August 5, 2005

CHICAGO – Communion ware made in the Holy Land will be used during the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly's worship services Aug. 8-14 in Orlando, Fla.

Using communion ware from Bethlehem is "to remind people that God's desire for the whole world includes justice and peace, even in the Holy Land," said the Rev. Michael L. Burk, director for worship, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries.

When looking for a certain quality of communion ware for the assembly, the International Center of Bethlehem (ICB) – a Lutheran-based institution serving the whole Palestinian community through developing human resources, cultivating artistic talents and facilitating intercultural encounters – was able to provide communion ware. ICB's involvement would also "be a very helpful reminder that we are partners in mission with brothers and sisters all around the world," Burk said. Choosing communion ware made by Palestinian artisans at the ICB was not done simply because it was from the Holy Land, but it was of the quality level that "something as important as Holy Communion deserves," Burk said.

At the close of the assembly each of the ELCA's 65 synods will receive a set of communion ware made in Bethlehem as a gift from the ELCA Division for Global Mission. Each set of communion ware will "journey" throughout the synod, congregation to congregation, for use during worship.

"We are concerned about the body of Christ hurting in the Holy Land," said the Rev. Said R. Ailabouni, director, Europe and the Middle East, ELCA Division for Global Mission. The communion ware is to connect us (members of the ELCA) with the Christians there and the Muslim and Jewish communities in which they live, he said.

By using "communion ware from where Jesus took flesh," we hope "to bring prayer for peace and reconciliation to come to that land," Ailabouni said.

The giving of the Bethlehem communion ware is helping to launch the ELCA's new campaign, "Peace Not Walls: Stand for Justice in the Holy Land," Ailabouni said.

"Utilizing these things is a nice reminder that we are a church that is a lot bigger than the ELCA," Burk said. "It is God who is in Holy Communion and who causes us to long for God's own justice in the world."

With each set comes a "communion ware journey" packet, Ailabouni said. In it are resources for worship, such as hymns, prayers and suggested readings.

Three goals for the communion ware are:

• "Use these vessels in Holy Communion as a reminder of and a witness to our partnership in mission with our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land"

• "Learn about and pray for Palestinian Christians and their Muslim and Jewish neighbors"

• "Learn how to advocate for peace with justice in Israel and Palestine."

"Now the journey begins," said Ailabouni. "We hope each congregation will have the opportunity to use the communion ware in their worship services and will pray for peace and reconciliation in that land."

Some communion ware sets arrived early and were used at ELCA synod assemblies in spring and early summer, Ailabouni said.

ELCA News Service
Kirsten H. Boettner is a senior communication major at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. This summer she is an intern with the ELCA News Service.