May 28, 2008

Bethlehem participants in a global week of church advocacy are inviting individuals and groups around the world to send them wishes and prayers for peace. Incoming emails will be shared with parishes, schools and organizations in Bethlehem and Jerusalem as part of the action week, which is led by the World Council of Churches.

The messages will remind Palestinians cut off from each other and from the outside world that they are not forgotten, the Bethlehem groups say. The address to use is aei@p-ol.com. Prayers and wishes that reach Bethlehem will be posted on http://www.aeicenter.org.

Some of the emails will be read aloud in Bethlehem's Manger Square on Sunday, 8 June 2008. That evening, people of Bethlehem will form a "living clock" to commemorate six decades of living as refugees and uprooted people since 1948, and 41 years of occupation. 8 June is also the day parishes on five continents will be using a special prayer from Jerusalem church leaders written for the action week (see below).

The 4-10 June International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel has participants in 17 countries this year and reaches out to ecumenical contacts in many more. Events will take place from Canberra to Edinburgh, Manila to Oslo. These include meetings with government officials, vigils, public demonstrations, cultural events and media appearances. Pax Christi International has helped plan the week and World Vision International is one of the participants.

The prayer and a liturgy from the Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, plus the week's It's Time for Palestine message, are available at: http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=5647.

Messages should be sent to aei@p-ol.com before 7 June. English is the preferred language, however, other languages are welcome.

International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel: http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3627.

Arab Educational Institute: http://www.aeicenter.org/.

WCC member churches in Israel/Palestine: http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=4746.

World Council of Churches