Holy Week

Written By Admin CFOS

Our CFOS Bulletin this week is devoted exclusively to the work and ministry of our primary partner, Sabeel Palestinian Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem. Sabeel’s steadfast witness for justice, peace and liberation over many decades, and especially now – in the context of genocide, ethnic cleansing and famine – inspire us in Canada to act in solidarity. In this season of Holy Week and Easter we cry out with Palestinian siblings, 

“God of resurrection. Death is around. It lurks in the corner, threatens your loved ones, and the suffering feels unbearable and endless. In faith, albeit limping, we declare: You have defeated death. We believe. Help our unbelief.” 

Lamma Mansour

 

Holy Week with Gaza

Sabeel has just released a new devotional study, Holy Week with Gaza. Each of its fourteen modules invites us to ponder Holy Week biblical events—from Palm Sunday’s Triumphal Entry, to the Resurrection—in the context of the historical and contemporary events and themes in Gaza. For example, we consider Non-Violence in the context of Jesus’ healing at Gethsemane of the severed ear of the high priest’s slave. 

Each module is structured via five sections: Background, Scripture, Reflection, Story, and Prayer. This is a profound and intricate resource which may transform your understanding of Holy Week and the Gaza genocide, and deepen both your understanding and your hope. It’s available as a downloadable pdf here.

 

Easter Worship

In addition to its weekly Thursday service, mark your calendar for Sabeel’s Online Easter Service to be held Saturday, March 30 at 2100 Jerusalem time. 

 

Wave of Prayer

March 10 marked the first day of Ramadan, the most important month in Islam, which is observed with fasting, daily communal prayer, and recitation of the Quran, amongst other practices. Typically, in Palestine, the month of Ramadan brings heightened levels of tension and violence as a result of provocation and obstruction of the freedom of worship on the part of the State of Israel. Sabeel encourages prayers for peace and restraint in Palestine during this most holy time for Muslim sisters and brothers.

 

Kumi Now

Kumi Now is a project of Sabeel, uniting activists and advocates around the world each week on a specific topic related to the Palestinian struggle.

The March 19 event featured Daoud Nassar of the Tent of Nations, on “The Resources of Palestine,” the topic at the center of his faith and life. You can register for the Kumi Now Newsletter to inform you of upcoming webinars here, and YouTube links to experience previous Kumi Now online gatherings here.

We recall that ”kumi” is from the Aramaic and means “rise up,” as spoken by Jesus to the young girl who everyone else believed was dead, and whom Jesus brought to life (Mark 5:41). You can find the Sabeel Bible study of this foundational passage of Mark here, a message of hope, agency, and liberation that resonates for us as we confront what may appear to be the death of hope in the Middle East. 

 

Sabeel Jerusalem Conference in November

This week, we bring you a reminder of the Sabeel Jerusalem ConferenceNovember 17-21, “Challenging Apartheid and Religious Extremism.” to be held in Bethlehem and on-line. “The plenaries, workshops and visits will promote faith-based, non-violent, peace-making initiatives to assist in the achievement of liberation, justice and peace in Palestine-Israel.” The Conference principles are to facilitate constructive interfaith dialogue, promote human rights and justice in Palestine-Israel, challenge misinterpretations of religious texts, and strengthen collaborative networks. For more information email visit@sabeel.org, or visit the web page at this address. 

The Conference is preceded by a series of preparatory webinars, held on the last Wednesday of each month. The March webinar, on Wednesday March 27, will explore ”Islam and Islamophobia.’”. The sessions are held at 8 PM Jerusalem time, and continue until September:

  • April 24: The Persecution of Christians

  • May 29: Antisemitism from the point of view of Sabeel

  • June 26: Genocide, with an emphasis on the current situation in Gaza, and the context of other historical events with the same focus. 

  • July 31: Apartheid in Palestine-Israel, and its historical context.

  • September 25: a recap and integration of all the webinar themes, in preparation for the November conference. 

For more information and to register, visit the same Sabeel web page here.

 

Sabeel YouTube Channel

If you are not already a regular visitor, please know that Sabeel’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@sabeelcenter9364 contains over 50 videos posted during the past three years, to inform and inspire viewers toward the Sabeel vision, theological “liberation through instilling the Christian faith in the daily lives of those who suffer under occupation, violence, injustice, and discrimination.” 

 

We need your support

We depend on generations donations to support our work. To make an online tax deductible donation, simply click the Canada Helps icon.

Canadian Friends of Sabeel is a national ecumenical response to the call of Palestinian Christians for solidarity. Through education and engagement, we support the struggle for equality in justice, freedom, and human rights of Palestinians living under apartheid and the illegal Israeli military occupation. With partners around the world, we work non-violently for a just and durable peace for Palestinians and Israelis.

We amplify the voices of our Palestinian partners and encourage you to join the weekly Sabeel wave of prayers and the weekly gatherings with KumiNow.

Admin CFOS
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