 3 to hear stories from and dialogue with Sister Elena from the Little Sisters of Nazareth convent. Speaking from her experiences while living in Gaza for twenty (20) years and Ramallah for ten (10) years, Sister Elena spoke about the life of families and especially women in the Occupied Territories and compared and contrasted this with the experiences of couples in Nazareth and the Galilee region.

Looking Ahead

At the start of the new year, Sabeel Nazareth focused on clarifying its vision for the coming year. In addition to remaining committed to exploring Christian faith and presence in Israel, through Sabeel's activities in Nazareth, we hope to deepen our relationships with Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, and strengthen relationships with and increase our understanding of Muslim and Jewish communities working for peace. As we look ahead, we hope to extend our work in Galilee, Haifa, Shafaamr, and other villages.

The Nazareth office is also preparing for the two (2) upcoming international conferences, the 1^st International Young Adults Conference, Together: Facing Challenges … Finding Hope, in July & August, and the 6^th International Conference, The Forgotten Faithful, in November.

Ahlan wa-Sahlan!

Sabeel welcomes Omar Harami, our new PR staff member in the Jerusalem office, and volunteer Andrea Dalton.

This month: Friends of Sabeel—North America

Something different is in the air. After many years of being ignored by the media and even by the mainstream American churches, Sabeel finds itself on the pages of newspapers, on radio stations and numerous websites, the topic of heated debates in churches and in academia. And to what do we attribute this sudden preeminence? Sabeel’s support for the resolutions of the Presbyterian Church USA, the World Council of Churches, the Episcopal Church USA, the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church, the Church of England, and others, encouraging divestment from companies supporting and profiting from Israel’s occupation. This has profound political and economic implications. And Sabeel has been at the center of it. We thank the churches for taking bold steps, for going beyond statements to concerted action, and we thank those who oppose the church movement and oppose the ministry and message of Sabeel for drumming up lots of "negative" media attention.

Our critics are well-organized and have substantial funding for their media campaign of distortion and attacks on Sabeel. They accuse Sabeel of being anti-Semitic, anti-Israel, pro-terror, a roadblock to peace. According to one source, they have over 200 paid staff in the U.S. working to discredit Sabeel and church divestment actions. Detractors disparagingly say that Sabeel is "the driving force behind the church divestment movement." It’s true: if you want to know the truth about yourself, listen to what your critics have to say about you.

You will see more and more of Sabeel in the media as our successful regional conferences continue and the churches continue to study their investments and identify corporations to engage on the issue of military occupation. You can be part of this by getting active in your church. We can help you with materials for discussion, such as Sabeel’s document—A Call for Morally Responsible Investment: a Nonviolent Response to the Occupation. Sabeel is heating things up, like that hot little mustard plant in the parable that grows with faith and flourishes. We’ve had 15 successful conferences and our membership and support base in the churches continue to expand. As for those critics working so hard to malign Sabeel, well, as Mark Twain once said: "Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising."

- Sister Elaine Kelley

Sabeel's 1st International Young Adults Conference,

Together: Facing Challenges … Finding Hope

26 July – 6 August 2006.

During this conference, international and Palestinian young adults will meet, share stories, and learn about one another’s cultures. We hope you will leave with new awareness of Christians around the world, and new passion to pursue justice in your home communities. The conference will include:

Cultural events and visits with families

Hikes to religious sites

Travel to Palestinian towns

Bible studies and worship

Volunteer work

Workshops and group discussions

The registration and program fee for the conference is $600. This includes all of your land costs—food, accommodations, ground transportation, speakers and activities—but it does not include airfare. For a group rate on airfare, contact Yusef Daher at Daher Travel (www.dahertravel.com), by phone 972 2 628 3235 or 972 050 554 5179, or email Dahert@netvision.net.il or Tours@dahertravel.com.

REGISTER NOW!!!

"The Forgotten Faithful"

A Window into the Life and Witness of Christians in the Holy Land

6^th International Sabeel Conference

November 2-9, 2006

See website for registration form:

Special Land Packages: (includes accommodations, all land travel, lunches,

entrance fees, airport shuttle service,)

for all land and air, make checks payable to

Shepherd’s Tours

Option I (four and five stars)

Single- $955

Double- $797

Triple- $776

(Includes: Notre Dame Hotel-Jerusalem, Intercontinental Hotel-Jericho,

Mary’s Well Hotel-Nazareth)

Option II (three star and four stars)

Single- $915

Double- $762

Triple- $741

(Includes: Gloria Hotel-Jerusalem,

Jericho Resort Inn -Jericho,

Mary’s Well Hotel-Nazareth)

For flights information from departing cities worldwide:

Contact: Shepherd’s Tours and Travel

PO Box 19560

Jerusalem

Tel: (+972) 2 6284121

Fax: (+972) 2 628 0251

Sabeel: March 2006 Snapshots