Newsletter: Vol. 10. Iss. 2
May 2011
A Holy Land in Conflict,
cont'd.
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This would require that Israel takeover large parts of Egypt, Jordan, Syria,
Lebanon, and Iraq. This is a scary prospect for anyone who hopes for peace
with justice in the Middle East. In all fairness, this is not at all the majority
view in Israel. Even many of the Jewish settlers would reject this radical
perspective.
The group also heard from Avihai Shallot, a young Israeli
who represented the group Breaking the Silence. Breaking the Silence is composed
of former Israeli soldiers who have committed to “telling the truth”
about their experiences serving in the Israeli military as they attempted
to maintain Israeli control of the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza Strip. Shallot
spoke sincerely about his personal experience serving in the Israeli Army
in the Palestinian Territories. Video clips of his message are available on
the blog of Matthew Kelley, a participant, at matthewlkelley.blogspot.com
None of the American pilgrims had ever been to the Holy Land before and all
of them will be using stories from their experiences to enhance their ministries
for years to come. The trip also offered an opportunity to hear first hand
from people affected by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. These conversations
will enable participants to become better pray-ers, more informed interpreters
and more engaged advocates for peace and justice for all involved.
It is amazing to walk the same roads Jesus walked and imagine what his life
was like. I will always remember the morning we gathered along the path leading
from Capernaum to Nazareth. It ran beside a small creek, surrounded by tall,
rocky mountains. At the base of the mountains there was green pasture land
which was covered with patches of bright yellow flowers. Peter Miano mentioned
that it is entirely possible Jesus walked along this same path and over these
same mountains 2,000 years ago. This is the place we chose for our Sunday
morning worship service together. I’ll never forget that inspiring service
as we broke the bread, shared the cup and remembered together the life giving
ministry of Christ.
Here are a few short remembrances from this year’s participants:
I was overcome standing on Mt. Nebo considering Moses
seeing the Promised Land, but never entering it. My mind travelled from Mt.
Nebo to the one in Memphis, TN. where MLK, Jr. saw the promised land, but
was crucified by a gun. The night before, he preached about “The Bloody
Pass" and the Good Samaritan, what happens if we didn't stop.
The Rev. Chris Henson
I will never forget my spouse Allison, drawing water
from Jacob's Well as the Samaritan woman did so long ago. After tasting that
cool refreshing water we heard the story from John's Gospel, the air saturated
with the Holy Spirit, I could see Christ there with the Samaritan woman, there
with us all huddled around this well.
The Rev. Robert English
Our visits to the refugee camp and the Bedouin village
brought sharp focus to the plight of average Palestinian families living daily
life both inside the walls (West Bank) and (unrecognized –without public
services) in Israeli territory. I cannot imagine living daily life in either
situation, as if perpetually confined to unrelenting control and uncertainty.
Allan Nixon
My heart weeps for the people of Palestine. After seeing
their struggles firsthand, I intend to do all in my power to spread the word
to those in the United States who need to hear it. Hannah Nixon
I did not realize the Western Wall of the Temple where people from all over
the world come to pray is now segregated. As women, we were limited to a small
area on the south side. They use moveable barriers to separate the men and
women, and I suspect that that the women’s area gets smaller each week.
I put the following prayer in one of the few cracks on the women's end of
the wall, where it promptly fell out. I tried again. Women's prayers don't
seem welcome there. I offered the following prayer: Lord God, Almighty One,
In this time, and in this place, Make your justice roll down like waters,
And your righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Teri Nilson Baird
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