Advent Prayers
During this Advent season, join in a daily prayer vigil for hope, healing, and justice in the Middle East. You can use these resources from Kairos USA or ACT Palestine, as well as submit your own prayers to their website for shared use.
You can also invite your congregations and friends to join Sabeel’s Wave of Prayer every Thursday as well as share Sabeel’s Christmas Message from Jerusalem: “Do not be afraid…to you is born…a Savior” (Luke 2:10-11).
Christmas Giving
Looking for a Christmas gift that can also be a conversation starter? Try Equal Exchange Olive Oil: http://equalexchange.coop/olive-oil or Ten Thousand Villages products from the West Bank: https://www.tenthousandvillages.com/. Purchase of these products helps support sustainable livelihoods and fair wages for many living in the West Bank, while fostering care for the life and history of the land.
PeaceSigns
As the violence between Israelis and Palestinians continues, a recent PeaceSigns article tells the story of a 13-year-old Palestinian boy named Abed al-Rahman Obeidallah, who was killed by an Israeli soldier in Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem.
Take action by calling your members of Congress at (202) 224-3121. Tell them you are dismayed by all acts of violence, and ask them in their public communications to acknowledge the broader cycle of violence created by the Israeli military occupation.
MCUSA Resolution
Several members of MennoPIN’s Steering Committee participated in a roundtable November 19-20 on Israel-Palestine convened by Mennonite Church USA, to determine next steps for following up on the “Saturday resolution.” The resolution calls for education, reflection, discernment as we pray and act for peace in Israel-Palestine over the next two years. MennoPIN will work with various Mennonite agencies to help implement the resolution, as we work toward passage of a stronger resolution in 2017.
International Day of Solidarity
November 29 marked the United Nations’ International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. This year, the day also brought protests around the world asking the UN to end its contract with G4S, a security company that provides services and equipment to Israeli prisons where Palestinian prisoners are detained and often tortured without trial.
More than 1800 Palestinians, including 300 children, have been arrested and imprisoned since the beginning of October. You can use this form to send a letter to the UN asking them to end their contract with G4S.
Bethlehem Today
This Advent, some of our congregations are focusing on Bethlehem today and the experience of colonial occupation, lifting up the stories of Palestinians, and reflecting on our response as U.S. Mennonites. What are you doing this Advent season in your congregation to remember Bethlehem today? We would love to share your stories on the MennoPIN facebook page and website!
Mennonite Palestine-Israel Network
mennopin@gmail.com | mennopin.org | facebook.com/mennopin | twitter.com/mennopin
Steering Committee:
Jonathan Brenneman (Lima Mennonite Church, Lima, OH)
Tom Harder (Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church, Wichita, KS)
Joy Lapp (Pleasant View Mennonite Church, Mt Pleasant, IA)
George Muedeking (Albuquerque Mennonite Church, Albuquerque, NM)
Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach (Peace Fellowship Church, Washington, DC)
Timothy Seidel (Community Mennonite Church, Lancaster, PA)
MennoPIN 