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Arab and Middle Eastern Lutheran Community Newsletter

April 2012

 

April 2012

Message from the Program Director

Jesus said to her: “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them. ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

John 20:17-18 (NRSV)

He is risen! He is risen, indeed!     

May the joy of our risen Lord fill your heart and may his love be with you this Easter Season and always.

Peace and blessings,

Kholoud Khoury
Program Director for Arab and Middle Eastern Ministries
Ethnic Specific and Multicultural Ministries
Congregational and Synodical Mission unit
   

Please pray for those who are experiencing difficulties in many parts of the world. For the Arab and Middle Eastern countries especially in the Holy Land, Syria, Iraq and Egypt. |  Prayer requests.
 

 

 

Palestinian Lutheran pastor to receive "German Media Award"

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Lutheran African peace activist

ELCA Bishop extends support for Lutherans in Jordan, Holy Land

Obama in unprecedented meeting with ELCA presiding bishop, faith leaders

Obama speech resonates with ELCA Mideast principles, says presiding bishop

ELCA Presiding Bishop Joins Interfaith Call for Middle East Peace 

 

ADDITIONAL NEWS

Mitri Rahib spoke about Palestinian theology to a recent tour group from Yale Divinity School. | Read more.

Bishop Younan's Easter message "Resurrection: Sadness transformed into joyous hope" can be found here.

A recent issue of The Lutheran magazine affirmed EAPPI-US and ELCA members' presence as accompaniers in the West Bank. | Read article.

Attend the May Global Mission event to be held in Minnesota. More information can be found:
- BSB_DiyarTour3

- Glocal Mailers - May 2012
- Glocal Bulletin Insert - May

  
   

ADDITIONAL ELCA LINKS

Stewardship

Domestic Hunger Grants Program

2012 Youth Gathering

Glocal Gatherings

ELCA Churchwide Assembly

 

 

 

This quarterly newsletter is jointly published by the Arab and Middle Eastern Ministry of the ELCA and Association of Lutherans of Arab and Middle Eastern Heritage (ALAMEH).
Contact us to receive this newsletter in your email. Share these stories in your Sunday bulletins and newsletters.

 

 

Editor:
Kholoud Khoury

Editorial Commitee:
Ryan LaHurd and Fuad Nijim

 

 

 

Message from the Association President

He is risen! He is risen, indeed!!

Greetings. During this season, we experience and reflect on the meaning of Holy Week and then celebrate our Savior’s resurrection and triumph on Easter Sunday. Easter is an affirmation of our faith as Christians redeemed by Jesus Christ on the cross, empowering us to live with freedom and to love one another. As Christians, we are called upon to carry with us the prophetic voice and to speak up against injustice, for truth and to lift up peace everywhere around us.

Last month, on March 23-24, I was fortunate to be part of the Sabeel Regional Conference in Sunnyvale, Calif. Guests heard powerful speakers like Anna Baltzer, Huwaida Arraf, Alison Weir, Marc Ellis, the Rev. Naim Ateek and many others. Among the valuable topics that were presented and discussed were the Kairos Palestine document and searching for, finding and celebrating the prophetic voice.

We continue to update and improve our association's website. I encourage you to visit it and to give us feedback. The address is www.elca.org/ALAMEH.

ALAMEH's 2012 General Assembly will be held later this year. Mark the dates of October 5-7 and plan on joining us. We look forward to sharing Bible readings, discussions, prayer, music, food, fellowship and more.

Fuad Bassim Nijim
ALAMEH Association President
    

Community news 

Mother of the Savior
Bishop Munib Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land was able to visit the Southeast Michigan Synod of the ELCA and explore various ministries in the Metro Area. The Rev. Colleen Kamke of St. Paul hosted an evening for Bishop Younan at her church, during which some members from Mother of the Savior had the opportunity to meet and greet Bishop Younan and hear him speak.  The Bishop spoke on the evangelical witness in the Holy Land and the signs of hope in the Middle East. We continue to pray for Bishop Younan and the ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.  


St. Elias Christian Church

  • Saturday 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Bible study
  • Sundays 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Sunday worship service
  • Every two weeks on Thursday 7:00–8:30 p.m. Confirmation class
  • First Sunday of each month family members meet during the coffee hour after the worship service.

During Holy Week we had joint worship services with Emmanuel Lutheran Church:  Maunday Thursday. Good Friday (with washing the feet). Vigil of Easter (followed by a reception hosted by St. Elias members) and Easter Sunday.  


ELCA Peace Not Walls Campaign
Don't miss taking your youth to see “The Wall,” in the Interaction Center at the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. The area will feature a replica of the wall and host six Palestinian young people who will tell their stories of life and faith under occupation in Palestine. The beauty and richness of the culture, as well as the many difficulties, will be creatively enacted in various media. 

Have you checked out the Peace Not Walls blog (http://blogs.elca.org/peacenotwalls/)? Here you will find a series of stories and updates on the situation in the Holy Land. You can sign up to get posts directly in your mailbox at the above address.

Are you attending the Churches for Middle East Peace Conference? If so, plan on coming a day early and attending an evening for Peace Not Walls advocates, starting at 5 p.m. at the Comfort Inn – Union Station, 1600 New York Ave. NE, Washington, DC, 20002. We will share resources and strategies for building awareness among the unaware and deepening our advocacy. Call Julie Rowe at 773-380-2720 or email her at julie.rowe@elca.org.

Don’t miss the opportunity to attend the Diyar Dance Theatre, a special Bright Stars of Bethlehem experience. They will be on tour May 2-9, 2012, performing in various places in the following areas: Minneapolis, Minn.; Madison, Wis.; Chicago, Ill. and Ft. Wayne, Ind. For more information you can call 815-315-0682 or visit: brightstarsbethlehem.org or facebook.com/brightstarsbethlehem.
   

 


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