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From Friends of Sumud SWT
Our hearts are heavy as we have marked two years from the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that brought so much suffering to so many, on that day and in the nearly total devastation of Gaza since then that has left it virtually uninhabitable. We pray that attempts to end the immediate violence and bring the hostages home will be fruitful and a first step toward bringing the justice, freedom and human dignity that make for peace.
Even in the midst of seemingly hopeless situations, we are called as Christians to act as prophets for peace and justice. We might feel powerless, but we can tell our Palestinian Christian brothers and sisters there that they are not alone. Here are a few things you can do to play a part:
1) Listen to Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land Pastor Munther Isaac's 15 minute Sermon to the West: Munther Isaac's Sermon to the West
2) ADVENT in the HOLY LAND: Consider engaging your congregation with the ELCJHL during Advent in their 4 Advent devotionals Rooted in Faith and with a new downloadable Children's Christmas book that could be used for weekly children's messages. Access the resources here. Contact Friends of Sumud for help and ideas about using Advent to engage with the Holy Land - (Contact Julie Rowe or Sharon Wiggins)
3) The suffering for Palestine and Israel didn't start October 7, 2023. If you want to delve deeper into the root cause of the problem, watch 1948: Creation and Catastrophe. See historical footage and hear firsthand reports from Israeli fighters from the Haganah and Irgun and Palestinians discuss what happened to make the creation of Israel possible. What was a celebration for Israel was a catastrophe - a "nakba" in Arabic for the Palestinians who lived there.
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