TO "SABEEL" in SHU'AFAT
On Thursday mid-morning I caught the #124 bus to the centre of the city and then the #78 north to Shu’afat where Sabeel is now located. I had received an invitation to Holy Communion and lunch. It was an offer I could not refuse.
Sabeel is a grassroots ecumenical movement among Palestinians, seeking to make the Gospel relevant, and striving to develop a spirituality based on justice, peace, non-violence, liberation, and reconciliation. The word "Sabeel" in Arabic means "the way" and also a "channel" or "spring" of life-giving water.
There was a small gathering of persons at the new Sabeel offices. I arrived just as the worship was beginning as I had been lost on bus and on foot. Just as I was debating about heading back to Jerusalem I said with great frustration, "Help!" I looked up and saw "IOCC" which were the letters I was told to look for on a small sign in front of the building. I was lost... but then I was found.
Inside I met several wonderful persons. Osten from Sweden impressed me. I learned that he was in Israel as a volunteer for three months through the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel. This campaign aims to mobilize churches and church members by acting together in working for an end to the Israeli occupation, seeking to address the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, help create a viable Palestinian state, and work for a
negotiated, secure and just peace in the Holy Land. No small objective!
Osten, whom you can see in the photo to the right along with a Sabeel volunteer, spends much of his time at the border "check points" observing and talking with people. He talks with anyone who will enter a conversation. He talks a lot with Israeli soldiers, with Palestinians attempting to move about the country and anyone else willing to chat. At times he intervenes in situations with questions and always with a polite and co-operative demeanour. Osten has invited me to join him for a day to observe the activities at the check points and to enter into conversations. I think that could prove very interesting.
This evening, upon return to Tantur I received a call from the Rev. Clarence Musgrave, minister of The Scots (Presbyterian) Church in Jerusalem. He has invited me to accompany him into the West Bank on Saturday to Idna, a small village southwest of Hebron. I have accepted his invitation.
Sabeel is a grassroots ecumenical movement among Palestinians, seeking to make the Gospel relevant, and striving to develop a spirituality based on justice, peace, non-violence, liberation, and reconciliation. The word "Sabeel" in Arabic means "the way" and also a "channel" or "spring" of life-giving water.
There was a small gathering of persons at the new Sabeel offices. I arrived just as the worship was beginning as I had been lost on bus and on foot. Just as I was debating about heading back to Jerusalem I said with great frustration, "Help!" I looked up and saw "IOCC" which were the letters I was told to look for on a small sign in front of the building. I was lost... but then I was found.
Inside I met several wonderful persons. Osten from Sweden impressed me. I learned that he was in Israel as a volunteer for three months through the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel. This campaign aims to mobilize churches and church members by acting together in working for an end to the Israeli occupation, seeking to address the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, help create a viable Palestinian state, and work for a
negotiated, secure and just peace in the Holy Land. No small objective!Osten, whom you can see in the photo to the right along with a Sabeel volunteer, spends much of his time at the border "check points" observing and talking with people. He talks with anyone who will enter a conversation. He talks a lot with Israeli soldiers, with Palestinians attempting to move about the country and anyone else willing to chat. At times he intervenes in situations with questions and always with a polite and co-operative demeanour. Osten has invited me to join him for a day to observe the activities at the check points and to enter into conversations. I think that could prove very interesting.
This evening, upon return to Tantur I received a call from the Rev. Clarence Musgrave, minister of The Scots (Presbyterian) Church in Jerusalem. He has invited me to accompany him into the West Bank on Saturday to Idna, a small village southwest of Hebron. I have accepted his invitation.
posted by Philip | 3:32 p.m.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home