Peace Not Walls

WHAT CAN WE DO?

This year, International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People coincides with the 1st Sunday of Advent on the Christian Calendar. In response, Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA )in solidarity with Palestinian Christians, and in partnership with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) is inviting churches to "Preach Palestine" by incorporating Palestine in elements of worship on November 29. Can you help us achieve our goal of 100 congregations taking part? You can:

• Endorse Keep Awake and share it through your organizational lists and networks. See sample announcement below.
• Contribute worship resources making connections to the lectionary, to Bethlehem today and Advent, to the International Day of Solidarity with Palestine, or to indigenous sovereignty intersections, given it is the first Sunday after Thanksgiving. There is a great need for prayers and litanies. Send worship resources to advocacy@fosna.org by October 3rd.
• Join the Digital launch party - Thursday October 8 at 6pm MDT. Fill out the participation form to get the zoom info. 
• Sign up to attend the digital launch party or to receive resources: https://www.123formbuilder.com/form-5642369/

Learn more about FOSNA: https://www.fosna.org

MORE

Webinar series from the Lutheran World Federation, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land

• April 25: Augusta Victoria Hospital and Lutheran World Federation on Healthcare challenges in light of COVID-19 Wach here
• May 2: ELCJHL Bishop Azar and Pastors Munther and Ashraf, on the impact of the pandemic on the church and the wider community Watch here
• May 9: Lutheran schools, impact and response Watch here
• May 16: Lutheran mission personnel - Pastors Carrie Ballenger (Jerusalem) and Gabi and Meghan Aelabouni (YAGM Country Coordinators) on what they are experiencing in Jerusalem and West Bank Watch here 
• May 23: Pastors in Amman, Jordan and Jerusalem on the impact of the pandemic for their congregations Watch here
• May 30: Pastor Mitri Raheb, Executive Director of the DIyar Consortium, on the impact on the church, educational institutions, and the wider community Watch here

ELCA Churchwide Assembly Passes Actions Related to Israel and Palestine, 2019

Four actions related to Palestine and Israel, including the one we passed at our RMS assembly in May, "No Way to Treat a Child" (see below). Time now to write to our elected officials, especially Members of Congress, where they have an opportunity to co-sponsor Rep. Betty McCollum's bill, H.R. 2407, "Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act." (see "Take Action" below)

2019 Memorial to ELCA Churchwide Assembly - No Way to Treat a Child

• Text of the Memorial passed at the May, 2019 RMS Assembly 
• Fact sheet to accompany 2019 Memorial
• Watch Detaining Dreams - 15-minute documentary about Palestinian child detentions by Israeli military
• Read about Palestinian child detentions and the No Way to Treat a Child Campaign: https://nwttac.dci-palestine.org 
• Watch the trailer of documentary film, Imprisoning a Generation

Take action:

• Become a citizen co-sponsor of HR 2407, "Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act"
• Resources for learning and talking about HR 2407 from Rep. Betty McCollum
• Tell your lawmaker to co-sponsor HR 2407
• Contact Zelda Edmunds to show the 50-minute documentary, Imprisoning a Generation, in your congregation: https://www.anemoia.net
• Plan educational events in your congregation. Contact the Peace Not Walls team to arrange for a speaker/discussion leader: millerjan68@gmail.com

Thomas Mass Liturgy

• Complete Liturgy
• Graffiti Wall
• Words in Action 
• Life without Water
• Living with Appropriation
• Prayers for Peacemakers

Direct Support to Palestinian Lutheran Ministries

Two 2016 Churchwide Assembly Actions

• Peace with Justice in the Holy Land: Urging the US to make our foreign aid to Israel contingent on Israel's cessation of settlement construction in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem 
• Justice for the Holy Land through Responsible Investment: Asking for development of an ELCA human rights social criteria investment screen, specifically addressing Israel and Palestine

Read a FACT SHEET about the two memorials.

WHAT IS PEACE NOT WALLS?

• Accompaniment
• Advocacy
• Awareness-raising

Peace Not Walls connects us with our Palestinian Lutheran companions—promoting dignity, full respect for human rights, healing and reconciiation. With our companions in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), we also accompany Palestinians and Israelis, Jews, Christians and Muslims working together for peace with justice. Learn more about the ELCA campaign.

Some other ways you and your congregation can be involved:

• IMPLEMENT the ELCA resolutions on Israeli settlements and responsible investment - read a FACT SHEET on the Memorials
• WATCH a video introduction to Peace Not Walls
• CONTACT a speaker
• STUDY the KAIROS PALESTINE document, the Palestinian Christians' call to Christians around the world, asking for support in their struggle for human rights
• SUPPORT Lutheran  ministries and schools in Bethlehem through Bright Stars of Bethlehem
• SUPPORT Lutheran schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) through Opportunity Palestine
• WHY have more than 200 Israeli settlements been built on Palestinian land? Watch "The Iron Wall" documentary
• WHY is a two-state solution unlikely? Watch a two-minute video: "Israel-Palestine, a Land in Fragments"
• Watch 1948: Creation and Catastrophe 
• Watch The Occupation of the American Mind
• Summary of ELCA churchwide actions on Palestine